The CFO'S Perspective

How is a CFO Hired?

Hiring for any executive leadership position can be a complicated process, but a CFO brings its own unique set of challenges. Organizations that downplay the importance of a thorough job description or attempt to rush through the steps can end up needlessly prolonging the search process or settling for a candidate that does not fit their needs.

Hiring a CFO hinges on writing an effective job description for the position that outlines not only the required qualifications for the role but also the expectations for someone acting within the role. And while this is a foundational piece of the search, it is only the first step in the process. Once the role of a CFO is defined, the active process of hiring a CFO begins. Each subsequent step must then be undertaken with an understanding of how it will build on previous steps and make additional progress toward finding the best candidate for the role. From identifying key decision-makers and setting a hiring timeframe to talking to a recruiting firm and evaluating your hire, each step is integral to the overall process.

So, how is today’s CFO hired exactly? Our executive search team answers your most common questions to explain the process.

Topics: Recruiting CFO Hiring HR Leadership Interim CFO

How to Write a CFO Job Description

Have you ever tried to find something when you could not adequately describe what you were looking for?

Imagine going to buy a pair of pants and when the salesperson asks what you are looking for all you tell them is “gray pants.” How long do you think it will take to find exactly what you are looking for? And how likely is it that you will end up getting tired and frustrated settling for something that is not really what you wanted? In this example, the best outcome is that you find the perfect pair of pants after an arduous search, and the worst outcome is that you end up with pants that fit poorly or are too formal or casual for your needs.

Now apply that same scenario to hiring and think about how difficult it is to find the right candidate for the role when you do not have a clear vision of what you are looking for and what your expectations are for the role. The difficulty is ratcheted up and the likelihood of a negative outcome is much greater.

When the role you are hiring for is a senior leadership position a bad hire can derail the company’s strategic plans. A CFO is in an especially critical role to support growth initiatives, making a hire into this role even more critical to the overall success of the organization. As a result, a job description for a CFO should be customized to fit the specific needs of the business and incorporate the nuances of the role.

Topics: Recruiting CFO Hiring HR CFO Responsibilities

The Convergence of Accounting and HR

Companies that understand how finance and HR overlap and foster a relationship between the two are better poised for long-term growth than their less informed counterparts. The reason behind this is simple – knowing when and how to leverage your CFO to assist with hiring and employee retention can improve profit margins, encouraging sustainable long-term growth. Additionally, encouraging collaboration between these two vital areas of the business improves workplace culture across the entire organization.

Topics: Recruiting Finance Accounting Trends Hiring Planning HR Leadership Budgeting Forecasting Strategy

Should You Use an Executive Search Firm to Hire a CFO?

Like any other c-suite hiring process, hiring a CFO can be a daunting process at any organization. Whether the role is a newly opened position at a burgeoning startup, or a replacement for a long-standing CFO that is looking to retire, bringing in a CFO is a complex endeavor.

For companies that are accustomed to using recruiting services, the idea of using an executive placement agency to hire a key leadership role is a logical extension. However, businesses that typically handle hiring in-house may not see the benefit to using an executive search firm to hire a CFO. Some business owners may not even know that there are niche executive search agencies that specialize in finance roles.

However, using an executive search firm that focuses specifically on hiring key finance positions offers numerous benefits, which typically include:

Topics: CFO HR Leadership Change Management Interim CFO Transition

Does it Make Good Business Sense to Provide Extended Employee Benefits?

Employees are your greatest assets. They are the first line to your customers, the ones driving innovation, and have the ground-floor information you need to run your business. Likewise, those same employees rely on a stable income to meet their short-term financial and retirement goals. 

But, if an employee is unable to work due to disability or some other life event, everyone loses. And the unfortunate fact is that a majority of people believe this is something that will “never” happen to them. But, it does with stunning regularity.

Topics: Planning HR Budgeting

Too Few or Too Many CFOs?

As the leader of our executive search practice, the most common question I get asked is, “What is the market like for CFOs?” 

My reply has generally been, “Well, in the Pacific Northwest there is an oversupply of experienced CFOs but not enough ‘up and comer’ CFOs”. 

I also mention: “It will cost you a lot more to get an inexperienced CFO than it did in the past.” 

Why do I say this?  It is all about demographics and supply and demand.

Topics: Recruiting Search Services Hiring HR

What Really Matters to Improve Employee Retention

Businesses around the Northwest say their number one challenge is finding and retaining employees. For a business with an existing team, it is vital for them to retain their employees and increase engagement.

Not only are the costs of finding, hiring, and training new employees (if you can find them) high, a team of passionate employees often leads job seekers to your company. Investing in the happiness of your existing team will generate a big return on your investment.

Topics: Hiring HR Leadership

Planning for Next Year's Raises in Today's Competitive Business Environment

How do you plan or budget raises for your employees? As you create next year's budgets and update your strategic plans, you also need to take several vital steps.

These include looking at the big picture, understanding and limiting your risk, getting help if you need it, and utilizing a financial planning tool to provide the right raises to retain and attract talent.  This may seem like a tall order, but a systematic approach will help your organization achieve its staffing and budget goals.

Topics: Planning HR Budgeting Salaries