Group Chief Financial Officer

Privatal

Privatal is a Pan-European specialist headhunting firm placing interim and permanent talent across CFO/finance, value creation & strategy, and transformation into private equity-backed portfolio companies and funds. Unlike generalist firms, each Privatal consultant combines deep private equity expertise with a dedicated functional focus—enabling exceptional speed and quality in delivery

Introduction

Privatal is partnering with a Pan-European private equity investor in their search for a new group CFO, a leading digital transformation and IT services platform in its next phase of value creation and exit readiness.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Group CFO to partner closely with the CEO and the investor in driving the next phase of the asset's transformation. This is a broad leadership mandate extending beyond traditional finance, with responsibility for strengthening commercial performance, improving operational transparency, and ensuring the business is fully prepared for a successful private equity exit.

The successful candidate will inherit a finance organisation that has already undergone significant professionalisation. The focus is no longer on building the fundamentals, but on leveraging strong financial foundations to improve business performance, optimise commercial decision-making, and establish best-in-class governance across a project-based, professional services organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the next phase of the Group's transformation, supporting the execution of the asset's value creation plan.
• Drive commercial controlling, project administration, utilisation reporting, invoicing, and performance analytics across the business.
• Further develop financial planning, reporting, forecasting, accounting, tax, treasury, and compliance capabilities.
• Establish robust KPI frameworks and management reporting to improve commercial decision-making and operational performance.
• Optimise project profitability, working capital, and cash flow across a complex services environment.
• Lead governance, data management, compliance, and enterprise-wide control frameworks.
• Partner with the CEO and shareholders on strategic planning, business performance, and organisational development.
• Support M&A activities, post-merger integration, and strategic transformation initiatives where required.
• Build and develop a high‐performing international finance organisation.
• Lead the business through exit readiness, ensuring institutional‐quality reporting, governance, and investor communication.

CFO Profile

• Proven Group CFO experience within a private equity‐backed portfolio company.
• Strong transformation and restructuring track record within IT services, professional services, consulting, or other project‐based business models.
• Deep understanding of commercial controlling, project accounting, utilisation management, and customer profitability.
• Experience partnering directly with private equity investors and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated exposure to M&A, post‐merger integration, and value creation initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial insight into operational decision‐making.
• Hands‐on leadership style with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading international finance organisations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Strong cultural fit with an entrepreneurial, high‐performance private equity environment.

Only successful candidates will be contacted based on the investor's set of requirements.

Responsible for the search:

Julian Hove

Partner, CFO Practice