Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Midwest | Private Equity-Backed | Manufacturing & Business Services | $150MM–$350MM
We are working with some leading private equity firms for a few portfolio companies based in the Midwest seeking Interim CFOs to support critical inflection points within their businesses. These organizations range from $150MM to $350MM in revenue and operate across manufacturing and business services environments.
The mandates are focused on driving performance, stabilizing and professionalizing the finance function, and partnering closely with executive leadership and private equity sponsors to position the businesses for their next phase of value creation, including potential exit.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and private equity sponsor, bringing financial leadership, operational rigor, and credibility to the organization. Establish a strong financial foundation and drive improved visibility, discipline, and accountability across the business.
- Lead efforts to stabilize and enhance the finance function, including improving reporting accuracy and timeliness, establishing a consistent monthly close cadence, and implementing clear KPI frameworks aligned with the value creation plan.
- Drive performance improvement initiatives through enhanced financial analysis, focusing on cash flow management, margin expansion, and cost discipline, while translating insights into actionable operational decisions.
- Support transaction-related priorities where applicable, including M&A evaluation, integration execution, and preparation for exit, recapitalization, or capital markets activity. In certain situations, serve as a key partner in positioning the business for sale by elevating the quality of financial reporting and overall finance credibility with investors and external stakeholders.
- Build and/or upgrade a lean, high-caliber finance team, ensuring the right structure, talent, and accountability are in place to support a scaling, PE-backed environment.
- Establish strong communication and alignment across management, board, and investors, creating a transparent, no-surprises environment.
Ideal Profile
- Experienced CFO or senior finance leader with a track record operating in private equity-backed environments, particularly within manufacturing or business services. Preference for someone recently coming out of a successful exit and
- Demonstrated success in stabilizing and professionalizing finance functions, especially in founder-led or high-growth settings.
- Experience supporting value creation initiatives, including operational improvement, M&A, and integration.
- Strong exposure to exit processes is highly valued, including sell-side preparation, recapitalizations, or lender/investor engagement.
- Hands-on, pragmatic leader who can quickly assess gaps, implement structure, and drive execution without overbuilding.
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence CEOs, founders, and private equity stakeholders.
Situational Focus Across Roles
- Exit Readiness Mandate: Partner with leadership and sponsor to prepare the business for exit, elevate financial reporting quality, and bring institutional credibility to the finance function.
- Stabilization & Performance Mandate: Uplevel finance operations, establish a steady reporting cadence, improve visibility into performance, and drive operational discipline across the organization.
