What gets you from £20m to £50m rarely gets you to £200m or through an exit at that scale.
I'm working with a mid-market investor on a services-led asset that's hit exactly that point. The model works, the business is growing, and there's already a capable finance team in place. But the board can see that the next phase needs a different type of CFO: someone who has done this in a PE-backed environment, under real scrutiny, with an exit clock already ticking.
This isn't a rescue job. It's a good business that now needs professionalising for the next owner: tighter FP&A, clearer KPIs, cleaner governance, bolt-on integrations that actually deliver synergies, and systems that stand up to buyer due diligence.
They're looking for a hands-on, strategic CFO who can:
Lead and sharpen the finance function so it's genuinely investor-grade
Own reporting, forecasting and KPI tracking for a demanding board
Build scalable processes, controls and systems fit for PE ownership and exit
Partner the CEO and investor on both organic growth and bolt-on M&A
Oversee integration, systems upgrades and project / contract-level profitability
Strengthen governance, risk, compliance, HR and IT oversight across the group
You'll likely have:
Experience scaling a services-heavy business to meaningful EBITDA under PE ownership
At least one successful PE-backed exit on your CV
Strong FP&A, M&A and systems change experience
The ability to command credibility with boards and investors
A pragmatic, low-ego, commercially-minded style that fits a collaborative culture
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