Client Requirement

Finding the right CFO for an employee-owned business demands a highly targeted approach. For HFA, the decision to begin a search stemmed from the recognition that the business had evolved and that it now required a CFO with deep expertise in the compliance demands specific to an ESOP-structured organization. The incumbent CFO, while valued, was no longer the right fit for the direction the company was heading.

That specificity defined the entire search. The focus was on candidates with direct, hands-on experience operating within an ESOP environment, combined with relevant industry knowledge. Equally important was the need for discretion given the sensitivity of replacing a sitting executive and confidentiality was paramount throughout the process.

Christine Schneider, Regional Director at CFO Recruit, reflected on the assignment:

“This was a highly specific search, but HFA is a great business and it was genuinely exciting to bring this opportunity to our CFO network. We concentrated our efforts on candidates with real, proven experience inside an employee-owned structure and made sure that every individual we presented could authentically demonstrate that.”

HFA partnered exclusively with CFO Recruit drawing on their specialist network and structured search methodology to find the right person for a role with a very specific set of requirements.

Key Achievements

• HFA needed to replace their existing CFO following a recognized misalignment with the firm’s ESOP model, operational culture and strategic direction.
• CFO Recruit conducted a confidential retained search, producing a longlist of 450 candidates and completing competency-based interviews with 21 individuals.
• A shortlist of 10 candidates was presented to the client, with 4 progressed to interview stage, resulting in a clear preferred candidate.
• The appointed CFO has now been in post for 12 months and is exceeding the expectations of the leadership team.