Revisiting: What Makes a Great CFO? Expert CFO Recruiter, Dav Masaon, Tell Us

<p>When is the <em>right</em> time to hire your first CFO? And what actually separates a great one from an expensive mistake?</p><p>In this re-released standout episode of <em>The Growth-Minded CFO</em>, we revisit our conversation with Dav Masaon, Co-Founder of executive search firm Zanda, to unpack one of the most high-stakes decisions founders make: hiring a CFO who can truly scale with the business.</p><p>This isn’t a checklist of qualifications. It’s a practical look at what happens when companies bring in finance leadership too early, too late - or with the wrong expectations.</p><p>Dav brings a front-row view from placing CFOs across high-growth startups globally, sharing how the role is evolving fast in response to tighter capital, rising expectations, and the growing influence of AI and automation.</p><p>A clear tension runs through the conversation: startups don’t just need financial oversight anymore. They need operators who can balance discipline with ambition - driving growth while building the foundations for long-term performance.</p><p>We also dig into what founders consistently get wrong. From over-indexing on “big company” experience to underestimating the importance of stage-fit, Dav explains why the best CFO hires aren’t always the most obvious on paper.</p><p>If you’re a CFO or finance leader looking to understand what truly sets the best apart — from how they operate to the traits and experiences that define them — this episode will help you benchmark and sharpen your own approach.</p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><li>When and why companies should hire their first CFO</li><li>The biggest finance hiring mistakes founders make</li><li>What differentiates a great startup CFO from a corporate, and why that matters for CFO hiring</li><li>How the CFO role is evolving with AI and automation</li><li>Why financial discipline matters more than ever</li><li>How to evaluate candidates for stage-fit and real impact.</li></ul><p>Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.</p><p><em>The Growth-Minded CFO</em> podcast challenges the status quo and explores 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) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.</p><p>This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.</p><p>Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at <a href="https://upflow.io/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://upflow.io/</a></p><p>Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at <a href="" rel="noopener">joseph.sweeney@upflow.io</a></p>