A private equity-backed provider of educational resources was facing significant disruption in its finance function following the departure of both its CFO and controller. The monthly financial close process was dragging on for over 30 days, leaving the finance team stuck in a continuous cycle of reporting with no breathing room for strategic improvement.
Compounding the issue, the company was undergoing its first-ever audit while also managing a cash-to-GAAP conversion and dealing with significant process and control gaps. They needed experienced financial leadership that could step in quickly and deliver immediate results—without a lengthy ramp-up period.
We immediately provided daily operations support and assumed responsibility for the monthly close and 13-week cash flow forecasting cycle. This brought structure and speed to the closing process while helping the team navigate audit demands and everyday financial needs.
To further reinforce the finance function, we supported audit preparation, month-end close and CEO-level strategic initiatives. Our team advised on critical decisions around financial process improvements, revenue recognition, and the evaluation of internal tools and team capabilities to build a more resilient and scalable finance operation.
Under our interim leadership, the company successfully completed its first financial audit and laid the groundwork for smoother future audits. We developed a clear revenue recognition policy and established a strong audit trail for revenue cutoffs, reducing compliance risks. The finance team began closing the books more efficiently, consistently meeting monthly deadlines and providing timely financial statements to both the private equity owners and the company’s banking partners. By stabilizing leadership and strengthening financial processes, we helped the company shift from reactive to strategic financial management.