5 Common Mistakes PE-Backed Companies Make in Finance & Accounting [+ How to Fix]

Updated: May 20, 2025

Private Equity firms need the Finance & Accounting team to deliver clear insights quickly. But too often, they are re-creating the wheel—implementing software, hiring professionals and building reports. Time is wasted and opportunities are missed.

To be successful, the finance & accounting function of Private Equity portfolio companies should create value. A strategic CFO should provide the “Voice of Finance” that permeates throughout the business. Key functions like processing transactions, closing the books and producing internal/external reporting should all be efficient. And those efficiencies should drive the relative cost of the finance & accounting function down as the organization scales up.

In this eBook, we’ll explain the common mistakes to help you identify potential failure points. We’ll provide insights into how they can be resolved so you can begin getting more value out of the finance function. And we’ll show you how the finance function can provide the foundation to build for the future and guide the business strategically.

 Five Common Mistakes:

  • Misaligned skill sets in finance & accounting
  • Re-creating the finance & accounting wheel
  • Disconnected finance & accounting systems
  • Processes that won’t scale
  • Buried information

 The Fix: Driving efficiencies through automation and AI with Finance as a Service

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Flex Finance

Keep your existing technology and processes. We can manage the back-office F&A function from end-to-end process, including closing the books. When you need skilled talent, we can supplement your F&A team.

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• FP&A and Reporting
• Technical Accounting & Clean-Up
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Transformation
  • Cash to GAAP conversion
  • Clean-up work
  • Interim oversight & support
  • Accounting software Implementation

Build it Yourself Solution

  • CFO / Interim CFO
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  • CFO / Interim CFO
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  • Monthly financials
  • Daily accounting support
  • Management reporting
  • Integrate add-on acquisitions

Build it Yourself Solution

  • CFO
  • Controllers & Accounting Team
  • Enterprise Accounting Applications

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  • CFO
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New PE Platform Investment F&A Challenges

Founder Owned Company Accounting:
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  • Underqualified staff
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