CFO Case Study: Strengthening Financial Leadership in a £70m SaaS Scale-Up

CFO Case Study: Strengthening Financial Leadership in a £70m SaaS Scale-Up

Introduction

Harper May supported a £70m SaaS business in appointing a CFO, following a period of strong growth but increasing pressure around financial clarity and decision-making.

While performance appeared strong on paper, the leadership team lacked confidence in the numbers driving the business.

This case study highlights how a strategic CFO appointment improved financial visibility, strengthened forecasting, and supported investor confidence in a scaling SaaS environment.

Challenges in Financial Leadership for a SaaS Scale-Up

The business had achieved significant growth, supported by an established finance team and structured reporting processes.

However, several critical issues were emerging:

• Financial data lacked consistency across departments
• Limited confidence in forecasting and forward-looking SaaS metrics
• Finance was not fully embedded in commercial decision-making
• Investor discussions were increasingly driven by assumptions rather than insight

This is a common challenge in SaaS scale-ups, where growth can outpace financial infrastructure and leadership.

How Harper May Assessed the CFO Requirement

Harper May was engaged to support a CFO recruitment process for a SaaS business, with a focus on strengthening financial leadership.

Rather than focusing purely on technical capability, we assessed:

• The reliability of financial reporting and forecasting
• The relationship between finance and commercial teams
• The level of finance involvement in strategic decisions
• Investor expectations and reporting requirements

This identified a clear requirement for a CFO capable of delivering strategic finance leadership within a high-growth SaaS environment.

How Harper May Delivered the CFO Appointment

Harper May leveraged its established network of CFOs across SaaS and technology businesses to identify candidates with experience in high-growth and investor-backed environments.

Rather than relying solely on active candidates, the search focused on passive CFO talent with a proven track record in SaaS finance leadership.

This included:

• Targeted outreach to CFOs within SaaS scale-ups and technology businesses
• Benchmarking candidates against both technical and commercial leadership requirements
• Assessing experience across SaaS metrics, forecasting, and investor engagement
• Aligning candidates to the business’s stage of growth and strategic objectives

This approach ensured the appointed CFO could deliver immediate impact across financial reporting, forecasting, and board-level decision-making.

Strategic CFO Appointment in a SaaS Business

The appointed CFO brought a combination of technical expertise and commercial leadership.

Key areas of impact included:

• Rebuilding confidence in financial reporting and SaaS metrics
• Implementing structured forecasting and performance tracking
• Embedding finance into pricing strategy, growth planning, and capital allocation
• Supporting investor readiness and board-level discussions

This reflects the evolving role of a SaaS CFO, where finance leadership extends beyond reporting into strategic influence.

Results: Improved Financial Confidence and Strategic Clarity

Following the appointment:

• Confidence in financial data and reporting improved significantly
• Forecasting became more accurate and aligned to business performance
• Finance played a central role in commercial and strategic decision-making
• Investor conversations became more structured and data-driven

The business moved from growth with uncertainty to growth with clarity, control, and confidence.

Rethinking CFO Recruitment in SaaS Scale-Ups

This case highlights a key reality:

Growth does not automatically create financial confidence.

Without strong financial leadership, SaaS businesses can struggle with visibility, forecasting, and investor alignment.

A well-positioned CFO bridges this gap — not just by improving reporting, but by embedding finance into the core of the business.

If your SaaS business is seeking a CFO or evaluating its finance leadership structure in London, Harper May supports both CFO recruitment and Finance Director recruitment across high-growth technology businesses.

To learn more, explore our Finance Recruitment services for SaaS businesses in London and the UK, and how we support organisations appointing senior finance leaders in scaling environments.