East 57th Street Partners
Job Title:
Director of Finance
Company Type:
PE-Backed Startup (First Internal Finance Hire)
Compensation:
Competitive Base Salary + Annual Bonus +
Meaningful Equity Participation
Overview A high-growth startup backed by a prominent private equity firm is seeking its
first internal finance leader
to build and own the entire accounting and finance function from the ground up.
Currently, the company relies on outsourced consultants to manage accounting and finance activities. This role represents a pivotal transition — moving from outsourced support to an
in-house, institutional-quality finance organization
capable of supporting rapid growth, operational complexity, and future scale.
The
Director of Finance
will be fully accountable for designing systems, processes, controls, and reporting infrastructure while serving as the primary financial partner to the CEO and PE sponsor. This is a hands‑on builder role for a technically strong CPA who thrives in a startup environment and wants to grow into a long‑term executive leadership role.
Key Responsibilities Finance & Accounting Build‑Out
Build the
entire accounting and finance function
internally, transitioning responsibilities from outsourced providers.
Design and implement accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with PE‑backed best practices.
Select, implement, and optimize core financial systems (GL, AP/AR, payroll, job costing, inventory, fixed assets).
Establish a disciplined monthly close process, management reporting, and KPI dashboards.
Technical Accounting & Operations
Own full‑cycle accounting, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
Lead accounting for
fixed assets, inventory, and project‑based/job‑cost accounting
in a construction or project‑driven environment.
Ensure GAAP compliance and audit readiness as the business scales.
Oversee government contracting accounting in partnership with an experienced outsourced firm (cost accounting, indirect rates, compliance).
Strategic Finance & PE Partnership
Act as the primary finance partner to the CEO and private equity sponsor.
Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and working capital optimization.
Prepare board materials, investor reporting, and ad hoc financial analyses.
Support future initiatives including financings, acquisitions, and operational scale‑up.
Team & Infrastructure Development
Develop a scalable finance roadmap, including future hires and reduced reliance on outsourced providers.
Create documentation, controls, and repeatable processes to support long‑term growth.
Build a finance function designed to scale into a multi‑layered organization.
Path to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) This role is intentionally designed with a
clear progression to CFO
as the company scales.
As the business grows in revenue, complexity, and institutional maturity, the Director of Finance will be expected to evolve into the
Chief Financial Officer , assuming expanded responsibility across:
Capital strategy and lender/investor relationships
Board‑level financial leadership and governance
M&A execution and integration support
Enterprise‑wide financial planning and performance management
The private equity sponsor views this role as a
long‑term leadership position , with title expansion tied to execution, scale, and value creation rather than tenure.
Ideal Candidate Profile
CPA required
Big 4 public accounting experience required
Startup or early‑stage
PE‑backed company experience strongly preferred
Proven experience building accounting and finance infrastructure from scratch
Strong hands‑on experience with:
Fixed asset accounting
Inventory accounting
Project / job‑cost accounting (construction or project‑based services)
Construction industry experience preferred
Government contracting accounting experience preferred (outsourced support in place)
Highly execution‑oriented, comfortable owning both strategy and day‑to‑day accounting
Strong communicator able to partner with executives, investors, and external advisors
Why This Role
First finance hire
with true end‑to‑end ownership
Backed by a
prominent private equity firm
Opportunity to architect systems, processes, and controls — not inherit them
Meaningful equity participation
Defined path to CFO
based on performance and company growth
Ability to grow with the business and help shape its long‑term trajectory
Seniority Level Executive
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function General Business, Finance, and Accounting/Auditing
Industries Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Finance
Company Type:
PE-Backed Startup (First Internal Finance Hire)
Compensation:
Competitive Base Salary + Annual Bonus +
Meaningful Equity Participation
Overview A high-growth startup backed by a prominent private equity firm is seeking its
first internal finance leader
to build and own the entire accounting and finance function from the ground up.
Currently, the company relies on outsourced consultants to manage accounting and finance activities. This role represents a pivotal transition — moving from outsourced support to an
in-house, institutional-quality finance organization
capable of supporting rapid growth, operational complexity, and future scale.
The
Director of Finance
will be fully accountable for designing systems, processes, controls, and reporting infrastructure while serving as the primary financial partner to the CEO and PE sponsor. This is a hands‑on builder role for a technically strong CPA who thrives in a startup environment and wants to grow into a long‑term executive leadership role.
Key Responsibilities Finance & Accounting Build‑Out
Build the
entire accounting and finance function
internally, transitioning responsibilities from outsourced providers.
Design and implement accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls aligned with PE‑backed best practices.
Select, implement, and optimize core financial systems (GL, AP/AR, payroll, job costing, inventory, fixed assets).
Establish a disciplined monthly close process, management reporting, and KPI dashboards.
Technical Accounting & Operations
Own full‑cycle accounting, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
Lead accounting for
fixed assets, inventory, and project‑based/job‑cost accounting
in a construction or project‑driven environment.
Ensure GAAP compliance and audit readiness as the business scales.
Oversee government contracting accounting in partnership with an experienced outsourced firm (cost accounting, indirect rates, compliance).
Strategic Finance & PE Partnership
Act as the primary finance partner to the CEO and private equity sponsor.
Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and working capital optimization.
Prepare board materials, investor reporting, and ad hoc financial analyses.
Support future initiatives including financings, acquisitions, and operational scale‑up.
Team & Infrastructure Development
Develop a scalable finance roadmap, including future hires and reduced reliance on outsourced providers.
Create documentation, controls, and repeatable processes to support long‑term growth.
Build a finance function designed to scale into a multi‑layered organization.
Path to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) This role is intentionally designed with a
clear progression to CFO
as the company scales.
As the business grows in revenue, complexity, and institutional maturity, the Director of Finance will be expected to evolve into the
Chief Financial Officer , assuming expanded responsibility across:
Capital strategy and lender/investor relationships
Board‑level financial leadership and governance
M&A execution and integration support
Enterprise‑wide financial planning and performance management
The private equity sponsor views this role as a
long‑term leadership position , with title expansion tied to execution, scale, and value creation rather than tenure.
Ideal Candidate Profile
CPA required
Big 4 public accounting experience required
Startup or early‑stage
PE‑backed company experience strongly preferred
Proven experience building accounting and finance infrastructure from scratch
Strong hands‑on experience with:
Fixed asset accounting
Inventory accounting
Project / job‑cost accounting (construction or project‑based services)
Construction industry experience preferred
Government contracting accounting experience preferred (outsourced support in place)
Highly execution‑oriented, comfortable owning both strategy and day‑to‑day accounting
Strong communicator able to partner with executives, investors, and external advisors
Why This Role
First finance hire
with true end‑to‑end ownership
Backed by a
prominent private equity firm
Opportunity to architect systems, processes, and controls — not inherit them
Meaningful equity participation
Defined path to CFO
based on performance and company growth
Ability to grow with the business and help shape its long‑term trajectory
Seniority Level Executive
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function General Business, Finance, and Accounting/Auditing
Industries Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
#J-18808-Ljbffr