Frequently Asked Questions:
What does a Head of Finance do?
A Head of Finance owns the finance function at a $5M to $50M company: monthly close, FP&A, cash management, fundraising support, and the metrics the CEO and board read every month. They run a small team and report to the CEO or CFO.
How much does it cost to hire a Head of Finance?
U.S. salaries for this role have climbed sharply in recent years. Head of Finances in the U.S. command an average U.S. salary of $10,800 per month compared with an average Latin American salary of $4,500 per month, creating potential savings of up to 58%. The LatAm talent pool is deep across countries like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and most candidates South places have direct experience supporting U.S. companies.
Can a U.S.-based company hire a remote Head of Finance from Latin America?
Yes, and most U.S. teams already do. South contracts the Head of Finance locally, handles compliance and payroll, and bills you monthly. The hire joins your tools, standups, and Slack like a domestic teammate. Time-zone alignment is the unlock: same-day collaboration without the async lag of EMEA or APAC.
What skills should I look for when hiring a Head of Finance?
Strong accounting fundamentals, FP&A experience, comfort with NetSuite or a comparable ERP, fundraising or M&A exposure, and the executive presence to hold the line on spending. CPA, CFA, or MBA is common but not required.
What tools and software should a Head of Finance know?
The standard stack varies by team, but expect fluency with: NetSuite, QuickBooks, Excel, Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Workday, Carta, DocuSign, Bill.com. Beyond tools, look for judgment about when to reach for which tool, and the discipline to document choices for the next person on the project.
How is a Head of Finance different from a Financial Analyst?
A Financial Analyst owns models and reports as an individual contributor. A Head of Finance owns the function: team, processes, board reporting, and executive partnership. Hire the analyst for capacity; hire the head of finance to actually run it.
How can South help me hire a Head of Finance?
South sources LatAm finance leaders with U.S. GAAP experience and prior controller, VP Finance, or Head of Finance titles. You see a shortlist in a week, interview directly, and onboard inside three to four weeks. Schedule a free call here to get started!
Interview Questions:
- Walk me through the last close cycle you owned. How long did it take?
- How do you build a 13-week cash flow forecast?
- Describe a time you flagged a financial issue to the CEO that they did not see coming.
- How would you set up our budgeting and forecasting cadence?
- Walk me through how you manage a fundraising data room.
- Describe your view on when to hire a controller versus a VP Finance.
- How do you structure financial reporting for a board pack?
- What is your approach to internal controls at our stage?
- Walk me through a tough vendor or contract negotiation you led.
- How do you handle disagreement with a CEO on spending priorities?
Related Roles:
Related Skills:
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