Chief Financial Officer

Alex Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Alex Partners, a leading European Private Equity firm, seeks a Finance leader to support portfolio companies' finance functions, strengthen operating models, and unlock value across the investment cycle. You will partner with portfolio CEOs and CFOs to translate the equity story into EBITDA drivers and measurable transformations.

The role is based in a European office (Paris or London) with international travel across the portfolio, offering a rare chance to influence multiple businesses and

Qualifications

• Significant Finance leadership experience in a PE-backed environment.
• Proven value creation delivery from investment cycle to exit.
• Experience scaling Finance functions across geographies.
• Strong grounding in M&A, refinancing and exits.
• Credibility with ERP/FP&A systems and automation tooling.

Responsibilities

• Partner with portfolio CEOs and CFOs to define the Finance value creation roadmap.
• Assess and upgrade Finance operating model, organisation, processes and systems.
• Drive performance management: KPIs, dashboards, budgeting, forecasting and MBRs.
• Strengthen cash management, working capital and debt monitoring.
• Lead Finance readiness for 100-day plans, bolt-on M&A, refinancings and exits.
• Identify automation opportunities to improve speed, accuracy, and insight.
• Deploy cross-portfolio initiatives with ROI measurement.

Skills

Finance leadership

Private equity experience

M&A

ERP/FP&A systems

Finance automation/AI tooling

Cross-geo scaling

Commercial judgement

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CPA

Tools

ERP/FP&A tools

Automation tooling

Due diligence tools

Job description

Our client, a leading European Private Equity firm, is looking for an experienced Finance leader to support the Funds portfolio companies (revenues typically €20m–€600m). This role will work closely with portfolio company leadership teams to drive performance across the Finance function, strengthen financial operating models, and unlock value creation levers throughout the investment lifecycle

Key Aspects to the Role:

• Partner with portfolio company CEOs and CFOs to define and execute the Finance value creation roadmap, anchored in the equity story and translated into EBITDA, its underlying drivers, and measurable transformation outcomes
• Assess and upgrade the Finance operating model, organisation, processes, systems and talent across portfolio companies
• Drive performance management discipline: KPIs, dashboards, budgeting, forecasting, and monthly business reviews to enable data-driven decision-making
• Strengthen cash management, working capital optimisation, capital allocation and debt monitoring in coordination with the PE Fund.
• Lead Finance readiness for value-creating events: 100-day plans post-acquisition, bolt-on M&A integration, refinancings, and exit preparation (vendor due diligence, audit readiness, equity story)
• Identify and implement automation and operational insight opportunities in Finance to improve speed, accuracy and insight
• Deploy cross-portfolio initiatives, leveraging best practices, playbooks and benchmarks, and measuring impact with clear ROI

About You

• Significant Finance leadership experience, including significant time as a CFO within a Private Equity-backed environment
• Proven track record delivering value creation through a full investment cycle to successful exit
• Comfortable scaling Finance functions across multiple geographies
• Solid grounding in M&A, refinancing and exit processes
• Credibility with ERP/FP&A systems and Finance automation or AI tooling
• Background spanning Big 4, investment banking or Transaction Services alongside operational CFO experience is a strong plus
• Recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, DEC or equivalent)
• Sharp commercial judgement, with the discretion, resilience and interpersonal skill to build trust quickly with portfolio leadership and deal teams

What's On Offer

This is a rare opportunity to influence the performance trajectory of multiple businesses across Europe, partnering directly with CEOs, CFOs and investment professionals on the topics that most drive enterprise value – within one of Europe's leading Private Equity firms. The role is based on a European office (Paris or London), with international travel across the portfolio