Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Location: Charlotte Metro Area (On-Site Required)
Compensation: $285,000 – $305,000 Base Salary + Bonus + Equity Participation
Overview
E57 Partners is partnering with a private equity sponsor to identify a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to support a portfolio company headquartered in the Charlotte Metro Area.
The business is led by a CEO who has been in place for approximately one year and has already completed the company’s first acquisition. With a clear mandate to continue scaling the business, the organization is entering its next phase of growth.
To date, the finance function has been supported by an Interim CFO and Interim Controller. The private equity sponsor and CEO have now made the decision to transition to a full-time CFO to build a permanent, scalable finance infrastructure.
This CFO will be responsible for hiring a full-time Controller and building out a true FP&A and finance function to support continued growth, operational discipline, and value creation.
With approximately four years remaining in the investment horizon, the focus is on execution—driving financial performance, supporting M&A, and preparing the business for a successful outcome.
Role Summary
The CFO will have full ownership of the finance function and will play a key role in executing the company’s growth strategy and improving financial and operational performance.
This includes:
- Transitioning the finance function from interim to full-time leadership
- Building out the accounting, FP&A, and finance infrastructure
- Supporting M&A strategy, diligence, and integration
- Driving EBITDA growth, margin expansion, and cash flow optimization
- Partnering closely with the CEO on execution of the value creation plan
The ideal candidate is a hands-on, build-oriented finance leader who has experience stepping into underbuilt environments and creating structure, visibility, and discipline.
What Makes This Opportunity Different
- CEO has been in place ~1 year and is actively driving growth
- Finance function currently built on interim leadership — true build opportunity
- Ability to hire a Controller and build a full FP&A function
- First acquisition completed with a pipeline for continued growth
- Four-year runway to execute a defined value creation plan
- Meaningful equity participation aligned with exit
Key Responsibilities
Finance Function Build-Out
- Transition the finance function from interim to permanent leadership
- Hire and develop a full-time Controller
- Build and scale a dedicated FP&A function
- Establish structure, processes, and accountability across finance
M&A Execution & Integration
- Partner with the CEO on acquisition strategy and pipeline development
- Lead financial diligence, modeling, and transaction support
- Support integration efforts, including reporting alignment and synergy tracking
Financial Leadership & Strategy
- Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO on financial performance and planning
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial modeling
- Support capital allocation decisions aligned with value creation goals
Accounting & Financial Operations
- Oversee month-end close, financial reporting, and compliance
- Ensure accurate, timely, and GAAP-compliant financial statements
- Build and strengthen internal controls and processes
FP&A & Performance Management
- Develop KPIs and reporting frameworks to drive visibility and accountability
- Deliver actionable insights through variance analysis and performance tracking
- Support operational leaders with data-driven decision-making
Operational Improvement & Margin Expansion
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability
- Drive margin expansion through cost discipline and process improvements
- Implement reporting tools to monitor performance across the business
Cash Flow & Capital Management
- Drive working capital optimization and liquidity management
- Monitor cash flow, leverage, and return on invested capital
- Ensure disciplined financial management across the organization
Board & Sponsor Partnership
- Serve as a key interface with the private equity sponsor and Board
- Deliver clear, data-driven reporting on performance and M&A activity
- Support investor communications and strategic updates
Qualifications
- Proven experience as a CFO or senior finance leader in a private equity-backed environment
- Experience building or rebuilding a finance function (Controller + FP&A)
- Strong M&A experience, including diligence and integration
- Background in both FP&A and accounting/controllership
- Demonstrated success driving EBITDA growth and margin expansion
- Hands-on leadership style with strong execution capabilities
- Experience working closely with CEOs, Boards, and private equity sponsors
The Ideal Profile
This role is best suited for someone who:
- Has stepped into a business with interim or underbuilt finance and built it properly
- Thrives in execution-heavy, build-and-scale environments
- Can hire and develop a strong finance team
- Is equally comfortable in the weeds and at the Board level
- Is motivated by equity and delivering outcomes within a defined timeline
Why This Role
This is a high-impact opportunity to step into a CFO role at a true build-and-scale moment, with:
- A CEO already in place and driving the strategy
- A finance function ready to be built the right way
- A completed acquisition and a pipeline for continued growth
- Four years remaining to drive meaningful value creation
- Strong sponsorship and alignment around execution and exit
