Sherpa Helped a Global Private Equity Firm Acquire C-Level Financial Talent - in 3 Weeks.
Acquiring Family-owned businesses who are category leaders is smart business, but bringing them online to a global PE can be challenging.
Building the Finance Function after Acquiring a Family-Owned Company
Our client, a global platform organization backed by private equity, had recently expanded through the acquisition of several founder-led businesses. While these companies brought strong operational performance and deep customer relationships, they lacked the financial infrastructure required to meet the expectations of a PE-backed environment.
Collaborating to Set the Course and Moving Ahead
Specifically, there was no dedicated Controller-level leadership in place at the family-owned firm. Financial reporting was decentralized, timelines were inconsistent, and visibility into performance at the group level was limited. With increasing pressure to deliver accurate, timely monthly reporting to stakeholders, the organization needed to elevate its finance function, both quickly and strategically.
Sherpa was engaged to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and help define the right profile for this critical hire. Through intake conversations with both local leadership and global finance stakeholders, it became clear this role would be more than a traditional Controller.
The ideal candidate needed to:
- Establish structure and discipline in monthly financial reporting
- Oversee transactional accounting while elevating overall financial rigor
- Partner with both local operations and international leadership
- Navigate the dynamics of a founder-led environment undergoing transformation
- Bring strong experience in inventory, financial statements, and multi-entity reporting
This wasn’t just a backfill, it was a foundational hire that would directly impact the organization’s ability to scale and meet investor expectations.
Knowing time was of the essence, we connected with both the PE leadership at a global level supporting several entities on a national level and with local leaders. Following alignment on the role, we moved quickly.
Leveraging our specialized Accounting & Finance network, we identified and presented three highly qualified candidates within days. Each candidate was vetted not only for technical expertise, but also for their ability to operate in a changing, industrial environment and influence stakeholders across levels.
Our process focused on:
- Targeting candidates with experience in complex, multi-entity environments
- Prioritizing individuals who could balance hands-on execution with strategic oversight
- Ensuring cultural alignment with a team transitioning from entrepreneurial to structured
Through a streamlined interview process and close coordination with the client, Sherpa helped guide decision-making and maintain momentum from initial outreach through offer.
Three Candidates, Three Weeks, One Successful Hire
The role was successfully filled in just over three weeks from kickoff.
With the right Controller now in place, the organization is positioned to:
- Deliver accurate, timely monthly financial reporting to its private equity partners
- Improve visibility into financial and operational performance
- Strengthen internal processes and controls
- Support continued growth with a scalable finance function
Most importantly, this hire established a critical layer of leadership that bridges local operations with global financial strategy - setting the foundation for long-term success.
From the moment we engaged with Sherpa, Lisa and Alissa make the process...