How private equity-backed businesses structure finance teams for growth
Private equity-backed businesses don’t have the luxury of getting their finance structure wrong.
With a clear investment thesis, defined timelines and pressure to deliver return on investment, the finance team needs to help drive value creation from the outset.
That’s why we’re seeing a clear shift in how PE-backed companies build their finance teams.
Rather than focusing only on financial reporting and control, these teams are built to support growth strategy, improve operational efficiency and ultimately deliver a successful exit.
Here’s how private equity-backed businesses are structuring their finance teams for growth.
1. Start with the value creation plan
In any private equity or venture capital investment, the finance team structure is shaped by the value creation plan.
For some portfolio companies, that means driving EBITDA growth and improving cash flow in a leveraged buyout. For others, particularly in growth capital environments, it’s about scalability, forecasting and supporting fundraising.
Finance needs to be embedded in the business from day one. Strong financial modelling, clear KPIs and accurate forecasting are important, not just for internal decisions, but for keeping general partners and limited partners aligned on progress.
2. Build a commercially focused FP&A function early
One of the biggest shifts in PE-backed companies is the move towards commercial finance and FP&A.
These teams work closely with management teams to understand performance, challenge assumptions and shape strategy. That might mean modelling pricing decisions, assessing new markets or supporting operational improvements.
In practical terms, that means prioritising hires who can:
- Deliver robust forecasting and scenario planning
- Build financial models that support growth strategy
- Track KPIs linked to value creation
- Turn data into insight that drives faster decisions
This is one of the hardest areas to hire well, particularly at mid to senior level where commercial impact is expected immediately.
3. Get financial control right from the outset
While the focus has shifted, strong financial reporting and governance are still non-negotiable.
Private equity firms expect clean, reliable numbers, particularly around cash flow, audit readiness and due diligence. This becomes even more important as businesses move towards an IPO or sale.
The difference now is that control is the baseline. It is expected to work seamlessly, so the wider finance team can focus on driving value.
4. Invest in transformation and automation capability
Most PE-backed businesses are going through some form of digital transformation or restructuring. That puts pressure on finance teams to evolve quickly.
We’re seeing increasing demand for professionals who can deliver:
- Automation across reporting and processes
- Systems implementation and better data visibility
- Integration following acquisitions
- Wider operational efficiency programmes
This is often where interim support adds the most value, giving businesses access to specialist expertise without slowing down the core finance team.
5. Keep the team lean but high impact
PE-backed companies rarely build large finance teams. Instead, they focus on hiring a small number of high-impact individuals.
That means looking for people who can operate across multiple areas, from financial reporting through to business partnering. The ability to work closely with management teams and stay focused on outcomes is often more important than pure technical specialism.
The result is a lean structure where every hire is expected to contribute to value creation.
6. Evolve the structure as the business grows
Finance team structures are not static in a private-equity environment. They evolve alongside the business.
In the early stages, the focus is on building a solid foundation, including financial reporting, cash flow visibility and support through due diligence.
As the business grows, attention shifts towards scaling FP&A, improving forecasting and embedding finance into the wider growth strategy.
Towards exit, the focus moves towards governance, financial reporting and presenting a clear, credible story to investors. At this stage, the strength of the finance team can directly influence valuation.
7. Align hiring to stage, not just structure
For private equity-backed companies, building the right finance team isn’t a one-off exercise. It needs to reflect the stage of the investment and where value will be created next.
The biggest hiring challenges we see include:
- Finding commercially strong FP&A professionals who can influence decisions
- Hiring finance leaders who understand the pace of PE-backed environments
- Accessing transformation and automation skillsets
- Balancing permanent hires with interim support during periods of change
With the candidate market still competitive, particularly at the senior end, you’ll need a clear hiring plan and access to the right talent.
How we can help
We have specialist teams focused on supporting private equity firms in building out their finance functions at the fund level, spanning fund finance, commercial finance and core accounting, from newly qualified accountants through to Finance Director and CFO level.
We also have specialist teams supporting portfolio companies in building high-performing finance teams aligned to the value creation plan.
Our consultants are sector-aligned. We also have dedicated specialists for permanent hires and consultants that specialise in interim/contract solutions. This enables us to support businesses through growth, transformation and change.
We combine market insight, salary benchmarking and access to commercially minded talent to help businesses improve operational efficiency, strengthen financial reporting and build finance functions that deliver real impact.
Get in touch today to discuss your finance hiring needs.
