Every organisation reaching scale eventually reviews how to hire a director of finance talent capable of guiding long-term financial planning. This role strengthens forecasting discipline, improves reporting quality, and ensures financial decisions support growth without exposing the company to avoidable risks.

What is a Director of Finance?

A Director of Finance oversees budgeting, forecasting, reporting quality, and financial controls while guiding long-term planning. Organisations hire them to stabilise financial decision-making and protect future growth. 

Pro Tip: Begin with a clear director of finance job description to define scope, oversight areas, and performance expectations for the role.

Where to Find the Best Director of Finance Candidates?

Finding strong Director of Finance talent means sourcing from places where experienced finance leaders exchange insights on planning, risk, and compliance. These communities help you identify candidates with the judgment, leadership, and forecasting depth required for high-stakes financial roles.

• LinkedIn groups for senior finance leaders
• CFO and controller-focused professional forums
• Finance leadership conferences and roundtables
• Specialist job boards for director-level finance roles
• Internal referrals from finance and audit teams
• Alumni networks of finance certifications
• Communities discussing budgeting and compliance practices
• Leadership networks within industry associations

How to Screen for a Good Director of Finance?

Screening a Director of Finance requires understanding how they judge financial risk, handle ambiguity, and guide teams through planning cycles. A structured flow helps you see how they interpret data, communicate trade-offs, and maintain discipline during high-stakes financial decisions.

• Begin by reviewing exposure to budgeting, forecasting, and cross-functional financial leadership.
• Use a short exercise to observe how they analyse numbers and prioritise constraints.
• Ask them to explain a past financial decision to gauge reasoning and communication clarity.
• Confirm confidence with controls, reporting standards, and conversations involving financial risk.

How to Assess the Skills of a Director of Finance?

Assessing a Director of Finance requires understanding how they guide planning cycles, interpret financial patterns, and communicate trade-offs across senior teams. A strong assessment approach reveals how they balance growth with control, respond to volatility, and manage sensitive decisions that affect long-term organisational stability.

Quick Tip: A practical director of finance test helps you observe how candidates handle planning assumptions and financial trade-offs.

What Soft Skills Are Important for a Director of Finance?

Soft skills shape how a Director of Finance leads discussions, manages uncertainty, and aligns teams around responsible financial decisions while maintaining steady communication with senior leadership.

• Clear financial storytelling
• Calm handling of difficult conversations
• Consistent stakeholder alignment
• Structured decision communication
• Strong leadership presence

Hard Skills of a Director of Finance That You Must Test

Hard skills show whether a candidate can manage forecasting, budgeting, reporting accuracy, and financial controls while guiding teams through complex financial reviews.

• Forecasting and scenario planning
• Budget ownership and analysis
• Compliance and control knowledge
• Financial risk evaluation
• Advanced reporting capability

How to Interview a Director of Finance?

Interviewing a Director of Finance helps you understand how candōidates handle financial pressure, communicate constraints, and support leadership during planning cycles. Use the conversation to see how they explain key decisions, address uncertainty, and maintain control without blocking momentum. The table below will help you recognise judgment patterns and leadership habits that reveal long-term reliability.

Bonus Resources: Bring in director of finance interview questions that push candidates to explain uncertain forecasts with confidence.

How Much Does a Director of Finance Cost?

Director of Finance compensation varies based on industry complexity, reporting expectations, and experience managing planning cycles. Salaries rise significantly in sectors that demand strong compliance, advanced modelling, and oversight of multi-entity structures. The table below provides a clear picture of common benchmarks across major regions and seniority levels.

Conclusion

Hiring a Director of Finance requires evaluating how candidates manage planning cycles, interpret financial signals, and support leadership during critical decisions. A clear, structured process helps you identify steady, strategic thinkers. For assessment solutions that support senior finance hiring, connect with PMaps at 8591320212 or assessment@pmaps.in