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The Steward Well Blog
Notes on hiring and keeping finance leadership at companies from $50M to $500M. Written by the partners who run the searches.
Controller vs Director of Finance vs CFO: How to Tell Which Seat Is Actually Empty
Controller vs director of finance vs CFO: a decision tree on reporting lines and decision rights so owners and boards can diagnose which finance seat is empty.
Why CFO Searches Fail, and the Four Board Decisions That Prevent It
Why CFO searches fail: vague scorecards, sponsor and CEO misalignment, and comp set against the wrong market. A framework boards can run before launch.
CFO Compensation by Company Revenue: How Boards at $50M to $500M Should Set the Package
CFO compensation by company revenue for $50M-$500M firms: realistic base, bonus and equity ranges, plus a step-by-step framework boards use to set the offer.
Controller vs VP Finance vs CFO: Where the Roles Actually Diverge
Controller vs VP finance vs CFO: a decision framework for boards and owners of $50M to $500M companies. Four gates tell you which finance leader to hire now.
Retained Search vs Contingency for a CFO Hire: What Boards Need to Know
Retained search vs contingency for a CFO: how boards at $50M to $500M companies choose a search model, where each fits, and when neither is the right answer.
Running a Private Equity Portfolio Company CFO Search
How to run a private equity portfolio company CFO search: exit-clock timing, thesis-based scorecards, decision rights, covenant tests and offer design.
Hiring a CFO After a Recapitalization: Seven Requirements the Deal Creates on Closing Day
Hiring a CFO after a recapitalization? See the seven requirements a recap creates on closing day, where incumbents break, and when a search is the wrong answer.
The First CFO for a Founder-Led Company: Eight Things the Founder Hands Over
Hiring the first CFO for a founder-led company moves the bank, the board and the numbers off the founder's desk. Eight changes to plan for before the offer.
When to Hire a CFO: A Board and Owner's Guide to Timing the First Finance Leader
When to hire a CFO is a question of triggers, not revenue. Five events that force the decision at $50M to $500M companies, and when a search is the wrong answer.
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