Stephen P. Konstans

Senior Vice President & Financial Officers Practice Leader

Read Stephen Konstans’ speaking engagements, publications and board service

An experienced veteran of the retained executive search business, Stephen Konstans has spent more than 20 years helping companies secure candidates for critical executive roles. He has special expertise in filling high-level finance and accounting positions such as chief financial officer or controller. Relying on the expert judgment that comes with experience, he brings to each engagement a deep knowledge of accounting, finance and general business, along with a powerful network of contacts, a strong work ethic and the intuitive people skills to effectively evaluate candidates and serve clients.

Prior to joining Pearson Partners in 2005, Stephen spent over three years running his own executive search and consulting practice. Building on an early career in auditing with both Arthur Andersen and KPMG, he entered the recruitment field in 1990 by joining Robert Half International, where he twice was ranked among the top 15 recruiters worldwide for accounting and financial professionals—including being ranked No. 1 in the world for one quarter. He later worked his way up at D. E. Foster Partners, Inc., the successor firm to KPMG’s executive search practice, where he began as a senior consultant and was ultimately promoted to the director level.

Stephen has served as a speaker, moderator and panelist at networking groups including Financial Executives International Dallas Chapter, Financial Executives Networking Group Dallas Chapter, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants, the Wharton and Northwestern Alumni Clubs of Dallas/Fort Worth and many other organizations. He has spoken on a variety of topics including helping CFOs attain a CEO role, finding a board seat, the CFO perspective in private-equity-backed organizations, the audit executive career path and how to successfully work with executive recruiters. He has also served as a moderator for several Pearson Partners International Spotlight Series^SM breakfast events. Read Stephen’s speaker bio for more information on his past speaking engagements and board service.

Stephen serves on the advisory board for the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance and is president of the Trinity Christian Academy Alumni Association Board. He serves on the Parish Council for the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, where he is also a Sunday school teacher and has served on several boards and committees. He previously served on the boards of Executives In Action and the SMU Business Associate Program, where he was named Mentor of the Year.

Stephen is a former Certified Public Accountant. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Southern Methodist University and has continued graduate studies at The University of Texas at Dallas.

In his free time, Stephen teaches Sunday school and enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and grandson.

What motto do you live by?
I try to live by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Why did you feel executive recruiting was the right field for you?
I really enjoy getting to know people and developing relationships. The recruitment business, when the day is done, is about relationships and people. These are things I naturally enjoy, and it has worked for me.

If you had to change careers tomorrow, what job would you choose and why?
I’d coach either high school or college basketball. I love having an impact on young people’s lives, and I love the thrill of competition and teaching the importance of hard work and teamwork.