In her article, Monika Dowal, SVP, North America, explains why the CFO is often the most exposed role in a PE-backed company. In this follow-up conversation with Jamie Irwin, Partner in Finatal’s CFO practice, she looks at what makes the right CFO for a particular business, not simply the strongest candidate on paper.
They discuss why context matters across the hold, how the role moves from historical reporting to performance and value creation, and why commercial judgment, proactive sponsor communication, speed and exit experience all matter. Monika also explains what it takes to make good decisions with limited time and information, without losing the team or damaging the culture along the way.
Watch the full conversation below.