About Arnold Partners and Dave Arnold

Your Strategic Partner in CFO Search Nationwide

Working as your CFO search partner with the CEO and Board, Dave Arnold and Arnold Partners will identify, attract and deliver the senior level financial talent that meets your specifications. We also conduct board members search and audit committee chairperson search.

Arnold Partners specialize in CFO search for venture-backed and small-cap public companies in Silicon Valley, Southern California, Seattle, West Coast, as well as in tech hubs nationwide, and do placements in all industries. How do we measure success? As a result of our extensive network, experience and process, our placed CFOs have three times less turnover than the Silicon Valley average. To date, CFOs Arnold Partners’ placed CFOs have created over $11B in value in terms of market capitalization and merger and acquisition (M&A) exits. For more information about Arnold Partners, see FAQ

We recently incorporated into our process the innovative Clockwork Recruiting Platform, a powerful tool that gives our clients transparency, real-time access to information, and clear feedback channels.

Dave Arnold, President, Arnold Partners, LLC

Dave specializes in the recruitment of exceptional CFOs and Board Members for technology companies located in tech hubs across the U.S. He works with clients backed by top-tier venture capital and private equity firms, and with public companies. Over the last nine years since forming Arnold Partners, Dave has placed CFOs in a wide variety of industry sectors in both Tech and Life-Sciences, including SaaS, IoT, Social Media, Clean Tech, Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Consumer. Arnold Partners is established as the leading independent tech CFO resource delivering exponential value to clients.

Dave is a sought-after voice for the tech and CFO communities having been cited by Silicon Valley Business Journal, USA Today, Money Magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and a host of prominent, on-line career and CFO resource publications. He has also been a featured speaker and panelist at CFO related conferences including FEI, ABFO, and BDO Roundtables.

Arnold Partners’ focus is completing assignments that result in direct contributions by their placed CFOs to significant growth and profitability for their clients. To date, Arnold Partners’ placed CFOs have created over $11B in value in terms of market capitalization and merger and acquisition (M&A) exits.

Dave was born and raised in Silicon Valley and currently lives and works in Los Gatos, California.

What Clients Say

Delivers World-Class Talent

Having worked with Dave on multiple searches, I can attest to his ability to deliver world-class talent. In attracting our CFO, Dave worked closely with our Board and CEO to determine our needs and delivered on the specification. Subsequently, Dave recruited our VP of Finance to support the on-going success of our entire finance team which is now a well functioning team. Dave is tenacious in his drive but very easy to work with; he does not push candidates onto his client but he does provide a solid slate to choose from. Dave is a standout in the recruiting industry.

John Owens Sentient Technologies

Thorough, diligent and patient

We went through an extremely thorough process in identifying and selecting a firm to conduct our CFO search. After meeting with several recruiters and their references, we decided on Arnold Partners. We made the right choice. Dave Arnold was thorough, diligent and patient with our process and in the end delivered a great pool of candidates to Nanometrics. Dave worked to understand our business needs and identify a CFO who was up to the challenge, would fit well with our corporate culture. One standout quality about Dave is he did not once try to push a candidate on us or hurry us to close the deal. Dave was professional, direct and easy to do business with.

Tim Stultz Nanometrics

Dave delivered

a CFO to Rainmaker Systems during a particularly difficult time in the economy. As a result of hiring Steve, we have improved our overall business condition and we continue to thrive. Dave clearly believes in long-term relationships as he has kept in touch with me over several years. He is driven to build not only a business that stands the test of time, but also finds CFO’s who can handle the pressures and uncertainties of being a small-cap public company.

Michael Silton Act One Ventures

I highly recommend Arnold Partners.

Dave did exactly what he said he would do— teed up a great slate of candidates in a timely manner. We went through an exacting process and came to the end with two great CFO candidates. Dave was consultative but not pushy and always available. I highly recommend Arnold Partners.

Bobby Solis JSI Logistics

A Great Job

Dave did a great job assessing our needs and fit for an independent Director as Audit Chair. He quickly identified excellent candidates for us the met the high standards of our investors and executive team.

Mark J. Forchette Delphinus

Commitment to quality

I have worked with Dave as both a client and a CFO candidate. Both experiences with him are indicative of his commitment to quality service and building lasting relationships. As a hiring authority, Dave delivered a great candidate whom I have subsequently rehired. As a candidate, Dave put me in front of great opportunities and ultimately made sure the fit with my skills and style was right for his client. I recommend Dave without hesitation.

John Buckley Apama Medical

Dave focused on the specifics

As a strategic consultant to my clients as an investment banker, it is great to work with another consultant who keeps his client’s needs front a center. Dave focused on the specifics of our joint client and really delivered on his promises.

Jeff Chung

We are extremely happy with the results.

We had a difficult time finding the right fit for our company. Dave stuck to it. He ultimately helped us land a great CFO and we are extremely happy with the results.

Kailash Ambwani Actiance, Inc.

Dave brings results

Having worked with Dave on two public company CFO searches – simply put, Dave brings results. He has my full confidence and I recommend him without hesitation.

Vince Angotti AcelRX

He delivers on his promises

I have worked with Dave on multiple searches as a CEO, Founder and Venture investor. He is without hesitation the best search consultant – he is easy to do business with and delivers on his promises.

Reza Zadno Avedro

Download process pdf

Recent CFO Blogs

An Executive Recruiter’s Advice for the College-Bound

by Dave Arnold

Let me preface this blog by acknowledging that I am not a parent. But I get asked by a lot of parents and occasionally college students about what undergraduates should do to maximize their chances of success in the business world. Here are some objective and...

Stunner: CFO Backs Out of a Signed Offer

by Dave Arnold

Have you ever done this? Or had a CFO candidate do so? In my 20+ years as an executive recruiter I have never heard of nor experienced such behavior. Until now. Is it a sign of just how overheated our market for talent has become? A little backdrop: Our client came to...

The Power of a Professional Network for CFO Search

by Dave Arnold

I recently met with a CEO who is a potential client in need of a new CFO. He is in a name-brand company that most people in technology circles would recognize. He is also one of the most network-connected people I have ever met. Part of the value he brings to his...