CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
Leads the finance function: cash and performance steering, fundraising, compliance and strategic partnership with the CEO.
Why this hire matters.
The CFO has moved from guardian of the books to strategic copilot: they secure the runway, structure fundraises (a credible CFO changes the dynamic of a due diligence), install the financial discipline that lets you grow without losing control, and give the CEO the economic read on every decision — pricing, hiring, expansion. Get it wrong and you fly blind: cash surprises, poorly prepared raises, artisanal board reporting that erodes investor confidence. The right calibration depends on your stage: a structured finance manager often suffices until Series A; a true CFO becomes critical when financing, multi-entity or profitability stakes get complex. The fractional CFO is an excellent transition format — precisely one of the models GetPro operates.
Key missions.
- Steer cash, budget and financial trajectory
- Prepare and execute fundraises (or debt)
- Produce board and investor reporting
- Structure the finance team (accounting, controlling, FP&A)
- Guarantee tax, social and legal compliance
- Inform strategic decisions (pricing, build vs buy, M&A)
- Manage banks, auditors and lawyers
Skills.
Technical skills
- Full corporate finance
- Fundraising and investor relations
- Modeling and SaaS metrics
- French accounting and taxation
- Legal structuring
Expected qualities
- CEO partnership
- Rigor and perspective
- Board communication
- Integrity
Common stack
Salaries 2025-2026
| Level | Experience | Annual gross base |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Admin Manager | 6-10 yrs | 50–82 k€ |
| Startup / scale-up CFO | 10-15 yrs | 90–160 k€ |
| SMB / mid-cap CFO | 15+ yrs | 110–220 k€ |
Paris market ranges, 2025-2026.
Outside the Paris region, expect 10 to 15 % less.
Sources : Robert Half 2026 (DAF ETI médiane ~150k, 25e-75e : 110-220k) · Licorne Society 2026 (CFO scale-up médiane 125k) · Michael Page Executive 2026
-10% à -15% hors Île-de-France (grilles parisiennes en full-remote)
Hiring this profile.
Typical background
Audit/TS (Big Four), banking or controlling grown into finance leadership; scale-up CFOs have usually lived a raise from the company side.
When to hire
A finance manager as soon as finance can't stay outsourced (30-50 people); a CFO before a Series B or when financial stakes turn strategic. Fractional covers the in-between.
Career path
Finance manager → Scale-up CFO → Mid-cap/group CFO → CEO, board member or fund.