Grayhawk Search
Grayhawk Search is a privately held executive search firm that recruits strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and FP&A leaders, for clients primarily in the U.S. and Canada using an 8-step scientific process with psychometric testing and passive-candidate sourcing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Grayhawk Search does
Grayhawk Search is a privately held executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, Directors of FP&A, and related senior roles spanning corporate finance, M&A, corporate strategy, investor relations, tax, accounting, compliance, and internal audit. Founded as the Finance sister firm of Peak Sales Recruiting (a recruiting family established in 2006), Grayhawk operates from a New York headquarters and maintains a network of offices across 10+ U.S. cities, three Canadian cities (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver), and London, UK, with approximately 90% of placements in the United States. The firm differentiates through a finance-only specialization and a codified 8-step search process that includes diagnostic and calibration calls, long-list and short-list presentations, structured interviews, and offer negotiation.
The firm's core product is its retained executive search service, conducted through a structured 8-step methodology that combines targeted passive-candidate sourcing from a proprietary global talent network with scientific psychometric testing, skills validation, and experience checks designed to confirm both profile fit and cultural alignment. Client-facing technology is largely commercial: the firm operates on Salesforce/Pardot CRM and an applicant tracking system (ATS) for candidate management, supported by digital lead generation and data science analytics for pipeline development. The firm also publishes thought-leadership content through an Insights blog covering CFO topics such as IPO readiness, C-suite diversity, technology investments, and cybersecurity, alongside LinkedIn, podcast recommendations, and Google remarketing campaigns.
Grayhawk's revenue model is professional-services-based retained executive search, with an industry-disclosed replacement guarantee framed as the longest in the financial talent search industry and a stated 96% client success rate. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales (consultative diagnostic-call-led engagements) with inside sales via phone, email, website forms, and a dual-pathway career portal serving both employers hiring finance executives and executives seeking new opportunities. Named customers span insurance (HUB International), financial services (CIBC Private Wealth / Sutherland Investment Group), agriculture technology (ZipGrow), automotive (PFC Brakes), education technology (Kivuto Solutions), manufacturing (Northern Cables, PA Industries), industrial safety (Ejendals AB), and office solutions (Nua Office), indicating a diversified book across enterprise and mid-market clients. There is no disclosed external funding, no parent-company separation from Peak Sales Recruiting, and no recent M&A activity in the available data.
Grayhawk Search firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grayhawk Search
- Legal name
- GrayHawk Search Financial Recruiting
- Website
- https://grayhawksearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Grayhawk Search is a privately held executive search firm that recruits strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and FP&A leaders, for clients primarily in the U.S. and Canada using an 8-step scientific process with psychometric testing and passive-candidate sourcing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grayhawk Search industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
Keywords
Where Grayhawk Search is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Grayhawk Search business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Services: Grayhawk Search operates as a retained executive search firm specializing in finance executive recruitment. They charge clients for finding and placing strategic finance executives including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and Directors. The firm offers a replacement guarantee as part of their service warranty.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Grayhawk Search product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grayhawk Search is a retained executive search firm that recruits strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and Directors of FP&A, for companies in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe. Search engagements follow an 8-step scientific methodology that combines psychometric testing, skills validation, and experience checks to confirm candidate profile and cultural fit. The firm accesses passive executive talent through a proprietary Global Talent Network and backs each placement with the longest replacement guarantee in the financial talent search industry.
Product overview
Grayhawk Search is a Finance Executive Search firm offering specialized recruitment services for strategic finance executives. The core offering is executive search for CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and FP&A professionals, supported by a scientific methodology combining psychometric testing, skills validation, and targeted talent sourcing. The firm operates across the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe with a global talent network, serving industries including Software, Tech, Digital, Industrial, Manufacturing, CPG, and Services sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Grayhawk CFO Search: Finance executive search division specializing in CFO placements.
- Grayhawk Staffing
- Bronson Analytics
- Bronson Technical Search
Products and services
- Finance Executive Search Services Retained executive search services that recruit strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, and Controllers, for clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe. Engagements target value-creation mandates across Corporate Finance, M&A, Corporate Strategy, Investor Relations, Tax, Accounting, Compliance, and FP&A.
- FP&A Talent Recruitment Recruitment service for Financial Planning & Analysis professionals, including Directors and Managers of FP&A, who deliver rolling forecasts, performance analysis, and strategic financial guidance to client companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% client success rate for searches conducted
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Grayhawk Search
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Grayhawk Search technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Grayhawk Search partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Peak Sales RecruitingcoreGrayhawk Search is the Finance sister firm of Peak Sales Recruiting, operating as part of the same executive search family. Peak Sales Recruiting is described as a proven U.S. and Canada leader since 2006 with deep recruiting DNA. Grayhawk is the finance-focused division within this search firm family.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Grayhawk Search competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated CFO and financial officers practice that places finance leaders (CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers) across industries. Closely comparable to Grayhawk's retained finance executive search model, but at vastly larger scale and global reach.
- ON Partners: Executive search firm with strong finance, technology, and product officer practices, placing CFOs and VPs of Finance at growth-stage and enterprise clients. Direct competitor to Grayhawk in retained finance executive search.
- Crist Kolder Associates: Boutique executive search firm specializing in placing CFOs and financial executives across industries. Highly comparable to Grayhawk in niche focus, retained model, and candidate profile, though typically serving larger public and pre-IPO companies.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Major executive search firm with a strong Financial Services and Financial Officers practice, placing CFOs and senior finance leaders globally. Comparable to Grayhawk in target candidate profile and retained search methodology, but with international scope and broader functional coverage.
- Acertitude: Executive search firm focused on private equity-backed and growth-stage companies, with a finance officers practice placing CFOs and senior finance leaders. Comparable to Grayhawk in target client base (growth-stage, PE-backed) and finance function focus.
- JM Search: Executive search firm with a dedicated finance officers practice placing CFOs, VPs of Finance, and Controllers at PE-backed and growth-stage companies. Closely overlaps with Grayhawk in niche and candidate profile.
Broad incumbents
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a CFO practice serving large enterprises and boards. Competes with Grayhawk for senior finance executive mandates but operates at materially larger scale.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Financial Officers practice placing CFOs and senior finance leaders across industries. Comparable in candidate profile but materially larger in scale and global footprint.
- Robert Half: Large staffing and talent solutions firm with a dedicated finance and accounting placement practice. Overlaps with Grayhawk on finance function placements but operates at much larger scale across a broader range of role levels including non-executive positions.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice that includes CFO and finance officer placements. Broader and more diversified than Grayhawk, but directly competes for the same finance executive mandates at enterprise and growth-stage clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grayhawk Search social profiles
Digital presenceGrayhawk Search financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grayhawk Search leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Grayhawk Search funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grayhawk Search M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grayhawk Search
What does Grayhawk Search do?
Grayhawk Search is a retained executive search firm that recruits strategic finance executives, including CFOs, VPs of Finance, Controllers, and Directors of FP&A, for companies in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Europe. Search engagements follow an 8-step scientific methodology that combines psychometric testing, skills validation, and experience checks to confirm candidate profile and cultural fit. The firm accesses passive executive talent through a proprietary Global Talent Network and backs each placement with the longest replacement guarantee in the financial talent search industry.
Is Grayhawk Search a public or private company?
Grayhawk Search is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Grayhawk Search founded?
Grayhawk Search was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Grayhawk Search based?
Grayhawk Search is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Grayhawk Search make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search Services.
Who are Grayhawk Search's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spencer Stuart, ON Partners, Crist Kolder Associates, Heidrick & Struggles, Acertitude and JM Search. Broad incumbents are Egon Zehnder, Russell Reynolds Associates, Robert Half and Korn Ferry.
Does Grayhawk Search have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grayhawk Search.
What industry is Grayhawk Search in?
Grayhawk Search's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAB, Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops), with a secondary code of BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.