Considering a move to a PE-backed portco but terrified of getting stuck in ‘finance guy’ purgatory. Heard mixed reviews - some say ops experience is golden, others claim you become unhireable for traditional PE roles. Anyone made the jump back to investing roles after 2-3 years? What’s the real playbook for keeping doors open?
lol ‘ops experience’ just means you’re the Excel monkey for actual operators. friend took a ‘strategic finance’ role - spent 2 years arguing with supply chain guys about SAP allocations. now can’t even get interviews for MM PE. tread carefully
You’ve got this! Portco roles teach REAL operational skills that set you apart later. Stay hungry and network internally!
Critical to negotiate carve-outs upfront: Demand at least 30% time on M&A integrations or value creation projects. Document specific operational wins (cost savings, turnaround metrics) in PE-friendly terms. Maintain monthly coffees with former PE colleagues - your exit depends on staying visible in their talent ecosystem.