Challenge
A UK-headquartered, private equity–backed global CFO advisory platform was established to redefine CFO Advisory through a conflict-free, AI-enabled delivery model.
A priority was building a founding CFO Advisory leadership team capable not only of delivering complex work, but of shaping and scaling a new business. The firm required senior Partners with the commercial credibility, CFO relationships, and entrepreneurial mindset to win Big Four and PE-backed clients — without relying on legacy brand or traditional labour-heavy consulting models.
The expected commercial impact of these hires was £10m–£20m in the first 24 months.
Why River
The client engaged River to design and execute a founding Partner search requiring both market credibility and precision. The mandate demanded access to sitting equity Partners and senior Managing Directors, alongside rigorous assessment of commercial performance, leadership scale, and founder mentality.
River’s ability to combine senior-led engagement with disciplined market mapping was central to shaping the platform’s leadership DNA from day one.
Approach
- Partnered closely with the founding leadership team to refine the Partner proposition, equity economics, and growth mandate
- Defined what elite CFO Advisory leadership looks like in an AI-enabled, PE-backed model
- Conducted focused market mapping across Big Four, Tier 2, and specialist advisory firms
- Produced a curated longlist of 100 senior candidates
- Assessed candidates on revenue track record, leadership scale, CFO relevance, and appetite for a growth-stage environment
Outcome & Impact
- Delivered a high-calibre shortlist of sitting equity Partners and senior MDs
- Candidates demonstrated individual revenue track records of £5m–£30m+
- Strengthened the platform’s market credibility at launch
- Established a repeatable framework for future leadership hiring
This engagement helped define the foundational leadership model of a new global CFO advisory business.