Scaling Smart: How to Build Your Finance Leadership Team After Series A Funding

From Series A to Scale

Securing Series A funding is a defining moment for any startup. It’s validation that your business model is working, your product has traction, and investors see potential for significant growth. But with this new capital comes greater financial responsibility, investor scrutiny, and the need for financial leadership that can scale with you.

For many Founders and CEOs of recently VC backed businesses, this is the first time they’ve had to think seriously about building an in-house finance team. Up until now, they may have relied on outsourced bookkeeping or a junior finance professional. But as they move into this next phase, they need a more structured finance function that can provide strategic oversight, financial governance, and future-proofing for Series B and beyond.

However, knowing where to start can be overwhelming.

• When do we bring finance skills in-house?
• How to hire a finance team after Series A?
• What kind of finance leader does your scale-up need?
• How do we ensure we’re making the right hire for our future growth?

These are common concerns—and the reality is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best hiring strategy for a Series A business depends entirely on your future plans.

Here’s how Series A businesses can map out the right finance leadership structure for their specific growth trajectory.

1 | The Role of Finance Leadership After Series A

Why You Need a Dedicated Finance Leader Now

With new investment in the business, financial complexity increases dramatically. Your investors expect clear reporting, financial discipline, and a roadmap for how their capital will be deployed to drive growth. A well-structured finance function helps with:

Investor Relations & Financial Strategy – Your investors will expect regular updates on burn rate, revenue forecasting, and runway.

Data-Driven Decision Making – A strong finance leader ensures that growth decisions are backed by accurate financial models and forecasts.

Cash Flow & Operational Control – Scaling without clear financial oversight can lead to unexpected cash flow issues and poor cost control.

Preparation for Series B & Beyond – Many Series A businesses are already thinking ahead to Series B. The right finance hire today can ensure your business is ready for that next funding round.

What Roles to Hire After Series A Funding?

One of the most important considerations is hiring the right level of seniority based on your current and future needs. There are different approaches depending on your business model, growth strategy, and investor expectations.

📢 Cedar Insight: Some businesses assume they need a CFO right away, but depending on their model, a strong Head of Finance or Financial Controller may be the better first hire. We help startups build a finance hiring roadmap that matches their scaling needs.

2 | The Most Common Hiring Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)

While many leaders understand they need a finance leader, knowing when and how to hire is where mistakes often happen. Here are some of the biggest pitfalls:

🚩 Pitfall 1: Delaying Key Hires Until It’s Too Late

Some startups delay hiring because they assume they can manage with outsourced finance functions a little longer. But without a dedicated, in-house finance leader, businesses often find themselves reacting to financial issues instead of proactively managing them.

🔹 Solution: Start planning early. Notice periods for strong CFOs and Head of Finance can be 3-6 months, so waiting until you “need” someone could mean a dangerous gap in financial oversight, or a rushed recruitment process.

🚩 Pitfall 2: Underestimating Cost & Budgeting for Finance Talent

Many startups believe outsourcing finance is cheaper, but this often isn’t the case. Outsourced finance providers can be costly, and they’re not fully embedded in your business, meaning they lack the same commitment and strategic alignment.

🔹 Solution: We help businesses assess the long-term cost benefits of in-house finance hires versus outsourcing, ensuring they bring in the right expertise at the right time.

🚩 Pitfall 3: Hiring for Today, Not the Future

Hiring a finance leader without considering your 2-3 year roadmap can lead to growing pains. If you’re planning for Series B or C funding, the finance team you build today needs to scale with you, not hold you back.

🔹 Solution: By taking a long-term view of finance hiring, businesses can future-proof their finance structure so they don’t have to replace hires too soon or make expensive missteps.

3 | Case Study: JustPark – Building the Right Finance Team for Scale

Want to see how Cedar helps startups like yours build high-performing finance teams? [Link to more case studies]

4 | The Right Finance Strategy for Your Unique Growth Plan

The key takeaway? There’s no single right way to hire finance leadership. The right hire for your business depends on:

✅ Your 2-3 year roadmap – Are you preparing for Series B? Planning acquisitions? Expanding internationally?

✅ Your USP & Growth Strategy – How are you deploying your Series A funding, and what financial expertise will be most valuable?

✅ Your Existing Finance Setup – Do you need hands-on finance leadership (Financial Controller) or high-level strategic oversight (CFO)?

At Cedar, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all hiring. We work with Founders and CEOs to build a tailored hiring strategy that ensures their finance leadership is the right fit for their long-term vision.

What’s Next?

Hiring a finance leader after Series A is about more than just filling roles—it’s about laying the foundation for long-term success. By bringing in the right finance leadership, businesses like yours can ensure they scale efficiently, meet investor expectations, and build a sustainable future.

Need to hire a CFO, Head of Finance or Financial Controller?

Want a recruitment partner who understands growth-stage hiring?

Contact Cedar today