Group Chief Financial Officer

About the Company

Privatal is a Pan-European specialist recruitment firm focused on placing interim and permanent leadership talent in CFO/finance, strategic value creation, and transformation roles within private equity-backed portfolio companies and funds. Their consultants combine deep private equity knowledge with functional expertise, enabling rapid and high-quality placements.

Opportunity Overview

Privatal is engaged by a private equity fund to identify a new Group CFO for a manufacturing firm. The role involves close collaboration with the CEO to lead a comprehensive business transformation aligned with private equity standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the transformation of the finance function from a traditional privately-owned structure to one meeting private equity expectations.
• Enhance and professionalize finance capabilities encompassing reporting, controlling, treasury, and performance management.
• Set up effective financial reporting systems, KPI frameworks, and decision-support tools across multiple European sites.
• Manage working capital efficiency, cash flow processes, and strengthen banking partnerships.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and partner to both the CEO and investors.
• Lead mergers and acquisitions efforts, including integration and synergy realization across a multi-site organization.
• Implement scalable systems, procedures, and governance to support growth objectives.
• Build and lead a high-performing finance team across all locations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experienced Group CFO with comprehensive finance leadership and successful transformation track record, particularly transitioning family-owned companies to private equity environments.
• Proven ability to establish and develop finance functions that deliver operational and financial excellence.
• Background in industrial or manufacturing sectors, familiar with multi-site European or international operations.
• Strong experience in M&A including integration and value creation phases.
• Prior collaboration with private equity investors, preferably in a Group CFO capacity.
• Pragmatic and hands-on leader capable of operating both strategically and operationally.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to gain credibility at all organizational levels.
• Fluency in German and English languages.
• Cultural alignment with the German Mittelstand business environment.

Additional Information

Only shortlisted candidates meeting the specified criteria will be contacted. The recruitment is led by Julian Hove, Partner of the CFO Practice at Privatal.