Hands-On Leadership, Tangible Results: How an Interim CFO Drove Post-M&A Success

The Client

Our client is a private equity–backed industrial platform focused on wastewater treatment—an essential service sector where compliance, cost efficiency, and operational resilience are paramount. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the company is supported by a New York–based PE firm known for its focus on long-term value creation in the industrials space. 

Amid a growth phase fueled by M&A, the company had recently completed a bolt-on acquisition designed to expand both its geographic footprint and technical capabilities. But with that acquisition came immediate operational complexity—and an urgent need for experienced financial leadership to bridge the integration gap.

The Challenge

The company was looking to bring in an Interim CFO who could embed on-site and lead the finance and accounting integration over a 6–10 week period. This was a hands-on role requiring 4–5 days per week in Kansas City and a focus on execution from day one.

The engagement carried a range of strategic and tactical goals, including:

• Implementing a $3.1M EBITDA efficiency plan over a 24-month window
• Driving integration of financial systems and reporting structures post-acquisition
• Building out reliable reporting protocols across legacy and acquired entities
• Reducing aged accounts receivable to free up working capital
• Meeting time-sensitive reporting deadlines and PE sponsor requests
• Compiling and finalizing critical deliverables, including the Opening Balance Sheet, Purchase Accounting, and Working Capital true-up
• Supporting board-level engagement and free cash flow forecasting

Given the technical requirements and aggressive timelines, the right interim executive needed to bring a unique combination of strategic oversight and operational precision.

Our Approach

We launched a rapid search focused on identifying finance leaders with proven interim experience in complex, industrial environments—ideally those with backgrounds in chemicals, civil engineering, machinery, or mechanical and industrial engineering sectors.

Functionally, we prioritized CFOs and senior finance executives with:

• CPA credentials and deep fluency in GAAP
• A track record of post-acquisition integration and purchase accounting
• Strong financial reporting, planning, and forecasting skills
• Experience managing cash flow, AR collections, and working capital strategy
• The ability to lead ERP and reporting system transitions under tight deadlines

We also looked for professionals with experience operating within private equity structures—leaders who understand the pace, transparency, and performance focus that PE sponsors expect.

Throughout the process, we partnered closely with both the portfolio company’s CEO and the PE sponsor’s operating partner to ensure tight alignment on scope, expectations, and desired working style. Cultural fit, executive presence, and the ability to quickly earn the trust of internal stakeholders were as critical as technical capability.

The Placement

We ultimately placed a St. Louis–based interim CFO who was completing a prior engagement and ready to take on a new challenge. While his experience in the wastewater sector was limited, he brought a compelling blend of relevant experience:

• Over a decade of operating within private equity environments
• Early career foundation at KPMG, with a strong technical accounting skill set
• Hands-on leadership through 13 prior integrations—including both M&A transactions and intra-company consolidations
• Expertise in APA execution, ERP conversions, purchase accounting, budgeting, and board reporting
• A pragmatic, detail-oriented approach that emphasized execution, transparency, and control

His prior work leading tuck-ins for a manufacturing and assembly company made him particularly well-suited to the unique dynamics of bolt-on integration within industrial settings. More importantly, he brought the presence and confidence to immediately lead the financial workstreams and partner effectively with cross-functional teams on the ground.

The Outcome

Over the course of the engagement, the interim CFO drove significant results on an accelerated timeline:

• The $3.1M EBITDA efficiency plan was successfully launched on schedule
• Past-due accounts receivable (>90 days) were reduced from $2.9M to $1.2M—unlocking $1.7M in working capital
• A 5-day monthly close cycle was implemented, dramatically improving financial visibility
• All of the client’s internal and sponsor-facing reporting deadlines were met
• The Opening Balance Sheet, Purchase Accounting, and Working Capital true-up were compiled, submitted, and accepted
• Consolidated weekly and monthly financial templates were delivered and are now used as standard tools across the platform
• The interim CFO supported two Board of Directors meetings and played a key role in developing free cash flow forecasts to guide capital allocation decisions

From Interim to Impact

What began as a short-term engagement quickly evolved into a strategic success story. By delivering a high-impact interim CFO with the right blend of technical knowledge, integration experience, and field-based execution, we helped our client stabilize a complex acquisition and move forward with confidence.

This project underscores our ability to move quickly, think strategically, and deliver hands-on leadership that drives real business outcomes. From bolt-on to bottom line, this engagement reflects the power of precision in private equity-backed environments.