CFO for future portfolio company

January 25, 2023
Application deadline closed.

Job Description

Full job description
Paragon is an owner-managed investment company and has stood for sustainable investments in medium-sized companies since 2004. We currently manage a total of €1.2 billion in equity. Our investors include institutional investors such as life insurance companies, pension funds and university endowments as well as the Paragon team.

We invest in established medium-sized companies with a sustainable business model and significant development potential. Each company we acquire is managed independently by a board of directors and is self-financed. We accompany our investments from an advisory board position and support the management teams with the aim of improving the company strategically and operationally in the long term.

We encourage entrepreneurial thinking and action and, if necessary, provide additional capital for additional acquisitions and growth initiatives. In addition, we offer our holdings support from external experts in various areas such as recruitment or other operational development opportunities.

We are convinced that the sustainable development of companies creates added value for everyone involved. In the interests of the companies, their employees and customers as well as our shareholders.

For new investment approaches, we fill the role of CFO (gn).:

The task

The tasks of the CFO (gn) are varied. He/she will work across departments and support the CEO (gn) as a sparring partner for strategic issues. As the CFO of a portfolio company, you will work strategically and with long-term goals (exit orientation) on the one hand, but also pragmatically in quick implementation. In addition to professionalization, the growth strategy is paramount at Paragon Beteiligungen.

Close cooperation with the CEO and the shareholders in relation to the corporate strategy and its implementation (e.g. growth through company acquisitions)
Creation of transparency for controlling the company via financial key figures
Process optimization in the financial sector through the use of modern systems and the establishment of permeable structures and decision-making processes
Analysis and documentation of the financial situation of the portfolio company, as well as determination and implementation of cost-saving potential
Preparation of financial data for management and shareholders
Financing, investment planning, liquidity planning and control, treasury, controlling, reporting, budgeting, accounting, tax
Preparation of balance sheets and statistics
Cooperation with external partners and consultants (banks, auditors, lawyers) as well as shareholders
Management of the departments (controlling, accounting), here professional development and content expansion of the departments
In addition, often also control of the Legal, HR, IT departments

The CFO (gn) has a balanced mix of professional expertise (skills) and personal competence (competencies):

Proven technical expertise as a 360° CFO or in a management position in the finance department of a large medium-sized company
Comprehensive and equally strong expertise in controlling, financing (ideally in a private equity financed company), reporting, budgeting, accounting and treasury
Preparation of annual accounts, reporting
Broad industry experience analogous to the sectors in which Paragon Partners invests
Carve-out experience or expertise in the transformation of owner-managed companies, proven success in setting up standards in-house, transfer of necessary systems (e.g. IT)
Successful transformation of finance departments (introduction of MIS, process optimization, creation of transparency, standardization and digitization)
Leadership of teams, development of employees to “best performing teams” with high dynamics and initiative
Excellent communication skills, presentation skills and successful in conducting negotiations in German and English
High resilience, enjoys challenges and complex tasks, cultural openness
integrity and corporate responsibility
Successfully completed studies (business administration or similar) with excellent academic results