Most PE‑backed CFOs are told to "hit the ground running" in complex, multi‑entity groups. In this one, the ground is still being laid and you're the one pouring the concrete.
You've got a mid‑market, buy‑and‑build services platform with solid EBITDA, capital to deploy and an ambitious acquisition plan. The value isn't in doing deals; it's in integrating them, controlling cash and building a finance engine that stands up to future debt and exit scrutiny.
Why this role really matters
In plenty of PE‑backed environments, the "CFO" becomes an expensive financial controller, always chasing historic numbers. Here, you're designing the finance blueprint: team, systems, controls, MI, and how value creation is measured and reported.
You'll work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the CEO, Chair, M&A Director and PE sponsor, setting the standard for how the group manages cash, integrates acquisitions and prepares for the next round of debt or an eventual exit. Think: turning a collection of professional services businesses into a coherent, debt‑ready, data‑led platform.
The role
CFO - PE‑backed Professional Services Platform (Build‑Stage / Buy‑and‑Build)
Location: UK (flexible, with regular access to leadership and sites)
What you'll do:
Build a scalable finance function for a multi‑entity, acquisitive services group from basic controls to a fully functioning group finance team and operating cadence.
Lead consolidation, reporting and MI for the Board and PE sponsor, giving investor‑grade visibility on performance and value creation.
Own M&A financial integration and system rationalisation, taking acquisitions from "standalone" to "plugged‑in" quickly and cleanly.
Introduce practical KPIs, tighten cash and working capital disciplines, and plan for future debt and covenant reporting as the deal story matures.
What we're looking for:
CFO or senior finance leader from a PE‑backed professional, consulting, people or tech‑enabled services environment.
Track record building finance teams, systems and controls, ideally in buy‑and‑build or multi‑entity settings.
Strong commercial instincts around pricing, utilisation, cash and working capital; comfortable challenging the business and the plan.
Happy being hands‑on in year one (spreadsheets, processes, integrations) and then stepping into a more strategic, value‑creation role as the platform scales.
Why it's exciting
You're not inheriting a legacy finance machine; you're designing it, and your work will directly influence exit options and valuation. You'll get direct exposure to PE, M&A execution and integration, and long‑term value creation in a classic mid‑market buy‑and‑build story.
As the platform grows, this becomes true strategic leadership: debt readiness, scenario planning and being a key voice in the investment thesis.
If someone comes to mind who loves building from scratch, thrives in the mess of early‑stage integration and wants a front‑row seat with PE, this is for them. Share this, send it to them directly, or ask them to get in touch in confidence.
