Financial Headhunters
How much does a finance recruiter cost?
Start a Search Financial Headhunters Salary Guide
Financial Headhunters works on contingency for permanent searches. There is no upfront fee. You pay only if you hire someone we introduced. The signed recruiting agreement defines the fee and the payment terms. Ask us to explain those terms before we start contacting candidates for your opening.
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
When is a recruiting fee due?
An introduction alone does not create an invoice for a hire. An interview does not either. The payment event is the hire described in the signed agreement. Read that definition before authorizing a search, particularly if another person in your business will approve the invoice or negotiate the employment offer.
An owner may approve the search while a finance director handles the offer. Both need the same understanding of the agreement. Tell us who approves compensation and who can sign. We would rather settle an unanswered contract question before approaching someone than have it interrupt an accepted offer.
What belongs in the signed agreement?
The agreement should identify the parties and explain what counts as an introduction and a hire. It also controls the fee, payment obligations and any replacement terms. A short conversation about those provisions is useful. A sentence on a website is not a substitute for the actual document you sign.
We do not publish a standard percentage here. Your opening and the agreed service scope belong in a written discussion. If you have procurement requirements or an existing vendor process, raise them at the start. Do not ask a candidate to wait while a fee question travels through approval.
Does a confidential search change the conversation?
It changes how we handle the search, not the need to agree terms. Tell us whether the incumbent is still in the seat and who may know about the replacement. We can discuss a controlled approach and which information should stay out of the first conversation with prospective candidates.
Confidential does not mean promising that nobody could infer who is hiring. A narrow local market may recognize a reporting line or an unusual system requirement. We discuss what can be shared at each stage and check your preferences before providing identifying detail.
What does the replacement policy say?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
Discuss the written conditions before the search begins. Keep an approved copy where the hiring manager and the person handling the invoice can find it. If a question arises after a hire starts, refer to that agreement rather than relying on a remembered conversation or a shortened website description.
What do we not charge for or promise here?
Our default permanent-search model does not use hourly billing or an upfront retainer. A different arrangement would need separate agreement; it is not implied by sending us an opening. Nor does a submitted role create a promise of a particular shortlist date. Scope and market constraints still matter.
We are not selling a job-board repost. The search starts with the work, then moves to people whose background fits it. If we do not find someone you hire under the agreed terms, you owe no placement fee. Candidates decide for themselves whether a conversation and a move make sense.
How do contract requests fit?
Permanent placement remains the default. A defined contract need, temp-to-perm request or busy-season assignment is a separate discussion, with terms set for that engagement. This permanent-placement fee page does not describe a contract worker's pay arrangement or suggest that we employ, pay or insure anyone on assignment.
Describe the reason for coverage and the work that needs doing. A reconciliation backlog is a different request from taking over a permanent controller seat. We will discuss whether the assignment has a workable scope before treating it as an agreed engagement.
Where can you go next?
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
Questions people ask
Do we pay to send you an opening?
Sending the opening does not carry an upfront placement fee. We discuss the work and put the applicable search terms in writing before the search proceeds.
What if nobody is hired?
A permanent placement fee is not due merely because we searched or introduced people. Payment depends on a hire under the signed agreement.
Can we discuss an existing candidate introduction?
Yes. Raise it before proceeding with interviews so we can check the introduction and the written terms. Do not leave an ownership question until an offer is accepted.
What about a counteroffer?
A fee discussion is not a reason to skip the candidate's decision. Ask what they want to change and whether the proposed move actually addresses it; an accepted counteroffer can stop a hire.
What replacement terms apply?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.