First CFO Appointment | Technology Start-Up, Ireland
Retained search · Longlist: 3 weeks · Appointed: 12 weeks
The brief
A fast-growing technology business needed its first Chief Financial Officer. The role meant building the finance function from the ground up and becoming a true partner to the founders through the next stage of growth.
The challenge
A first CFO in a start-up has to be two people at once. They must be hands-on enough to do the work themselves, and strategic enough to lead fundraising, investor relations and growth planning. They also need to thrive on pace, ambiguity and a smaller safety net than corporate life offers. Many excellent finance leaders aren’t built for that. Finding the ones who are takes real digging.
Our approach
We got under the skin of the business: the founders, the funding stage, the growth plan and the culture they wanted to build. That let us be straight with candidates about the reality of the role, which mattered as much as selling it. We focused on leaders with a track record of building something, not just running it.
The outcome
The longlist was presented within three weeks of the brief. The CFO was appointed at week 12, giving the business the right finance leader for its next stage of growth.
For the leaders we spoke to
We were candid from the first conversation about the pace, the ambiguity and what “building from scratch” really means. The leaders who stepped forward did so with their eyes open, and that honesty is what makes an appointment last.
“Working with HERO ONE on a retained basis was a completely different experience. The team immersed themselves in our business, kept us informed at every stage and were honest with us throughout. We now have a finance leader who truly understands what we’re building.”
— Founder, Technology Start-Up