The 4 Archetypes of the Private Equity Chief Financial Officer

The success of a private equity fund’s investment in a portfolio company largely hinges on the performance of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Initially chosen CFOs may be ideal for early goals, but market shifts might necessitate a change in CFO to adapt and succeed. Understanding the unique skills of different CFO archetypes is key for funds to make timely, effective leadership decisions. To help with this process, BDO has identified the four most common archetypes of private equity CFOs, using criteria based on the maturity of company, conditions of the market, or state of the investment thesis.