Vice President of Finance / Portfolio CFO

Vice President of Finance / Portfolio CFO

Location: Austin, Texas (Hybrid)

Travel: 20–30% to portfolio company sites

Compensation: $215,000 Base Bonus Equity Participation Co-Invest Opportunities

Overview

We are partnering with a private equity firm focused on investing in founder-led, lower middle market companies to identify a Vice President of Finance / Portfolio CFO to lead and oversee the financial infrastructure across its portfolio.

This individual will operate as the de facto CFO across multiple portfolio companies, working through a centralized shared services model while partnering closely with company-level Controllers and executive leadership teams.

The firm has a strong presence in Austin, Texas, where this role will be based, with regular travel (20–30%) to portfolio company sites as needed.

The firm has built a scalable platform with a shared services finance center, enabling standardization, visibility, and operational leverage across investments. This role is critical in driving financial discipline, reporting consistency, and value creation across the portfolio.

This is a highly visible position with direct exposure to Operating Partners, Managing Directors, and portfolio CEOs, offering meaningful upside through bonus, equity, and the ability to invest alongside the firm.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Financial Leadership

• Serve as the acting CFO across multiple portfolio companies, supporting CEOs and leadership teams
• Drive financial strategy, performance tracking, and KPI development across investments
• Provide oversight and guidance to Controllers embedded within each portfolio company

Shared Services & Infrastructure

• Lead and optimize the centralized finance shared services function
• Standardize reporting, close processes, and financial controls across all portfolio companies
• Implement scalable processes and systems to support growth and M&A activity

Financial Reporting & Performance Management

• Oversee consolidated portfolio reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and board-level deliverables
• Establish consistent dashboards and KPIs aligned with the firm’s investment thesis
• Drive forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis across the platform

Private Equity Partnership

• Partner directly with the PE firm’s leadership on investment performance and strategic initiatives
• Support deal teams with financial diligence, underwriting insights, and post-close integration
• Assist in preparing portfolio companies for recapitalizations, refinancings, or exits

M&A & Integration

• Lead financial integration efforts for add-on acquisitions
• Ensure alignment of accounting policies, reporting structures, and systems post-acquisition
• Track synergies and value creation initiatives across the portfolio

Operational Finance & Value Creation

• Identify opportunities for margin improvement, cost optimization, and working capital efficiency
• Support founder-led businesses in transitioning to institutional-grade finance functions
• Build finance capabilities that scale with growth and support long-term value creation

Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive finance leadership experience, including CFO, VP Finance, or equivalent roles
• Strong experience within private equity-backed environments, ideally across multiple portfolio companies
• Required: Manufacturing and distribution industry experience
• Background working with founder-led or entrepreneurial businesses transitioning to scaled operations
• Experience in multi-entity, multi-location, or platform add-on acquisition environments
• Proven track record of building or improving financial infrastructure, reporting, and controls
• Strong understanding of shared services models and centralized finance operations
• Experience supporting M&A transactions, integrations, and exit readiness
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field (CPA or MBA preferred)

Why This Opportunity

• Direct exposure to private equity leadership and portfolio strategy
• Opportunity to act as a true Portfolio CFO, influencing multiple businesses
• Meaningful equity participation and co-invest opportunities
• Platform-level impact across a growing portfolio of founder-led companies
• Ability to build, standardize, and scale finance infrastructure across investments