Tips - How to Secure an Interview in a PE-Backed Business

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How to Secure an Interview in a PE-Backed Business

1. Tailor Your CV to Highlight Commercial Impact

Private Equity firms want people who deliver results and drive measurable value creation. Your CV should clearly reflect this.

• Structure your achievements with metrics: "Increased EBITDA by ￡3.5m in 12 months through cost control and pricing strategy"
• Use action verbs: Led, Delivered, Restructured, Scaled, Streamlined, Implemented
• Tailor your CV to each PE opportunity—focus on your commercial achievements and leadership in transformation

Key focus areas to include:

• EBITDA improvements
• Working capital optimisation
• Gross margin expansion
• System or process upgrades (ERP, BI tools)
• Exit preparation / due diligence support

2. Speak the Language of Private Equity

PE-backed businesses are data-driven and ROI-obsessed. You need to understand and use their language.

• Learn terms like: Value Creation Plan (VCP), bolt-on acquisition, cash conversion cycle, internal rate of return (IRR), exit multiple
• Show how your work ties into investor returns: “Delivered a 3.5x ROI through a finance-led operational efficiency program”
• Demonstrate awareness of time pressure – PE investors usually want a return in 3–5 years

Top tip: Study how PE firms describe their portfolio company strategies on their websites and mimic this in your communication.

3. Build Relationships with Specialist PE Recruiters

Not all PE roles are advertised—many are filled by trusted headhunters.

• Identify top executive search firms with PE clients: Tri Talent Resourcing and a few others
• Build a relationship, not just a one-off application—become a go-to candidate
• Regularly update them on availability, interests, and accomplishments

Pro tip: Ask recruiters about live mandates in growth, turnaround, or pre-exit portfolio companies—these are common scenarios where top finance talent is needed.

4. Position Yourself as a Change Leader

Private Equity firms rarely invest in "steady state" companies. They want leaders who can handle complex, fast-paced change.

Demonstrate:

• Your ability to work in ambiguous or high-growth environments
• Experience leading through restructures, buy-and-build strategies, or international expansion
• How you've introduced controls, governance, and scalability into a previously underdeveloped finance function

Example: "Brought finance in-house post-carve-out, built FP&A function from scratch, implemented NetSuite, and created board MI in 100 days."

5. Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital first impression. Make it PE-attractive.

Checklist:

• Headline: “CFO | Private Equity | Growth | Exit | Value Creation”
• About section: Focus on transformation, commercial impact, and strategic partnerships with investors
• Experience: Use bullet points and quantify achievements (as with your CV)
• Add keywords like: PE-backed, Exit, Board reporting, Transformational change, IRR, Value creation, Growth equity

Engage weekly:

• Follow PE-backed companies and their CFOs
• Comment on PE news or recent acquisitions
• Post thought leadership on growth, finance transformation, or leadership in PE

6. Get a Warm Introduction

Many roles come from personal introductions or referrals.

Strategies:

• Leverage mutual LinkedIn connections to reach a PE firm's Portfolio Talent Partner, CEO, or CFO
• Use your recruiter network to make introductions to decision-makers
• Attend PE networking events, conferences (like BVCA events or PE Insights)

Referrals are 3–5x more likely to result in an interview.

7. Understand the Business Lifecycle of a PE Portfolio Company

PE-backed companies typically go through four stages:

1. Acquisition – financial cleanup, carve-out, system upgrade
2. Stabilisation & Governance – installing reporting, controls, dashboards
3. Growth Acceleration – scaling operations, expanding product/geography, bolt-on M&A
4. Exit Preparation – due diligence, clean books, investor packs, external audit readiness

Highlight which stage(s) you've supported and how you added value.

Example: "Partnered with PE Operating Partner to deliver exit-readiness over 18 months, leading to a successful trade sale at 12x EBITDA."

8. Demonstrate Board-Level Influence

PE stakeholders want confident, strategic finance leaders who can partner with the CEO and challenge the board.

Key points to showcase:

• You've presented at board meetings or managed board packs
• You’ve led strategy sessions or investor updates
• You’ve built MI dashboards that drive board-level decision-making
• Experience managing or working alongside Chair, NEDs, or PE Operating Partners

Interview bonus: Be ready to explain how you disagree with a CEO or investor constructively and the outcome of that tension.

9. Target Specific PE-Backed Companies

Get proactive. Identify companies that recently received PE investment.

Sources:

• Beauhurst (UK-focused, tracks PE deals)
• PitchBook, Preqin, Crunchbase (global)
• Private Equity Wire, Real Deals, Unquote, PE News (deal news)

Make a list:

• Sector focus (e.g., healthcare, tech, services)
• Growth stage (early scale vs. turnaround)
• PE owner (e.g., Inflexion, LDC, BGF, Bowmark)

Then:

• Research the CFO/CEO and their needs
• Apply directly or via your recruiter
• Send a short, high-impact LinkedIn message if appropriate

10. Prepare for a High-Pressure, Metrics-Driven Interview

PE interviews are tough. They want to see:

• Your ability to prioritise under pressure
• Comfort working with lean teams and tight deadlines
• That you’re commercial, not just technical

Prepare:

• 3–4 concrete examples of how you’ve driven growth, turnaround, or cost control
• Be ready for questions like: “How would you improve working capital in this business?” “What are the top 3 KPIs you’d focus on in your first 90 days?” “Tell me about a time you had to push back on a CEO or investor.”

Top tip: Know your numbers—PE firms love sharp finance brains who understand the commercial heartbeat of a business.

Want to Go a Step Further?

I can help you with:

• A PE-tailored CV template
• A short intro message/email to send to PE talent partners.
• A list of currently hiring PE-backed companies in your target region I;ll create a bespoke list of 10-15 (London, Surrey, Hampshire, etc.)

Just say the word and I'll help