Hire an ecommerce CFO who turns growth into cash
In ecommerce, growth uses cash before it makes any. A strong CFO knows where the money is tied up and how to fund the next stage without giving away control of the business.
About this role
An ecommerce CFO owns the financial engine of the brand. Cash flow and working capital, inventory funding, margin by channel, forecasting and reporting to the board and investors. In a growing D2C or omnichannel brand, the CFO often follows a bookkeeper, a finance manager and a fractional CFO. The step up usually comes with a capital raise, a new lender or a board that wants better numbers, faster.
Ecommerce CFO recruitment is a small market. The strongest candidates are already running finance for another brand and rarely respond to a job ad. We reach them directly through our executive search practice. Revere Recruitment places finance leadership across ecommerce and retail brands throughout Australia.
Roles we place
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Finance Director
Head of Finance
Commercial Director
General Manager Finance
CFO & COO (combined role)
Key skills to look for
Cash and working capital Understands the cash conversion cycle in a stock-holding business. Supplier deposits, freight lead times, stock on hand and payment terms. Plans working capital for peak before the purchase orders go out.
Inventory funding Has put trade finance, a stock facility or debt in place and managed the lender relationship. Knows the cost of carrying too much stock and the cost of running out.
Margin by channel Can show true contribution margin for the website, marketplaces, wholesale and stores after fulfilment, returns, discounting and payment fees. Landed cost is built into every SKU, not estimated at year end.
Board and investor reporting Produces a board pack that tells the story of the month in a few pages. Comfortable being challenged by investors and answering with numbers.
Raise and exit readiness Has taken a business through a raise, due diligence or a sale, or built the data room to be ready for one. Clean numbers are worth money on the day a buyer looks at them.
Systems and team Builds the finance stack around Shopify, the ERP and the inventory system so month-end closes fast and the data can be trusted. Hires and develops a finance team as the business outgrows its first one.
Executive Salary Guide
What does an ecommerce CFO earn in Australia?
CFO packages usually include a short-term incentive. In investor-backed brands, equity or an option plan is common.
Frequently asked questions
When should we move from a fractional CFO to a full-time CFO? Usually when finance stops being a monthly job and becomes a daily one. Common triggers are a capital raise, a new debt facility, a move into wholesale or offshore markets, or a board asking questions a part-time CFO has no hours to answer. If the business spends more time chasing its numbers than using them, the role is ready.
Does an ecommerce CFO need ecommerce experience? Strongly preferred. Product businesses have their own finance problems: landed cost, stock write-downs, returns provisioning and marketing spend that moves daily. A CFO from services or SaaS can be excellent, but will need time to learn how cash moves through a stock-holding business. We'll tell you where a candidate's background fits and where it doesn't.
What is the difference between a CFO and a Head of Finance? A Head of Finance usually runs the function: month-end, reporting, payables and the finance team. A CFO sits on the executive team and owns strategy, funding and investor relationships. Many brands hire a Head of Finance first and grow the role into a CFO.
Can a CFO search stay confidential? Yes. A lot of our executive recruitment work happens before the wider team, or the incumbent, knows a search is under way. We approach candidates directly and never advertise the role.
Ready to find your CFO?
Tell us about the role and we'll come back to you within one business day.