Associate Director - Finance Transformation, M&A Support (PE/Growth)

By joining our rapidly growing Business Transformation practice (and working closely with our Private Equity practice) you will serve as a trusted partner to our premiere PE-backed clients. You’ll bring your first-hand experience, unique perspectives, and functional knowledge to deliver tailored integrated solutions that help our PE-backed clients solve today's challenges and drive value creation. As an Associate Director, you will be responsible for a mix of client delivery, leading teams and developing junior team members, and participating in business development activities. The successful candidate will lead and manage M&A integration programs for middle market private equity clients, ensuring seamless transitions and maximizing value creation from transactions. If you enjoy business transformation and driving value creation in the fast-paced world of Private Equity, this is a unique opportunity to become part of our growing and collaborative team! What You'll Do: • Lead M&A integration projects from planning through execution, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives • Set up the IMO, define its governance structure, roles, and responsibilities, and ensure it operates effectively to manage all aspects of the integration process • Develop and implement integration strategies, including transformation initiatives and risk mitigation • Create detailed integration plans that outline key milestones, timelines, dependencies, and resource requirements, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives • Identify and implement synergy opportunities across operations, finance, technology, and roles to maximize value creation from transactions • Identify, document, and track the progress of Transition Service Agreements, ensuring a streamlined transaction process and TSA exit • Engage with key stakeholders, including private equity firms, portfolio companies, and internal teams, to ensure alignment and collaboration throughout the integration process for a smooth integration of operations, systems, and culture • Lead change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new processes, systems, and cultures within the integrated organization • Manage the IMO cross-functionally, monitor and report on integration progress, identifying and addressing issues proactively • Continuously assess and refine integration processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, leveraging best practices and lessons learned from previous integrations • Assist portfolio companies with executing scalable ‘buy-and-build’ strategies by developing and implementing repeatable integration playbooks • Provide thought leadership and best practices in M&A integration within the middle market private equity space • Lead client engagements, facilitate workshops, and build roadmaps of prioritized strategic initiatives to accelerate time to value • Execute engagements utilizing agile principles – scrums, sprints, kanban, etc. • Leverage expertise in leading business processes (e.g., Procure-to-Pay, Opportunity-to-Cash, Record-to-Report including Financial Planning/Analysis and Close, Recruit-to-Hire-to-Retire and Master Data Management) and cross-functional dependencies to implement best practices and provide value-added insights • Utilize knowledge of finance tools, automation, data analytics, and cutting-edge solutions to meet client needs • Support Business Transformation projects, including system strategy, process improvement, operational performance enhancement, change management, program management, data analytics, stakeholder management, and business analysis • Effectively transition solutions back to private equity portfolio companies • Develop and maintain relationships with portfolio company representatives and Private Equity sponsors, collaborating with CrossCountry team members to scope, clarify, and deliver excellent client service • Seek opportunities to integrate additional solutions and service lines into clients to deliver full-scale transformation services aligned with client needs • Play an active role in talent acquisition, including interviewing, hiring, and retaining top-tier professionals who embody our core values • Serve as a coach and mentor to team members, fostering their professional growth and development • Actively participate in business development opportunities and market a full range of services to prospective clients including using existing relationships to generate new opportunities What You'll Bring: • 10 + years of experience in M&A integration and project management • Proven track record of managing complex integration projects within the middle market private equity space • Strong understanding of private equity transactions and middle market dynamics • Experience delivering to middle-market Private Equity Sponsors and their portfolio companies • Experience selling to and delivering for senior executive client leaders (e.g., Operating Partners, Portfolio Support Teams, CFO, Controller) • Experience delivering in fast paced environments with competing priorities and multiple key stakeholders • Experience conversing with the Controllership/Accounting and FP&A teams, including fluent knowledge of the main elements and drivers of revenue recognition, income statements, balance sheet, statement of cash flow, budgets and forecasts. • Knowledge of end-to-end Office of CFO (FP&A, Accounting, etc.) • Experience with agile methodologies • Advanced expertise of Microsoft Excel (e.g., macros, pivot tables, etc.) and PowerPoint • Knowledge of financial systems and data analytics and related tools (e.g., Salesforce, NetSuite, Intacct, Dynamics, Adaptive, Coupa, OneStream, FloQast, Blackline, Tableau, Alteryx, SQL) a plus • Experience mentoring and developing junior team members and helping project teams resolve issues • Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related area of study from an accredited university • 9+ years’ experience working in a client-facing role at a public accounting firm or equivalent consulting firm • Industry experience within the OCFO a plus • MBA, CPA, CFA, CSM a plus • Willingness to travel up to 40% as needed; travel varies based on client preferences. 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