Bringing on a CFO is one of the most critical decisions a startup can make—but how do you know when it’s the right time? And more importantly, how do you find someone with the right skills to drive growth, manage complexity, and scale alongside your company?

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, hosts Alex and Lauren sit down with Dav Masaon, Co-Founder of executive search firm Zanda, to explore what it really takes to hire the right CFO in today’s fast-changing startup landscape.

Together, they dive into:

• When and why to bring on your first CFO
• The biggest hiring mistakes founders make
• How the role of the CFO is evolving in the age of AI and automation
• Why financial discipline is more important than ever
• What differentiates a great startup CFO from a corporate one

Dav shares expert insights into the traits to look for in finance leaders—from scrappiness and stage-fit to international hiring nuances—offering practical tips for founders, investors, and finance leaders alike.

Whether you’re scaling a startup or refining your leadership team, this episode is packed with must-know advice for building a high-performing finance function in 2025.

01:06 Meet Our Guest: Dav Masaon, Co-Founder of Zanda

02:23 When to Hire a CFO: Key Considerations

08:49 The Evolving Role of the CFO

12:24 Challenges and Pressures Faced by CFOs

17:27 Financial Relationship Management: A New Era

19:14 Recruiting Trends and CFO Backgrounds

20:21 Challenges of Transitioning from Corporate to Startup CFO

20:57 Key Traits for a Successful Startup CFO

21:24 The Role of AI and Automation in Finance

22:32 Importance of Background and Experience for CFOs

24:58 Hiring the Right CFO at the Right Stage

27:48 Evaluating Candidates' Understanding of Startups

31:06 Pitching to Candidates Like Investors

31:20 Comparing US and UK Markets for CFOs

Subscribe for more insights on startup finance, leadership, and growth.

Connect with Dav on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davmasaon/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/

Find the full video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JwItKrlAZjk?si=_5rvedB8vWv63iSA

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and explore how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high-performing organizations.

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business.

Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/.

Feedback or praise for the podcast? Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]