Chief Financial Officer — Newly Formed Private Equity-Backed Platform
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area (on-site/hybrid, with regular presence at company headquarters) Reports to: Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors Type: Full-Time, Executive Leadership
The Opportunity
Our client, a private equity-backed platform company recently formed through the combination of two successful founder-led businesses, is seeking its first full-time Chief Financial Officer. Headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, the platform is at the very beginning of its journey — and this role offers a ground-floor opportunity to build the finance function from scratch, shape the combined company, and share meaningfully in the value created.
As the company's first institutional finance leader, the CFO will professionalize and unify the financial operations of two founder-led organizations, establish the reporting and controls expected of a sponsor-backed business, and serve as a strategic partner to the CEO, the founders, and the private equity sponsor. This is a true builder's role, best suited to a hands-on executive who is energized by creating structure where little exists today.
Key Responsibilities
Building the Finance Function
- Design and build the company's first dedicated finance and accounting organization, including Controllership, FP&A, and transactional accounting
- Recruit, develop, and lead a right-sized team, supplementing with outsourced resources where appropriate during the buildout
- Select and implement a common ERP, financial systems, and reporting tools across the combined platform
- Establish the company's first formal budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes
Integration of the Combined Businesses
- Unify the accounting, reporting, billing, payroll, and back-office operations of the two legacy founder-led companies
- Standardize the chart of accounts, accounting policies, and close process across both businesses
- Create a single, reliable view of consolidated financial and operational performance
- Identify synergies and shared-services opportunities across the combined organization
Professionalization & Controls
- Transition the business from founder-led financial practices to institutional-grade discipline, including a timely monthly close, internal controls, and audit readiness
- Establish the monthly board reporting package, KPI dashboards, and management reporting cadence expected by a private equity sponsor
- Implement cash flow forecasting, working capital management, and treasury disciplines
- Oversee tax, insurance, and risk management for the combined entity
Strategic & Sponsor Partnership
- Serve as the primary financial interface with the private equity sponsor, lenders, and the Board
- Manage credit agreement compliance, covenant reporting, and banking relationships
- Support the platform's growth strategy, including evaluation, diligence, and integration of future add-on acquisitions
- Partner with the CEO and founders on pricing, profitability, and operational decisions, bringing data-driven rigor to the business
- Help position the company for long-term value creation and an eventual exit
The Ideal Candidate
Required Experience
- 10+ years of progressive finance leadership, with prior experience as CFO, VP of Finance, or #2 finance leader in a private equity-backed or high-growth company
- Demonstrated success building or substantially rebuilding a finance function — hiring teams, implementing systems, and establishing processes from an early or immature state
- Experience integrating or consolidating multiple entities, ideally including founder-led businesses
- Strong command of U.S. GAAP, monthly close, consolidated reporting, and audit preparation
- Hands-on ERP selection and implementation experience (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics)
- Financial modeling and FP&A capability appropriate for sponsor and lender reporting
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
Preferred
- CPA and/or MBA
- Prior experience as a company's first CFO or first institutional finance hire
- Experience working directly with private equity sponsors, boards, and lenders
- Buy-side experience with add-on acquisitions, including diligence and post-close integration
Personal Attributes
- A builder at heart — energized by creating structure, process, and teams where none exist
- Low-ego, hands-on operator willing to work at both the strategic and transactional level
- Skilled at partnering with founders and driving change with empathy and credibility
- Clear communicator who earns trust quickly with sponsors, lenders, employees, and the Board
- High ownership mentality with the urgency of a value-creation environment
Compensation
- Competitive base salary of $300,000 – $400,000, commensurate with experience
- Annual performance bonus with a target of 30%–50% of base salary
- Meaningful equity participation in the platform, aligned with value created through growth and exit
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage and retirement plan with company match
