VP of FP&A search
A VP of FP&A leads your budget, forecasts and the long-range plan, and turns them into reporting your board and operating leaders actually use. You get a search for a planner who combines solid modeling with the credibility to push back on business unit heads.
The VP of FP&A role and its market
The VP of FP&A owns the annual budget, the rolling forecast and the long-range plan. The role produces board and lender reporting, tracks unit economics and works as a business partner to sales, operations and product leaders. It usually reports to the CFO. In larger companies the VP of FP&A may lead several planning teams aligned to divisions, while at mid-sized companies it is often a small, senior team. Planning systems such as Anaplan, Adaptive Planning or Pigment, together with Power BI for reporting, are common parts of the job.
Experienced FP&A leaders are often on the path to CFO, and in larger companies this role is a common step toward it. That keeps demand steady. Searches go wrong when a company hires a strong modeler who cannot hold a room with operating leaders, or a polished presenter whose forecasts do not hold up. Systems experience can also be a trap: deep knowledge of one planning tool matters less than the ability to design the planning process around your business.
What sets a strong VP of FP&A apart
Each of these can be tested in interview or through references before an offer.
- Forecast accuracy
- Ask how close their forecasts came over several quarters and how they explained the misses. Former CFOs can confirm it.
- Business partner standing
- Operating leaders they supported should say the candidate changed decisions, beyond producing reports.
- Planning process design
- Strong candidates can describe how they redesigned a budget cycle and why, with the systems as a tool.
- Board-ready communication
- Have them walk you through a board pack they built. Clear, short explanations of variance are a good sign.
How we assess VP of FP&A candidates
Candidates meet the CFO and two or three operating leaders they would support, in structured interviews tied to the brief. Finalists work through a planning case built from your business, such as a reforecast after a lost customer or a long-range plan for a new product line, and present it to the panel. References come from CFOs, operating leaders and members of their own team, on and off their list. Planning system experience is checked against what you run or plan to run.
What shapes VP of FP&A compensation
Compensation for a VP of FP&A depends on company size, ownership, the size of the planning team and whether the role is seen as a CFO successor. The package usually includes base salary, an annual bonus and long-term incentives: equity awards at public companies, options at venture-backed companies and management equity in some PE-backed businesses. Location also matters. We agree the package with the CFO or compensation committee before outreach starts.
Other finance searches
Hiring a VP of FP&A: common questions
How long does a VP of FP&A search take?
These searches usually take a few months from brief to accepted offer. The timeline depends on the industry, location and the planning systems experience you need.
Do candidates need experience with our planning software?
It helps, but it is rarely decisive. Someone who has designed a planning process in Anaplan, Adaptive Planning or Pigment can usually learn another tool quickly.
Is FP&A experience in our industry important?
Industry knowledge speeds up the first months, particularly where unit economics are specific, such as subscription software or multi-site healthcare. Strong planners from adjacent industries are often worth including.
Can the VP of FP&A be a future CFO?
In many companies it is a natural step. If that is the plan, test candidates on treasury, capital structure and audit committee exposure as well as planning.
Discuss your VP of FP&A search
Send the title, the reporting line, the ownership of the business and when you need the person in place. We will reply to set up a call about the brief.
Prefer email? Write to info@executivesearchfirms.org.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.