Chief Accounting Officer Search
Chief Accounting Officer search for companies that can't afford reporting surprises.
CAOs and VPs of Accounting for public, PE-backed, private, and family office companies, nationwide.
Hazeltine Executive Search runs retained Chief Accounting Officer searches for companies where reporting, audit, and controls carry real weight. We are a large, but boutique firm. Our network runs deepest with Big 4 professionals, both those still in public accounting and those who started there and now lead accounting in industry. Every candidate is video-vetted through The Hazeltine Process.
How Chief Accounting Officer searches run through The Hazeltine Process
- Recorded intake. We start with a recorded video intake with your hiring manager: the seat, the first year, and why it is worth a strong candidate's time.
- A Position Package candidates watch. We don't cold-pitch the role. We ask passive candidates if they would review a short Position Package, with your hiring manager on video, before the first call.
- Video interviews with finalists. Candidates complete a structured, recorded video interview. Your team watches and rates them in the Hazeltine Portal before spending an hour on anyone.
- AI does the prep. People make the calls. We use AI to research and prepare. Every conversation with you and with candidates is a person on the phone.
- Weekly check-ins and a year of follow-up. We calibrate with your team every week, and we stay with your hire through the first year.
See The Hazeltine Process →
We pick up the phone.
A lot of recruiting is LinkedIn InMails and emails sent out in bulk, hoping something sticks. We build a targeted list for every search, and our first outreach is a phone call. The best finance leaders aren't scrolling job boards or talking to five recruiters. They get plenty of messages and very few calls. Across hundreds of searches, the phone call has found our best candidates, the ones who weren't looking. Then the Position Package lets them see the hiring manager and the role on video before the first interview.
CAO searches we run
Public company CAO
SEC reporting, SOX, technical accounting, and the external audit relationship.
PE-backed CAO
Sponsor and lender reporting, add-on integration, and a close that holds up in a sale process.
CAO with a path to CFO
A successor in the building for the CFO seat.
VP of Accounting
The accounting leader for companies not yet ready for a CAO title. Controller search →
Roles we place
Chief Accounting Officer · VP of Accounting · Corporate Controller · SEC Reporting Director
What we screen for
- Technical accounting. Revenue recognition, leases, consolidations, complex entities.
- Audit. A clean audit history and a strong working relationship with the auditors.
- Controls. SOX programs that hold up.
- Leadership. CAOs who can build and upgrade an accounting team.
Questions
What does a Chief Accounting Officer search involve?
It runs through The Hazeltine Process: a recorded intake with your hiring manager, a Position Package candidates watch before the first call, structured video interviews your team reviews in the Hazeltine Portal, and weekly check-ins until the hire starts.
Do you recruit CAOs from Big 4 firms?
Yes. Big 4 audit leaders and former Big 4 professionals now leading accounting in industry are a core part of our network.
Can you cover the accounting seat while the search runs?
Yes. An interim Chief Accounting Officer or Controller can step in while the permanent search runs. See Interim.
What clients say
“I've worked with Hazeltine on multiple hires, and they consistently deliver high-quality candidates.”Chief Accounting Officer, upstream oil and gas company
