CFO Executive Search

Hiring the right Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is one of the most critical decisions a company can make. At Neon River, we specialize in executive search and have extensive experience as a specialist CFO executive search firm, partnering with companies across Europe to place exceptional finance leaders in roles where they can truly make an impact.

A CFO with a dynamic and forward-looking mindset can help a scaling company navigate challenges while optimizing opportunities for growth.

The role of the CFO across company types

High-Growth Companies

High-growth businesses often need a CFO who is a true business partner. Beyond financial stewardship, this CFO plays a strategic role - providing commercial analysis, supporting decision-making, and helping the company scale effectively.

PE-Backed Companies

PE-backed firms require CFOs with strong M&A and integration experience. These leaders manage complex deals, post-acquisition plans, and help deliver investor returns with speed and precision.

IPO / Exit Preparation

Preparing for an IPO or sale is critical. From due diligence to investor relations, the CFO must drive valuation and ensure smooth navigation through transformational events.

Public Companies

Public company CFOs manage investors, analysts, and regulatory bodies. They need exceptional communication skills and the ability to lead and represent the company at the highest level.

Key considerations when hiring a CFO

Technical vs. Commercial

CFO candidates often fall into two categories. Some come from traditional accounting backgrounds and are experts in compliance, reporting, and cost control. Others are commercially focused and excel in FP&A, often partnering across departments to drive better decision-making.

Stage-Specific Experience

A CFO who’s perfect for a public company may not be right for a fast-growth startup. Whether you’re pursuing M&A, gearing up for an IPO, or in steady-state mode, your CFO needs relevant experience navigating similar stages and challenges.

Operational Execution

Especially in scaling or enterprise companies, CFOs must go beyond strategy and analysis. Strong operators turn plans into actions and make things happen where resources may be lean.

Building the Right Team

A commercially focused CFO often needs a controller or head of finance to support technical accounting. Understanding how your finance leadership team fits together - and hiring accordingly - ensures strong coverage across all critical areas.

Case Study: CFO and COO Appointment to Scale a Games Company

Client Challenge
Star Stable Entertainment was seeking a Chief Financial Officer to guide the business through a period of rapid growth, with the ambition of tripling its size by 2030. The company needed a strong financial leader who could refine and execute this ambitious growth plan as a key member of the leadership team.

Our Approach
We conducted a targeted executive search across Europe, focusing on finance leaders with proven experience in scaling games businesses – particularly those with expertise in growing children’s or family-friendly games. After mapping the market, we approached CFOs and senior finance executives from leading games companies, assessing not only technical expertise but also cultural fit and leadership style.

Outcome
We introduced James, a seasoned finance executive with a strong track record in scaling games businesses at EA and Spin Master. At Spin Master, he contributed to the rapid growth of Toca Boca, a children’s mobile game studio. His experience in children’s games and compliance was especially relevant for this role. James was appointed CFO and COO, taking responsibility for shaping the company’s financial strategy and supporting the leadership team across both operational and financial areas.

Impact
With James in place, the company has significantly strengthened its financial leadership and is now well-positioned to achieve its ambitious growth objectives. His broad experience in driving growth across a variety of games products provides a strong foundation for Star Stable’s continued expansion.

How to run a high-quality CFO search

Define the mandate - the next 12-24 month outcomes: runway and cash visibility, margin improvement, stronger controls, and any funding/IPO/exit milestones.
Success profile & scorecard - stage fit (startup ↔ public), business-model fluency (SaaS/games/marketplaces/fintech), and must-have experiences (PE, IPO, M&A, international). Clear measures of success.
Team & org design - what the finance bench should look like: Controller/CAO vs FP&A lead, treasury, tax, BI/data. Decide what to hire now vs later.
Reporting, controls & systems - monthly close cadence, audit readiness, policies/delegations, ERP/BI stack, and board pack quality that drives decisions.
Capital strategy - cash forecasting and unit economics, pricing and investment discipline, debt/equity options, and investor relations cadence.
Assessment - structured interviews, a case exercise (90-day plan + board pack or cash-flow scenario), and back-channel referencing with CEOs/boards/auditors.

Great CFO searches align stakeholders early, balance technical depth with commercial judgement, and move with pace and discretion. It’s as much about leadership and fit as it is about the CV.

Talk to us See our search process