What PE Firms Actually Want From the CFO: Build a Finance Function That Scales

Most CFOs spend more time surviving month-end close than driving the business. In this webinar, Ashley from Consero Global and David Anocna-Cole from LLR Partners break down what separates a reactive finance function from a strategic one, starting with the first 90 days after a platform investment. Inside this conversation: Why 57% of CFOs say most of their time goes to operational work, not strategy The first 90 days playbook: learning the team, the lenders, and the PE partner's priorities Where AI genuinely helps a finance function today, and where it still can't be trusted What belongs in a board package versus what should just be a pre-read Why 62% of finance teams now close their books in under 9 days, up from 8% a year ago The million-dollar deferred revenue gap a buyer found in diligence, and how to avoid it Why exit readiness should be a day-one habit, not a pre-sale scramble Consero Global is an AI-enabled, modular finance operations platform built for PE and VC-backed companies. Instead of building an in-house accounting team from scratch, our clients get best-in-class software, embedded automation, and an expert finance team working as one system. Talk to our team: https://conseroglobal.com/request-a-c... Learn more: https://conseroglobal.com/ 0:00 Welcome and Introductions 1:01 Meet the Panelists: Consero and LLR Partners 1:55 Today's Agenda: Build, Execute, Exit 3:24 Poll: Where Does Your Finance Team's Time Go? 4:49 Survey Results: 57% Stuck in Operational Work 9:19 The First 90 Days Framework 15:17 Where AI Fits in the Finance Function 19:43 CFO Priorities: Growth, Margin, Cash, Digital Transformation 26:30 What Belongs in a Board Package 29:05 Poll: How Long Is Your Monthly Close? 32:05 Faster Closes: 62% Now Close in Under 9 Days 34:03 The Million-Dollar Diligence Gap 35:51 Exit Readiness Starts on Day One 40:25 AI Strategy: Offense vs. Defense 43:46 Key Takeaway: Build the Plan Early