Turnaround & Restructuring Director

Location: Chicago, IL
Level: Director
Experience: 8-10 years total; minimum 3 years in Turnaround & Restructuring

Our client is a boutique turnaround and restructuring advisory firm focused on middle‑market companies facing operational, financial, or liquidity challenges. The firm partners closely with management teams, boards, lenders, and stakeholders to stabilize performance, preserve value, and position businesses for sustainable recovery. The engagements are highly hands-on, collaborative, and impact-driven.

The Director will play a leadership role in originating, managing, and executing restructuring and turnaround engagements. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, lead complex workstreams, and mentor junior professionals, while remaining actively involved in day-to-day analysis and execution. The role requires comfort operating in ambiguous, high‑pressure environments and the ability to lead engagements from initial assessment through implementation.

• Lead and manage turnaround and restructuring engagements for middle‑market companies across a variety of industries
• Serve as a primary client contact, working directly with CEOs, CFOs, boards, lenders, private equity sponsors, and legal advisors
• Develop and oversee 13‑week cash flow forecasts, liquidity analyses, and integrated financial models
• Assess operational and financial performance, identify root causes of distress, and develop actionable turnaround plans
• Support in‑court and out‑of‑court restructurings, including lender negotiations, amendments, forbearances, and Chapter 11 processes
• Provide interim management support as needed (e.g., CRO office support)
• Lead engagement teams, review work product, and ensure high-quality, timely deliverables
• Coach and mentor Associates and Managers, fostering professional development and strong team culture
• Contribute to business development efforts, including proposal development, pitch meetings, and relationship management
  
  

• 8-10 years of professional experience with at least 3 years dedicated to turnaround and restructuring
• Prior experience in a restructuring advisory firm, consulting firm, investment bank, or accounting firm with a strong T&R practice
• Demonstrated ability to lead restructuring engagements and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Strong financial modeling skills, including liquidity forecasting and scenario analysis
• Deep understanding of distressed capital structures, credit agreements, and restructuring processes
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing junior professionals
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
  
  

• Experience working with private equity-backed or sponsor‑owned portfolio companies
• Exposure to both operational and financial restructurings
• CPA, CFA, or MBA strongly preferred but not required
• Experience working in or with middle‑market companies ($50MM-$500MM revenue range)

Expected Compensation:

Base: $180k - $200k

Discretionary Bonus: ~ 25 -50%