VP of Finance, Portfolio Operations

Posted yesterday

chesapeake search partnersBaltimore (MD)

Financial Specialists, All Other Portfolio Management and Investment Advice

SENIORITY

Manager

Apply

About the role

CSP is partnering with a lower-middle-market private equity firm to identify a Vice President of Finance, Portfolio Operations who will serve as a hands-on, deployable finance leader across its portfolio. This is not a traditional back-office role. The VP will work directly with portfolio company leadership to build, improve, and stabilize finance and accounting functions. Assignments will vary based on the needs of each business (from establishing infrastructure at a newly acquired, founder-led company to leading critical initiatives, improving processes, strengthening reporting, or providing broader finance and accounting support). The ideal candidate is adaptable, practical, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to operate effectively across companies of varying size, complexity, and maturity.

Responsibilities: Build and strengthen finance and accounting functions at newly acquired portfolio companies, including close processes, reporting, lender compliance, tax, transaction accounting, and internal controls Lead finance initiatives across existing portfolio companies, including audit readiness, GAAP conversion, ERP implementations, working capital optimization, and financial reporting improvements Support acquisition due diligence by partnering with the investment team on third-party Quality of Earnings (QoE) engagements and related analysis Develop and implement consistent FP&A practices and standards across the portfolio while tailoring solutions to each company’s needs Serve as a trusted advisor to portfolio company CFOs, Controllers, and management teams, providing technical guidance, operational support, and clear financial communication Identify reporting and control gaps, improve processes, manage third-party providers, and effectively balance multiple portfolio company priorities

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; CPA or CPA candidate strongly preferred, and public accounting experience with a regional or national firm In-house experience as a Controller, Director of Finance, or similar finance leadership role, ideally within a private equity-backed or entrepreneurial environment Transaction advisory, Quality of Earnings, financial due diligence, or similar experience, preferably within the lower-middle-market Experience working with founder-led, owner-operated, or newly acquired businesses Strong working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and core accounting and finance principles Familiarity with ERP platforms such as Net Suite, Sage Intacct, Quick Books, or similar Strong executive presence, communication, and relationship-building skills Self-directed, highly adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities and portfolio company engagements independently Hands-on, solutions-oriented approach with strong project management and organizational skills Ability to effectively manage third-party professional service providers Manufacturing or industrial experience is a plus, but not required Willingness to travel approximately 20–30% to portfolio company locations, as needed

Before you apply

Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.

Your profile is current

It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.

Two examples you can talk through

Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.

A number in mind

What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.

Your notice period

Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.

Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.