AccruePartners leads direct hire, executive and retained search for positions that directly impact business performance. Through a rigorous and discreet process, we secure proven talent aligned to culture, strategy, and long-term impact.
Every search is led with urgency and intent driving confident decisions for roles that shape performance and continuity.
Trusted relationships unlock access, alignment, and market intelligence that strengthen outcomes at every stage of the search.
We identify talent that delivers immediate value and long-term contribution, not just technical fit.
We operate as an extension of your team, adapting quickly and maintaining momentum through change.
Disciplined execution and clear standards that deliver repeatable results.
Organizations engage in direct hire, executive and retained search when critical hiring decisions require discretion, rigor, and absolute confidence in the outcome.
USE CASE > Executive Search
Introducing BART, a new client experience that helps you act quickly when Accrue finds exceptional talent for your role. Make confident decisions, stay connected to your Accrue team, and keep hiring moving at the speed of modern business.
Recruiting expertise embedded within your team to strengthen process and adapt fast.
Explore expert guidance that supports smarter career decisions, stronger teams, and more effective workforce solutions.
“Working with AccruePartners has been such a great experience. Every candidate is well-vetted, prepared, and aligned with our culture and business needs. They truly feel like they’re an extension of our team.”
VP OF HR – INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURER
“I’ve worked with AccruePartners for years and they’ve placed me in two fantastic roles. The team stays connected, shares market insights, and consistently delivers phenomenal support.”
FINANCE LEADER – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Retained search is an exclusive, fee-based engagement where the firm is paid in installments to conduct a defined search process on your behalf. Retained search is built for used for C-suite, board, confidential, or highly specialized roles where access to passive candidates is a non-negotiable. Contingent search is paid at the time of placement: the firm only gets paid if they place a candidate, which works best for well-defined roles, lower up-front commitment from the client company . AccruePartners offers both models and will recommend the right structure based on the role, the confidentiality requirements, and the candidate market.
Retained search is the right structure when the role is strategically critical, when the best candidate isn’t actively looking — they’re succeeding somewhere else and would only move for the right opportunity, presented the right way — or when confidentiality is non-negotiable. That includes roles with significant organizational influence, sensitive transitions like replacing an incumbent or hiring ahead of an announcement, or searches where a wrong hire would be costly to unwind. Most CFO, CHRO, VP, and C-suite searches meet at least one of these criteria — but title alone isn’t the test. Not sure if your role qualifies? Our advisors will give you a straight recommendation.
Most AccruePartners executive searches close within 60 to 120 days from engagement to accepted offer , with the specific timeline depending on the seniority of the role, the depth of the candidate market, and how geographically flexible the search is. C-suite and highly specialized searches can extend to 120 to 180 days. We will provide a projected timeline upon intake and structured weekly updates throughout the search.
AccruePartners executes searches for executive and director-level searches across six core practice areas: Accounting & Finance (CFO, Controller, VP Finance, Director of FP&A), Information Technology (CIO, CTO, VP Engineering, Director of Cybersecurity), Financial Services (heads of risk, compliance, and specialized banking functions), Human Resources (CHRO, VP HR, Director of Total Rewards), Marketing (CMO, VP Marketing), and Corporate Operations. We are recognized as one of Charlotte’s largest executive search firms by the Charlotte Business Journal.
Confidential searches, such as replacing an incumbent, hiring ahead of an acquisition, relocation, funding announcement, or filling a role that signals strategic direction, are managed under strict NDA with controlled messaging. We use anonymized position descriptions and go to market messaging until the timing is right, restrict internal knowledge of the search to a defined team, and coordinate timing with the client’s internal communication plan. Confidentiality is a core competency for retained search at AccruePartners, and we’ve run confidential C-suite and VP-level searches for PE-backed companies, growth-stage businesses, and public companies through sensitive transitions.
Yes. AccruePartners stands behind every placement with a replacement guarantee on direct hire and retained searches. If the candidate placed departs within the guarantee period, we conduct a replacement search at no additional placement fee. The specific guarantee period and terms vary by engagement type and are outlined in the engagement letter. More important than the guarantee language itself is our first-year retention rate on placements, which reflects the rigor of our vetting upfront; we’re happy to share current retention data during your initial conversation.
We combine 20+ years of deep Carolina’s market knowledge with national reach — without the overhead, bureaucracy, or revolving-door account teams of large firms. You work directly with senior advisors within the line of business: Accounting/Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Marketing, Creative & Digital, Corporate Operations and Financial Services. We’ve earned Platinum ClearlyRated Best of Staffing recognition (top 2% of firms nationally), Forbes Best Executive Recruitment, and multiple Inc. 5000 appearances. Regional credibility. National capability. A team that answers when you call.
