About Fintech HI.RE USA

We're Not
Recruiters.
We're Builders.

Ex-fintech operators, transformation leaders, and C-level executives who now help America's most ambitious companies hire its best people.

Cliff van Tonder — Founder, Fintech HI.RE USA
Our Founder

Hi, I'm Cliff
van Tonder.

I've spent over 25 years in fintech and financial services — not as a recruiter, but as a builder. I've been in the founder chair. I've built global teams. I've scaled platforms from startup to multinational. I've navigated the regulatory complexity, the product decisions, and the breakneck pace of fintech.

I held senior and C-level roles at companies like Finastra, Zafin, BNP Paribas, Temenos, FIS, and FINCAD. As President APAC at Zafin and General Manager at Finastra, I led teams across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and EMEA.

Today, I lead Fintech HI.RE USA with one simple goal: to help founders, investors, and executive teams hire with purpose — whether it's an AI-savvy CTO, a board-level NED, or a Head of Payments to lead your next phase.

The US expansion was natural. The most dynamic fintech ecosystem in the world deserves a search firm that actually understands how these companies are built.

Book a Call with Cliff
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25+ Years in Fintech & Financial Services

From core banking transformation to SaaS scaleups, digital payments to AI-era banking — Cliff has navigated every inflection point in modern finance.

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C-Level Experience at Global Fintech Leaders

Including Finastra, Zafin, BNP Paribas, Temenos, FIS and FINCAD — giving Cliff unparalleled insight into what great executive leadership looks like.

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Named Best Global Fintech Exec Search CEO

Recognized for two consecutive years for outstanding results in executive search within the global fintech industry.

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US-Based, Globally Connected

New York headquarters with sister entities in Australia, the UK, and Africa — bringing global perspective to every US-focused mandate.

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Built for VC-Backed & Scale-Stage

We understand what a Series A needs from a CTO, what a Series C needs from a CRO, and what a pre-IPO company needs from its board. We've lived it.

Mission & Values

Built Different.
By Design.

We don't do keyword bingo. We don't spam databases. We don't send you five CVs when we've only verified two. Here's what we believe in.

01

Built by Operators

We've scaled teams ourselves. We understand urgency, ambiguity, and the kind of accountability that founders and investors demand. We get your world because we've lived in it.

02

Operator-Level Insight

We know what a great CTO looks like at a Series B. We know what a Head of Payments needs to navigate cross-border scale. We speak your language — product, payments, platform.

03

Zero Fluff

We're outcome-obsessed. Our value is measured in quality hires and long-term success — not in the number of resumes sent or calls booked. If speed costs us popularity, so be it.

04

Human at Heart

No bots. No automated shortlists. No dashboards. Just real conversations with real people who understand your domain, your stage, and your urgency.

Global Network

Part of a World-Class
Fintech HI.RE Network

Fintech HI.RE operates across four global markets — with shared insight, shared values, and an unmatched international network.

🇺🇸

USA & Americas

New York headquarters. Covering the full US fintech ecosystem from coast to coast, plus cross-border mandates into Canada and LATAM.

You're here

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Australia & APAC

Brisbane-based, covering Australia, New Zealand and broader APAC fintech markets.

Visit Site →
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Africa & Middle East

South Africa HQ. Covering Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, East Africa, the Gulf and the Levant.

Visit Site →

Let's Build Something Brilliant Together.

Whether you're hiring or looking for your next role — let's have a real conversation.

Get in Touch View Opportunities