Interim CFO / COO (6-9 month contract)
Expanding specialist private equity firm
£Negotiable dependant on experience + bonus + benefits
Surrey

This is an exciting and varied 6-9 month contract with an expanding Private Equity Firm and working within a small team. The role is very hands on, managing a small team of 3 high calibre qualified accountants (a head of finance and 2 fund accountants) as well as other CFO / COO responsibilities. You would have oversight and ownership over the entire reporting cycle of fund entities. Given the Finance team is integrated with the rest of the business, the role involves liaising on a daily basis with the deal, legal and operational functions. It is very important for them that the successful candidate is an experience CFO or COO with private equity funds exposure so that the concepts are understood and have strong compliance and company secretary skills (from a minute taking perspective) together with the necessary gravitas. There is a possibility this role could go permanent but there are no guarantees.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Qualified accountant with significant CFO or COO experience gained with funds experience and specifically PE fund exposure so that the person understands the concepts
  • Hands on attitude as befits a CFO / COO in a small private equity firm
  • Had the FD, FC or Head of Finance reporting to them in a previous role
  • Experience of overseas domiciled funds
  • Compliance experience
  • Company secretary skills - Co Sec experience (i.e. taking minutes and coordinating board pack preparation)
  • Strong communication skills and gravitas
  • Experience of liaising with the deal, legal and operational functions

THE ROLE

It is very important for the company that the successful candidate is an experienced CFO /COO with private equity funds exposure and experience of overseas domiciled funds and have strong compliance and company secretary skills (from a minute taking perspective) together with the necessary gravitas. Acting as Chief Financial Officer /COO of the Group and undertaking the various roles associated with such a position, including managing and recruiting the employees within the finance team; Responsibilities include the following:

  • Responsibility for the quarterly and annual accounts, audit and treasury affairs for the Group and any subsidiary entities thereof and liaising with investee companies, accountants, banks, administrators and custodians for such;
  • Responsibility for quarterly and annual reporting to investors in the Funds, OPIC and MIGA and collation and preparation of all reporting information and investee company valuations;
  • Responsibility for the Funds documentation and any changes thereto and all corporate/company secretarial affairs of the Group including movement of cash between fund subsidiaries;
  • Responsibility for improving and managing the portfolio monitoring system;
  • Responsibility for tax affairs and VAT of the Group and assisting in preparation of Group tax returns;
  • Oversight and preparation of GPs and Advisors annual budgets, cash management and long term forecasts;
  • Interfacing with the investment team where required and assisting in the establishment of legal entities for acquisitions and having oversight of the financial affairs and funding structure for such entities;
  • Oversight of Funds and GPs board meetings and preparation of associated papers and board minutes;
  • Minute taking for Investment Committee meeting;
  • Acting as Chief Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer and interfacing with relevant service providers and ensuring all regulatory requirements are complied with, manuals updated and reports submitted;
  • Responsibility for managing capital calls and investor record keeping/capital accounts for the Funds, including all capital flows to and from the Funds to portfolio companies, and distribution of all realizations back to investors;
  • Managing the process for closing investors into a fund, the transfer of interests and cash distributions;
  • Liaising with and managing all service providers to the Group including IT systems;
  • Compliance and regulatory work for all entities in the Group, working with compliance consultants;
  • Managing HR related matters as requested and staff expense claims and processing;
  • Oversight of the Funds' carried interest schemes;
  • Assisting with provision of information and documentation in respect of OPIC leverage and OPIC/MIGA insurance for the Funds' portfolios;
  • Support with new fund launches;
  • Review and negotiation of all contracts involving office leases, equipment leases, telecommunications contracts, consultants, lawyers, auditors, insurance providers, etc;
  • Reporting to the Managing Partner as required on the above financial, compliance and operational affairs of the Group;
  • Travel overseas as reasonably necessary to perform the role (mainly Luxembourg);
  • Generally ensuring the smooth running of all non-investment activities of the Group