About
Sabina's Story
A former CPA with 10 years in finance and another decade in executive search, I founded Altitude Search Group to build the kind of recruiting partnership I would have wanted myself.
Hi, I'm Sabina
I Started Altitude Because I'd Lived Both Sides
Most recruiters discover finance and accounting after they fall into the recruiting industry. I came to it from the opposite direction. I spent the first decade of my career as a CPA, closing books, working through month-end, building forecasting models, navigating audits. Finance wasn't something I learned to talk about for the sake of recruiting. It was the work I actually did.
That experience shaped everything about how I run a search. When I evaluate a Controller candidate, I'm not matching keywords from a job description. I'm assessing whether they truly understand cost accounting, close processes, and the operational realities of the role. When I call a passive VP of Finance to discuss an opportunity, I can speak credibly about their challenges because I've been in their seat.
That's the foundation of Altitude. Everything else flows from one belief. The right recruiter should understand your world deeply enough to be a real partner, not a vendor processing resumes. The exclusive engagement model, the low-volume desk, the weekly syncs, the focus on med device and manufacturing all follow from that.
My Journey
From Spreadsheets to Search
Years 1–10
CPA & Finance Practitioner
I started my career convinced I was destined for a life of computers and spreadsheets, and as a self-described introvert, I leaned into it. For 10 years I worked as a CPA in finance and accounting roles, learning the technical depth and operational nuance these jobs actually demand.
Years 11–16
Agency Recruiter at DeWinter Group
What started as a curiosity, trying my hand at recruiting on what I thought was a temporary basis, turned into a career. I spent six years at DeWinter Group running contingent searches, learning the craft from the inside, and discovering I genuinely loved the work: the partnership, the strategy, the rush of finding the right person.
Years 17–Today
Founder, Altitude Search Group
Four years ago I went out on my own and pivoted to exclusive, retained search. I wanted to build something that solved the problems I'd seen on the agency side. The volume, the competition, the lack of ownership. Altitude was designed to be the opposite of all of that.
My Philosophy
What I Believe About Search Done Right
Depth Over Volume
I cap my desk at two to three concurrent searches. Always. Not because I can't handle more, but because the kind of partnership I believe in isn't possible at scale. The best searches require focus, and focus is a choice.
Exclusivity Is Non-Negotiable
I don't compete with other agencies or your internal team. That's not a preference. It's a requirement. Exclusivity is what makes it possible for me to truly own your search and stay accountable to it from start to finish.
Honesty Over Easy Wins
I'd rather tell you the truth about your timeline, your compensation range, or a candidate's gaps than tell you what you want to hear. Search done right is built on transparency, not performance.
Part Recruiter, Part Therapist
Hiring decisions and career moves are stressful. I take that seriously. With both clients and candidates, I think of my role as helping people think through hard choices clearly, not pushing them toward whatever closes fastest.
The Niche Is the Point
Med device, hardware, and manufacturing finance roles are rare in a software-dominated market. That's exactly why I focus there. Specialization isn't a limitation. It's the only way to develop the depth that actually makes a difference.
Every Candidate Deserves a Great Experience
How candidates are treated reflects directly on your brand, and that includes the ones who don't get the job. I want every candidate I interact with to walk away saying it was the best recruiting experience they've had, hire or no hire.
A Decade of Search
The Track Record Behind Altitude
Finance Executives Placed Over 10 Years
As a Former CPA in Finance & Accounting
In Executive Search & Recruiting
Fill Rate From First Short List
Why This Work
What I Love About Doing This
I love the adrenaline of finding the right person. There's something about the moment when a search comes together, when a candidate's background, ambition, and the company's needs click into place, that hasn't gotten old in 10 years.
I love partnering with clients who take this work as seriously as I do. The kind of CFO or CEO who knows that hiring well is the highest-leverage thing they'll do all year, and who treats the search accordingly. Those partnerships are the reason I built Altitude.
And I love the long-game side of it. Last year I placed someone I'd stayed in touch with for ten years, from a single leadership call we had a decade ago. That's the work, really. Building relationships that compound over time, with people you actually like, doing something that matters to both of you.
Let's Talk
Whether You're Hiring or Exploring
If you're building a finance team, planning a critical leadership search, or just thinking through your next career move, I'd love to hear from you.