Public Company CFO Search
CFO and accounting leadership for public companies.
CFOs, Chief Accounting Officers, and SEC reporting leaders, plus the team a company needs before it goes public.
Hazeltine Executive Search recruits finance leaders for public companies and companies preparing to go public: CFOs, Chief Accounting Officers, Controllers, and SEC reporting, SOX, and investor relations leaders. Our network runs deepest with Big 4 and investment banking professionals, including those now leading finance in industry, and every candidate is video-vetted through The Hazeltine Process.
How public company CFO 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.
Searches we run
Public company CFO
Earnings, guidance, investor relations, the audit committee, and capital markets.
Chief Accounting Officer
SEC reporting, technical accounting, SOX, and the external audit relationship.
IPO readiness
Finance leaders who have taken a company public and know what the process asks of finance.
Reporting and IR
SEC Reporting Directors, SOX leads, and Investor Relations leaders.
What we screen for
- Public reporting. 10-Ks, 10-Qs, and a clean audit history.
- Audit committee presence. Leaders who can brief a board with confidence.
- Investor communication. Earnings calls and guidance.
- Controls. SOX programs that hold up.
Questions
Do you place public company CFOs and CAOs?
Yes. Public companies are a key client segment for us, alongside PE-backed, private, and family office companies.
Can you help a company preparing for an IPO?
Yes. We recruit finance leaders who have been through a public offering, and we can place interim leaders to add capacity during the process. See Interim.
Do you recruit SEC reporting and SOX leaders?
Yes. Technical accounting, SEC reporting, revenue recognition, SOX, and internal audit leaders are part of every public company practice we support.
