Operating Partner, Finance - $7bn AUM Private Equity

Christopher Whitney; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Christopher Whitney is hiring a Finance Operating Partner to lead their Office of the CFO practice within Portfolio Operations.

You will own pre-close diligence, stand up post-close finance functions, implement KPI dashboards and 13-week cash forecasts, and drive lender reporting. Lead interim CFO work, capital markets activity and ERP upgrades with a hands-on, model-building approach.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in finance with 5+ as a PE-backed CFO or in a PE portfolio operations role.
• Experience across more than one sector.
• Hands-on modeling capability; you can build the model, not just review it.
• CPA preferred; interim, turnaround, carve-out or ERP experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Pre-close and diligence: assess target finance functions, reporting quality, systems and teams.
• First 100 days: lead finance integration, monthly reporting, 13-week cash flow, lender reporting.
• Interim leadership: step in as interim CFO or Controller when needed.
• Capital markets, M&A and exit: support diligence, refinancings, synergy tracking and exit readiness.
• Lead or support ERP selection, finance systems upgrades and KPI playbooks.
• Coach and develop portfolio CFOs and improve budgeting, forecasting and FP&A.

Skills

PE portfolio operations

CFO experience

Financial modeling

Lender relations

M&A experience

Interim leadership

CPA (preferred)

Education

CPA (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Christopher Whitney is working exclusively with a fast-growing, middle-market private equity firm with $7bn in AUM. The firm was launched by three senior Partners from one of the nation's leading PE funds. They invest in businesses across North America, focused on a number of different sectors.

We are hiring a Finance Operating Partner to lead their Office of the CFO practice within Portfolio Operations.

Key responsibilities

Pre-close and diligence

• Work with deal teams to assess target finance functions, quality of reporting, systems and team capability.
• Shape the finance sections of the value creation plan.
• Flag finance risks and costs (people, systems, audit readiness) that should inform price and structure.

First 100 days

• Lead finance integration and stand-up after close, including carve-out separations and TSA exits.
• Put in place monthly reporting, KPI dashboards, 13-week cash flow forecasting and lender reporting.
• Install covenant compliance processes and the board reporting package.
• Assess the CFO and finance team; recommend changes where needed.
• Coach and develop portfolio CFOs; act as their first call for advice.
• Improve budgeting, forecasting and FP&A so management runs the business on reliable numbers.
• Drive working capital, cash conversion and cost initiatives.
• Lead or support ERP selection and implementation, and finance systems upgrades.
• Improve month-end close speed and audit readiness.
• Support pricing, unit economics and profitability analysis by customer, product and site.

Interim leadership

• Step in as interim CFO or Controller when a role is vacant or a business is underperforming.
• Lead turnaround finance work: liquidity management, lender negotiations and amendments, and restructuring support.

Capital markets, M&A and exit

• Support add-on acquisitions: diligence, integration and synergy tracking.
• Partner with deal teams on refinancings, recaps and dividend recaps.
• Lead exit readiness: sell-side quality of earnings, data room, management presentations and vendor due diligence.
• Build playbooks, templates and best practices the whole portfolio can use.
• Run a CFO network: peer forums, training and shared resources.
• Help recruit CFOs and senior finance talent, working with the firm's talent function and search partners.
• Manage relationships with key advisors: auditors, QoE providers, systems implementers and interim finance firms.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in finance, including 5+ as a PE-backed CFO or in a PE portfolio operations role
• At least one full hold cycle, ideally through exit
• Experience across more than one sector
• A hands‑on approach: you can build the model, not just review it
• Strong lender, covenant and M&A experience
• CPA preferred. Interim, turnaround, carve‑out or ERP experience is a plus.