TopTal is the place to hire the best part-time CFOs from a pool of the top 3% of freelance finance talent. TopTal rigorously tests and vets candidates before expertly matching you according to your specific needs. Larger enterprises and startups, including high-growth firms requiring CFO-level guidance, have used TopTal to find top-tier financial professionals for critical projects.
Pricing:
$500 refundable deposit
Rates include service fees
Key Points:
Enjoy a risk-free trial for up to five days
TopTal has over 60,000 completed projects for 25K+ satisfied clients
They have a Trustpilot rating of 4.8 out of 5
“I had never heard of Total prior to this experience. However, after working with them, everything has been done with professionalism, quality referrals and terrific back-up customer service. After interviewing a number of very qualified candidates for my financial series needs, I selected Eric Till, a top level experienced financial expert. Our relationship has continued past the initial work and I am very pleased to have found such a perfect fit — excellent work! Maci, at the customer service end, is also exceptional, always keeping in touch to see that all my needs are met and all going well. She is friendly, knowledgeable and always has all the answers I need. Others I have met in this organization have been excellent. Total is the place to go when you need experienced and top-notch people to help you in any business area. Good company. I recommend checking them out!” —Fred Goldfarb, from Trustpilot review
Hire CFO supports SMBs that need high-level financial expertise. Their part-time and fractional CFOs offer well-rounded financial management services from accounting and financial reporting to M&A support and risk management. Their consultation process and personalized CFO matching make sure your candidate fits your financial and industry needs. Plus, you can rely on Hire CFO’s ongoing support and regular check-ins.
Pricing:
Hourly rates vary from $150 to $400
Custom-based pricing for one-time projects and retainers
Key Points:
Background in Fortune 500 companies and specialized industries
Fully Accountable provides strategic financial direction and management with remote CFO services. You can hire part-time CFOs with flexibility in engagement hours and costs that you can adjust as your situation evolves. They offer specialized services for SMBs, e-commerce companies, and agencies who need expert financial oversight but do not need or cannot afford full-time leadership.
Pricing:
Custom fixed, all-inclusive, transparent pricing
Scalable financial services for a monthly fee
Key Points:
CFO expertise without the financial overhead of an in-house hire
Experience in industry-specific financial strategies
Higher initial costs for setup and strategy development
If you own a startup or venture-backed firm, Burkland can provide fractional CFOs specializing in all growth and development stages. You can find part-time CFOs who offer flexible engagement options, whether on-demand, project-based, or through a retainer. Burkland CFOs typically have over 20 years of experience and have helped raise over $6.5 billion in venture capital.
Pricing:
Services range from $250 to $500 per hour
Monthly retainers vary based on scope and services provided
Key Points:
Provides more intensive financial support as the client scales
Advisory experience in fundraising, M&A, and operational efficiency
Multiple clients could mean limited availability
“Our CFO was instrumental as we scaled and through our complex acquisition. I highly recommend Burkland and would not hesitate to work with them again.” — Bob Kruse, CEO & Founder, Revelstoke
CFOs.io is a niche platform that focuses specifically on CFO services by helping businesses find freelance part-time CFOs. Only 2% of vetted CFOs pass their screening process, so you can trust that you will find the extensive experience and specialized skill sets you need for your project. Larger companies and high-growth startups frequently turn to CFOs.io for senior financial leadership for specific strategic projects or short-term needs.
Pricing:
Rates start around $175 per hour
Key Points:
Utilizes a transparent vetting process
Provides a range of services from tax advisory to financial modeling
ECA Partners is a specialized executive search firm that focuses on placing high-level interim talent, such as part-time CFOs, in fields like private equity, corporate strategy, and finance. They provide candidates for permanent placements and short-term leadership needs, with certain positions filled in as little as three to five days.
Pricing:
Ranges from 20% to 30% of officer’s first-year salary
Custom pricing for hourly or project-based roles
Key Points:
Proprietary technology, Cascade, provides real-time data on your search process
Highly customized search processes for better candidate matching
At Robert Half, you will find a large network of pre-vetted finance professionals available for permanent placement or short-term project-based work. Their matching system enables quick placements, often within days. Organizations ranging from SMBs to large corporations to nonprofits can find experts for restructuring, M&A, or crises. They also offer comprehensive support that includes hiring trends reports and consulting services.
Pricing:
Rates range from $150 to $300 per hour
Charges based on hourly rates plus markup fee
Key Points:
Short-notice staffing in contract, temporary, or permanent roles
Additional resources available for informed decisions
Worldwide reach ensures diverse expertise and cost-effective options
Deloitte’s CFO Program focuses on helping organizations navigate complex financial landscapes, offering fractional CFOs with skills in data analytics, financial forecasting, and advanced reporting tools. While not a traditional staffing firm, they offer contract-based financial leaders for high-impact projects, M&A activities, and crisis management. Deloitte frequently works with large multinational corporations that need strategic financial insights.
Pricing:
Premium consulting rates vary by complexity
Project-based fees for larger undertakings
Key Points:
Offers financial professionals with deep industry knowledge and expertise
Creates customized solutions for unique financial challenges
Prioritizes long-term contracts over short-term or highly flexible arrangements
Quickly find fractional, freelance, and part-time CFOs tailored to the needs of your startup, small business, or mid-sized firm on Fintalent. Within 48 hours of posting your opportunity, they promise a shortlist of candidates who you can message and interview before hiring. Fintech also offers remote digital CFO services to help with financial technology integration.
Pricing:
Rates depend on project scope, duration, and CFO seniority
Specific details discussed during project setup
Key Points:
Access to CFOs experienced in worldwide regulations and practices
Available on hourly, monthly retainer, or project-based arrangement
Niche focus on startups and growing businesses
“We needed an interim CFO to help put our fast-growing FinTech on the right track. I found a number of great candidates incredibly fast. We’ve now hired our Fintalent full-time!” — Giacomo Ficari, CEO and Co-Founder, Lifepal
Accenture specializes in consulting, including financial transformation or digital finance projects. They offer interim and part-time CFOs to integrate technology solutions into financial operations with their broader consulting packages. Large tech and innovation-driven companies often rely on Accenture’s expertise for financial leadership. They also provide tailored financial services to specific industries such as healthcare, utilities, and manufacturing.
Pricing:
Task-oriented pricing can run into six or seven figures
Top-tier hourly rates based on scope and skill set
Key Points:
Provides well-rounded part-time CFOs with experience in other critical areas, such as operations and strategy
Focuses on financial operation modernization and digital transformations
Multi-layered service offerings could mean longer onboarding processes
Paro is a finance-specific hiring platform that connects companies with financial experts, including freelance part-time CFOs. Within days, their AI-powered matching technology can find the right pre-vetted candidate to provide the specific services you require. Businesses of all sizes have turned to Paro for highly skilled finance professionals who provide scalable solutions for growing companies.
Pricing:
CFO services start at an hourly rate of $175
Custom pricing based on project complexity
Key Points:
Highly flexible with contracts
Receive direct support throughout the hiring process
Less control over candidate selection due to AI matching
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where organizations can post jobs or reach out to part-time CFOs. It is particularly useful if you want to tap into your professional network of colleagues, clients, and financial industry professionals. Or, you can use LinkedIn’s robust search filters, such as location, education, and experience level to find fresh talent suitable for your company’s requirements.
Pricing:
Pay only when candidates view your listing up to your daily budget
Recruiter plans and enterprise-level packages available
Key Points:
Access a vast professional network with millions of users
Use advanced candidate management and employer branding tools
Targeting freelance or short-term contract workers may be difficult
Upwork features a large worldwide marketplace where you can access over 300,000 candidates to hire freelance part-time CFOs. Post your project, and candidates will send you proposals. If you want to invite professionals to bid on your job, they feature an optimized search engine that narrows applicants according to your general or specific criteria.
Pricing:
Posting jobs and hiring talent is free
More comprehensive plans start at $49.99 monthly
Key Points:
Past interviews and user ratings help screen applicants
24/7 support system for issues or complaints
Sliding scale service fee that decreases the more you work with a freelancer
SimplyHired provides a job search platform that lists part-time and fractional CFO opportunities, although it does not directly offer CFO services itself. Instead, candidates search for and apply directly to your job postings. You can increase your visibility or target specific candidate pools with premium options. Plus, their hiring tools allow you to manage listings, filter applicants, and communicate with your shortlist.
Pricing:
Free basic job posting service
Pay-per-click model and premium listings available
Key Points:
Quick setup to post jobs and start receiving applications
Articles and FAQs help with platform navigation
Customer service is limited to email and a help center
ZipRecruiter allows you to post job openings for high-level financial positions, including fractional CFOs. You also gain access to their vast resume database so that you can proactively search for and contact applicants. Speed up the process with their AI-driven matching that finds and suggests the best part-time CFO candidates. ZipRecruiter also offers 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support.
Pricing:
Free trial for four days including one job post
Paid plans start at $299 per month
Key Points:
Distributes job listings across over 100 job boards
User-friendly interface with simple posting and searching tools
Applicant quality varies widely
"The Resume Database from ZipRecruiter is my top choice for finding qualified candidates in the shortest time possible. It surpasses the competition." — Igor Williams, Lead Recruiter, Butler America
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Guide To Hiring Freelance Part-Time CFOs
Guide to Hiring Freelance Part-Time CFOs
Hiring a part-time CFO with the necessary skills is central to project success since these experts play a pivotal role in shaping financial strategy, managing resources, and making sure that your business stays agile as the market changes. A CFO’s expertise can help a project meet its goals or let it fall short due to poor financial planning or risk management.
Finding the right part-time CFO can be a challenge. Though the role still relies on traditional financial experience, the modern CFO needs to stay adaptable to evolving technologies, like digital finance tools and advanced analytics. Additionally, shifting market trends, such as flexible work environments and digital-first strategies, require skills that many candidates may lack. A 2023 study shows that companies with CFOs well-versed in both traditional finance and emerging tech outperform their competitors in areas like cost control and strategic execution.
Still, reports reveal that over 75% of finance hiring managers have trouble finding talent with the right mix of financial and technological knowledge. In addition, required CFO skill sets continue to shift with the rise of automation and AI. Only 16% of finance leaders believe they are best-in-class when it comes to embracing technology and operational changes, according to EY’s 2023 Global DNA of the CFO study.
We can provide insights and actionable steps for navigating the complex process of hiring a part-time CFO. These strategies will help you find the expert who can drive your business forward in today’s fast-evolving landscape.
Hiring a Freelance Part-Time CFO
When you hire a freelance, part-time CFO, saving money is just the first advantage:
Flexibility: Scale your financial leadership based on immediate needs, whether managing a critical project or handling a short-term challenge.
Specialized Expertise: Freelance CFOs bring specific skills from various industries, offering strategic insights and fresh perspectives.
Faster Hiring Process: Freelance CFOs can usually start immediately to address urgent issues without a lengthy full-time hiring process.
What Does a Part-Time CFO Do?
When you hire a dedicated part-time CFO, you are getting a strategic financial expert who can oversee your financial operations without the cost of a full-time employee.
They are responsible for:
Cash flow management
Financial forecasting
Budgeting
Compliance with financial regulations
You may need a CFO during rapid growth, fundraising, or restructuring; their insights can steer your business’s financial decisions in the right direction.
Part-time CFOs need to be proficient in accounting principles, financial reporting, and strategic planning. They also need to make informed decisions and recommendations based on real-time financial data. That requires advanced skills that include financial modeling, risk management, and experience with digital tools like enterprise resource planning systems and data analytics software.
A major benefit of part-time CFOs for hire is flexibility.
As noted by TechCXO, “Whether you’re ramping up for a new product launch, facing an unexpected financial crisis, or tightening your belt during lean times, a fractional CFO can scale their services to match your needs.”
With a part-time CFO, you can access top-tier financial leadership while tailoring the role to meet your particular challenges. Companies also highly value fractional CFOs for their external perspective. They influence financial operations and strategies with fresh insights that identify inefficiencies and opportunities they might miss otherwise.
What a part-time CFO commonly does is:
High-impact projects such as preparing financial statements for investors
Securing loans or investments
Managing mergers and acquisitions
Improving financial performance.
They can also help you scale your operations by budgeting more efficiently and optimizing cash flow.
Hiring a part-time CFO can yield substantial benefits. You can take advantage of senior-level financial expertise without a long-term commitment or a full-time salary. Plus, you can hire specifically for specialized skills tailored to your project.
When you use a part-time CFO, you can focus on important financial strategies while avoiding the pitfalls of lack of in-house knowledge. Startups and SMBs find this particularly helpful when they need strategic guidance but not a permanent CFO.
Why Hire Part-Time CFOs?
A fractional CFO will manage your company's financial health and strategy on a flexible, as-needed basis. Why you would hire a part-time CFO includes their high-level knowledge during pivotal phases like mergers or navigating financial distress. They can make sure that your company’s financial operations align with its strategic goals. Plus, CFOs can guide you in optimizing resources and improving financial performance.
How To Hire Part-Time CFOs?
How to hire a part-time CFO is with a structured approach to make sure your selection is the best fit.
Determine Your Needs
Who you bring on depends heavily on what your company needs, be it scalable development, securing funding, or managing an acquisition. Ask yourself where you need expertise: Is it cash flow management? Financial forecasting? Financial system upgrades?
Find Industry Experience
After you answer these questions, prioritize candidates who already have a background in your sector, as it has unique financial complexities and regulatory requirements. Understanding your specific industry challenges will help your hire avoid a steep learning curve and give you more targeted advice. For instance, a CFO with fundraising and operation scaling experience would be a great fit for a tech startup.
Distinguish Between Low- and High-Level Talent
Next, you need to know what skills separate the average from the best talent:
Strategic Thinking: The top CFOs think ahead — they express their awareness of factors that drive long-term growth and develop strategies to get you there.
Tech-Savvy: Modern CFOs need to leverage technology to streamline processes and make data-driven decisions.
Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Whether managing your cash flow or assisting with an IPO, your candidate needs to be adaptable and solve problems quickly.
Understand Experience Levels
We can categorize CFOs by their skills and experience:
Junior CFOs may only have a few years of experience, but their foundational skills in financial management and analysis are strong. They are often an affordable choice to help with basic financial functions for startups or small companies.
Mid-level CFOs have at least several years in the field and can manage complex projects like expansions and fundraising. Their well-rounded skills are suitable for leading strategic initiatives.
Senior CFOs are highly skilled professionals with a wealth of expertise, strategic foresight, and extensive experience handling large-scale financial operations. Companies bring them in for high-impact situations that include restructuring or M&A.
What Skills To Look For When Hiring a Part-Time CFO
There are several key factors that you need to consider when listing part-time CFO job requirements to make sure you attract the right candidate. There is a heavy emphasis on balancing technical skills with soft skills; this role requires both extensive financial knowledge and the ability to collaborate effectively with other departments.
Defining what a good cultural fit would look like is just as critical because a CFO who shares your organization's principles and vision can significantly impact your long-term success. This will also help a part-time CFO integrate quickly and efficiently into your existing team as they deliver quality results.
Part-time CFO skills include up-to-date technical capabilities with new financial software, data-driven decision-making, and compliance requirements. They will also need to perform well in cross-functional teams and with strategic planning, and this is where the soft skills come in. These include strong interpersonal and leadership abilities, which will help them hit the ground running.
Top Skills Part-Time CFO Skills
Technical Skills:
Expertise in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and forecasting
Proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP)
Strong understanding of compliance, risk management, and regulatory requirements
Experience with M&A, fundraising, or capital structuring
Data analysis and financial modeling skills, including proficiency in Excel and financial databases
Knowledge of tax laws, auditing, and financial reporting standards, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards
Soft Skills:
Excellent communication skills for cross-departmental collaboration and presenting complex data to stakeholders
Leadership and team management experience, especially in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Problem-solving and critical thinking, with the ability to make quick, informed decisions in a high-stakes environment
Adaptability and flexibility are important for part-time roles where time management and quick integration into a company’s culture are central
According to Vena Solutions, strategic planning and digital adaptability were two of the top traits that successful CFOs attributed to their performance. In addition, a 2024 IBM study emphasized that collaboration between finance and tech is essential to a CFO’s success, with 72% identifying their relationship with the chief technology officer as highly important.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Part-Time CFOs?
Your specific scope and duration will determine most pricing for fractional CFOs. However, you can expect to spend between $1,200 and $2,500 per day. Those numbers can add up, but compared to hiring a full-time CFO with a $225,000 to $300,000 salary, you can easily cut costs by more than 60%.
The other popular part-time CFO pricing model is task-based, and extensive, ongoing projects can run into six or seven figures. Plus, do not forget about hiring platform fees. They are usually a percentage of the CFO’s rates: for example, 20% to 30% of the first-year salary for permanent hires.
Tips for Writing a Part-Time CFO Job Description
When writing a part-time CFO job description, use a compelling tone to clearly define the role and challenging, high-impact work like M&A and digital transformations. Showcase your company’s culture and focus on collaboration and opportunities for growth. Detail their exact responsibilities concisely, and describe how they will contribute directly to your business’s success.
You will get the most well-rounded picture of your candidate by using these three interview methodologies:
Technical assessments will ensure that your potential hire has the skills necessary for complex financial responsibilities.
Behavioral interviews assess past situational performance and gauge adaptability and cultural fit.
Financial scenario exercises help you evaluate their real-time decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
While technical skill evaluations are often straightforward, assessing subtler soft skills requires a more nuanced approach. Pay attention to how candidates explain sophisticated financial concepts: Can they do it clearly and effectively? Scenario-based questions will help you determine their problem-solving acumen by how they gather information, assess risks, and make decisions.
According to research from McKinsey, diverse and inclusive teams are 33% more likely to outperform less diverse teams, highlighting the importance of equitable hiring processes. The following techniques can help you conduct fair and unbiased candidate reviews:
Structured interviews
Blind assessments
Diverse hiring panels
Make sure you stay objective and focus on measurable skills through standardized financial exercises and evaluations.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Are Looking To Hire a Part-Time CFO
Can you describe a time when you helped a company overcome a major financial challenge? What was your approach?
Your candidate should describe an actual scenario where they addressed a challenge, such as a regulatory compliance issue. They should demonstrate critical thinking, financial judgment, and leadership through how they gathered data, involved stakeholders, and made strategic decisions.
How do you balance short-term financial needs with long-term growth strategies?
The ideal answer includes experience in maintaining operational cash flow while planning for strategic growth. Your candidate should mention techniques like cost management, capital allocation, or investing in growth opportunities that do not sacrifice financial stability.
How do you ensure alignment with a company’s overall strategy and culture in a part-time role?
Look for a response that expresses your candidate’s ability to quickly integrate into a company’s existing culture by actively listening, understanding the company’s vision and values, and aligning financial strategies with broader business goals.
How do you handle conflicts or differing opinions with other executives when making financial decisions?
Experience with collaboration, transparency, and data-driven decision-making should be clear from your candidate’s answer. You might hear about an example where they worked through disagreements by presenting financial data and explaining their impact so they could form a consensus.
How To Find Freelance Part-Time CFOs for Hire
To find part-time CFOs, utilize sources like freelance marketplaces, job boards, and outsourcing agencies. Freelance platforms such as Upwork and Toptal provide quick access to vetted professionals, with Toptal offering flexible, niche-focused talent and strong customer support. Job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed offer broad access but often require more manual vetting. Outsourcing agencies like Paro specialize in matching companies with finance experts and handle much of the hiring process for you.
When determining the best sites to hire part-time CFOs, consider hiring speed, level of service, and matching quality. For instance, Toptal offers scalable, high-quality CFO talent, while LinkedIn provides a larger pool but requires more input from the hiring manager. Before hiring, think about factors like budget, speed, required experience, necessary quality level, and remote eligibility. Attending industry events, taking advantage of professional networks, or partnering with executive MBA programs can also be where to find part-time CFOs for hire.
Strategically hiring part-time CFOs is essential for shaping your company’s financial leadership and positioning it for sustainable growth. By recognizing the shifting dynamics in financial management, creating focused recruitment strategies, and conducting thorough interviews, you can attract and keep the top financial talent.
The right part-time CFO will not only refine your financial strategies but also strengthen your business for the future. Bringing on a part-time CFO allows you to balance expertise and cost-effectiveness by tapping into expert financial guidance as needed without committing to a full-time role.
FAQ
Where can I hire part-time CFOs?
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