Associate Director - Finance Transformation, M&A Support (PE/Growth)

By joining our rapidly growing Business Transformation practice (and working closely with our Private Equity practice) you will serve as a trusted partner to our premiere PE-backed clients. You’ll bring your first‑hand experience, unique perspectives, and functional knowledge to deliver tailored integrated solutions that help our PE‑backed clients solve today's challenges and drive value creation. As an Associate Director, you will be responsible for a mix of client delivery, leading teams and developing junior team members, and participating in business development activities. The successful candidate will lead and manage M&A integration programs for middle market private equity clients, ensuring seamless transitions and maximizing value creation from transactions. If you enjoy business transformation and driving value creation in the fast‑paced world of Private Equity, this is a unique opportunity to become part of our growing and collaborative team!

What You'll Do:

• Lead M&A integration projects from planning through execution, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives

• Set up the IMO, define its governance structure, roles, and responsibilities, and ensure it operates effectively to manage all aspects of the integration process

• Develop and implement integration strategies, including transformation initiatives and risk mitigation

• Create detailed integration plans that outline key milestones, timelines, dependencies, and resource requirements, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives

• Identify and implement synergy opportunities across operations, finance, technology, and roles to maximize value creation from transactions

• Identify, document, and track the progress of Transition Service Agreements, ensuring a streamlined transaction process and TSA exit

• Engage with key stakeholders, including private equity firms, portfolio companies, and internal teams, to ensure alignment and collaboration throughout the integration process for a smooth integration of operations, systems, and culture

• Lead change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new processes, systems, and cultures within the integrated organization

• Manage the IMO cross-functionally, monitor and report on integration progress, identifying and addressing issues proactively

• Continuously assess and refine integration processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness, leveraging best practices and lessons learned from previous integrations

• Assist portfolio companies with executing scalable ‘buy-and-build’ strategies by developing and implementing repeatable integration playbooks

• Provide thought leadership and best practices in M&A integration within the middle market private equity space

• Lead client engagements, facilitate workshops, and build roadmaps of prioritized strategic initiatives to accelerate time to value

• Execute engagements utilizing agile principles – scrums, sprints, kanban, etc.

• Leverage expertise in leading business processes (e.g., Procure-to-Pay, Opportunity-to-Cash, Record-to-Report including Financial Planning/Analysis and Close, Recruit-to-Hire-to-Retire and Master Data Management) and cross-functional dependencies to implement best practices and provide value-added insights

• Utilize knowledge of finance tools, automation, data analytics, and cutting‑edge solutions to meet client needs

• Support Business Transformation projects, including system strategy, process improvement, operational performance enhancement, change management, program management, data analytics, stakeholder management, and business analysis

• Effectively transition solutions back to private equity portfolio companies

• Develop and maintain relationships with portfolio company representatives and Private Equity sponsors, collaborating with CrossCountry team members to scope, clarify, and deliver excellent client service

• Seek opportunities to integrate additional solutions and service lines into clients to deliver full‑scale transformation services aligned with client needs

• Play an active role in talent acquisition, including interviewing, hiring, and retaining top‑tier professionals who embody our core values

• Serve as a coach and mentor to team members, fostering their professional growth and development

• Actively participate in business development opportunities and market a full range of services to prospective clients including using existing relationships to generate new opportunities

What You'll Bring:

• 10 + years of experience in M&A integration and project management

• Proven track record of managing complex integration projects within the middle market private equity space

• Strong understanding of private equity transactions and middle market dynamics

• Experience delivering to middle‑market Private Equity Sponsors and their portfolio companies

• Experience selling to and delivering for senior executive client leaders (e.g., Operating Partners, Portfolio Support Teams, CFO, Controller)

• Experience delivering in fast paced environments with competing priorities and multiple key stakeholders

• Experience conversing with the Controllership/Accounting and FP&A teams, including fluent knowledge of the main elements and drivers of revenue recognition, income statements, balance sheet, statement of cash flow, budgets and forecasts.

• Knowledge of end‑to‑end Office of CFO (FP&A, Accounting, etc.)

• Experience with agile methodologies

• Advanced expertise of Microsoft Excel (e.g., macros, pivot tables, etc.) and PowerPoint

• Knowledge of financial systems and data analytics and related tools (e.g., Salesforce, NetSuite, Intacct, Dynamics, Adaptive, Coupa, OneStream, FloQast, Blackline, Tableau, Alteryx, SQL) a plus

• Experience mentoring and developing junior team members and helping project teams resolve issues

• Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related area of study from an accredited university

• 9+ years’ experience working in a client‑facing role at a public accounting firm or equivalent consulting firm

• Industry experience within the OCFO a plus

• MBA, CPA, CFA, CSM a plus

• Willingness to travel up to 40% as needed; travel varies based on client preferences.