CFO vs Finance Director — What’s the Difference, and Which Do You Need?

CFO or Finance Director — what’s the difference, and which one do you actually need?

Finance Director = Operational

They run the engine room:

– Month-end

– Reporting

– Controls

– Team leadership

Perfect if you need tight governance, solid numbers, and a steady hand.

CFO = Strategic

They look forward, not just back.

– Fundraising

– Forecasting

– Board-level input

– Big commercial decisions

Ideal when you’re scaling, raising, or planning an exit.

Some businesses need both.

The FD keeps things running.

The CFO drives the future.

And together — they bring control and clarity.

At Pitch Hill Partners, we help founders make the right finance leadership call — for where the business is now, and where it’s going.

Need help figuring it out? Drop me a message. No pitch. Just perspective.

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