CFO recruitment in Sydney for startups and scale-ups
Hiring your first CFO? Story Recruitment places two roles only, the first finance hire and the first CFO, and Tom Hunter runs every search himself.
Hiring a CFO in Sydney? Start with your email.
Tom calls you back, usually within one business day. Or call 02 9099 7619.
Why founders in Sydney brief Story
- Specialist in first CFOs for VC-backed tech, fintech and deep tech businesses
- Sydney-based, with a network of more than 30,000 accounting and finance professionals across Australia
- Retained search at 18% of total remuneration, paid in thirds, with a six-month replacement guarantee
- An honest read before you sign: if you need a fractional CFO rather than a search, you will hear that first
Sydney is home base and one of the two markets where almost all of the work sits, alongside Melbourne. Tom hosts The CFO Track podcast, where sitting Australian CFOs talk through how they built their functions, and referrals from the senior CFOs he has come to know through it feed his searches.
What CFO recruitment costs
Our fee is published, which most firms do not do. On a CFO package of $300,000 total remuneration, 18% is $54,000, paid as three instalments of $18,000.
| What it means for you | Our terms | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | A known cost, set against the package you agree with the hire. | 18% of total remuneration, including super. |
| When you pay | Payments track work delivered, not only the outcome. | A third at the start, a third at shortlist and interviews, a third about ten days after written acceptance. |
| If it does not work out | The risk of a failed hire does not sit only with you. | A free replacement search within the first six months. |
| Who runs it | One person from brief to offer. | Tom Hunter, personally, on every search. |
CFO salaries in Australian startups: the data
Our Startup Finance Salary Database holds 256 sourced salary figures from 104 funded Australian startups: pay bands from the companies' own job ads, and salaries reported for the same role at the same company. Every figure links to its source.
- CFO salaries (2 figures)
- Finance salaries in tech startups (170 figures)
- Finance salaries in deep tech startups (37 figures)
- Finance salaries in fintech startups (30 figures)
How the search runs
Brief to signed contract averages about three weeks on Tom's searches. Most CFOs are on three months' notice, so plan on your CFO starting about four months after the brief.
The brief
Tom sits with you and writes down the real story of the business: what the CFO walks into on day one and what they have to build. That brief becomes the scorecard.
The search
The role goes to market as a story post, alongside market mapping and direct approaches to finance leaders who are not looking.
The shortlist
A small number of people Tom has met and assessed against the brief, each with a clear trade-off. Then three interviews: getting to know each other, a case study on a real problem in your business, and a culture conversation.
The offer
References with permission, then a signed contract. Tom stays in touch through the notice period and the first months in the seat.
The full detail, including where first CFOs are found and when a recruiter is the wrong call, is in our guide to CFO recruitment.
What clients and candidates say
“It's not like 'we got you the guy, see you later.' I've never seen that before with another recruiter. I'd absolutely do it again and recommend it.”
“From getting a shortlist super quickly to match our need through to supporting the hiring and onboarding process and post start follow up has been exceptional.”
Read every recommendation in full · Our ranking of CFO recruiters in Sydney (we publish it and rank ourselves first, on criteria anyone can check)
Common questions
How much does CFO recruitment cost in Sydney?
Our retained fee is 18% of the CFO's total remuneration including super, paid in thirds: at the start, at shortlist, and about ten days after written acceptance. On a $300,000 package that is $54,000. If the hire does not work out in the first six months, we run the replacement search free.
How long does it take to hire a CFO in Sydney?
Brief to signed contract averages about three weeks on our searches. Most CFOs are on three months' notice, so plan on your CFO starting about four months after the brief.
Do you only recruit CFOs?
We place two roles: the first finance hire and the first CFO, for founder-led and VC-backed tech, fintech and deep tech businesses. That covers heads of finance and financial controllers when they are the first senior finance seat.
Do you recruit CFOs outside Sydney?
Yes. Melbourne is the other core market, and we have placed roles in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin.
Tell Tom about the role
The stage, the round you are raising next and the timeline. You will get an honest read on the level, the market and the cost before you commit, and if it is not a search yet, Tom will say so.
Prefer to talk first? Call 02 9099 7619 or email info@storyrecruitment.com.au.