Proof so far
Completed appointments: CFO, Head of Finance, Finance Director, Country Head, Head of Operations, Data Science Lead and Sales Leadership — across 20+ leadership and specialist mandates for 10+ clients, including 2 leadership hires in the USA. Client names are withheld; references are available on request. Read the case studies →
Most finance plans are delivered by the people beneath the CFO. When the Head of Finance, FP&A Head or Controller is the wrong fit, the CFO spends the year doing their job instead of their own. Talfino searches for that layer with the same discipline as a CFO search.
Roles we search for
- Head of Finance / Finance Director — the senior finance owner in a business that does not yet need, or already has, a CFO.
- Head of FP&A — planning, forecasting and business partnering, increasingly with automation and AI tools expected.
- Financial Controller / VP Finance — close, consolidation, statutory reporting, audit and controls.
- GCC or India Finance Head — for overseas parents building a capability centre or finance hub in India. GCC & India finance →
- Finance transformation, systems and AI leads — ERP, automation and reporting change. Finance transformation & AI →
- Treasury, tax and compliance heads — where a specific technical depth is the hard part of the brief.
Why this layer is hard to hire
These leaders are rarely job-hunting, and the skill combination is usually specific: a Controller who has run statutory reporting at your scale, an FP&A Head who can build the model and present it to the board, a Head of Finance who knows both group reporting and local compliance. Job adverts reach the people who are available, not the people who fit.
Demand is moving too. Datarails' 2026 analysis of finance job postings found that 43% of FP&A roles now ask for AI or machine-learning skills, up from 33% a year earlier (source). The pool of finance leaders who combine solid fundamentals with real automation experience is small.
How the search runs
The same Approved Map as a CFO search: we agree the brief and what success looks like at twelve months, map the companies and people who fit, and you approve the list before anyone is approached. You get a written update every Friday. A typical search runs four to eight weeks to offer, plus notice period.
Engagement
Every role runs as retained search: a fee paid in three stages: on signing, at shortlist and on joining. Every placement carries a 90-day replacement commitment, subject to the terms of the engagement. Typical fixed pay for these roles is shown in our 2026 pay bands.
Frequently asked questions
Do you only hire CFOs?
No. CFO search is our primary practice, but much of our work is the layer beneath the CFO: Heads of Finance, FP&A Heads, Financial Controllers, GCC Finance Heads and finance transformation leads.
Can a CFO use Talfino to build their team?
Yes, and it is one of the most effective ways to work with us: one firm that understands the CFO's plan, hiring the leaders who deliver it.
Which markets do you cover for these roles?
India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, plus selected international mandates, including cross-border hires such as an India finance team for a UK or US parent.
Building or upgrading a finance team?
Tell us the role and what the CFO needs from it. You get an honest read on the market, pay and timeline before you commit.
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