Leaving PE -> Tech StratFin or Portco Role?
Leaving PE after 3 years (9 years work exp) in search for a more sustainable work life balance + wanting to gain operating skillset. Have the opportunity to join a pre-IPO physical security hardware + software company in a mid-level StratFin role, or join a portco to head their StratFin and M&A efforts. I recognize it's a decision I'd have to make that comes down to which direction to go in, i.e., work up the ladders in tech (at a company that will do fine but probably not blow it out of the water), or pursue a serial PE-backed operator role.
Setting near-term comp aside, what are some pros and cons of each in your view and which might offer more long-term optionality and flexibility for someone based in SF Bay Area?
Having worked in PE, you should have a good sense of what being at a portco in a finance seat is like. You will largely be at the whim of the deal team and the analyses / numbers they need, often urgently. Obviously, the tradeoff is that if you make it to C-suite, you can get a nice comp package and make good money over 1 hold period
From what I've heard in tech, lot more varaition company to company dependening on the team. Look at the backgrounds of other folks on the team. Are they mostly ex IB / PE? Or grew up in tech finance orgs?
Also just curious, how did you land the tech strat fin role and can you share rough comp?
Very fair points, thank you. The other folks on the StratFin team in tech is a mix of people from tech finance orgs and former IB / PE / consultants. The tech role was from Linkedin and comp is mid 200s
Verkada is really sweaty lol
lol is that from folks in Finance org? I've heard of those sentiments for Sales & Marketing
Some LMM funds have decent work life balance - that's what I would just do if I were you.
Comp, brand, and who you are working for matter a lot here.
I wouldn’t take an inflated title and role unless it’s comped accordingly - you may find yourself getting worked to death for less money than that role deserves.
The other thing is if you don’t have anyone teaching you how to do things correctly in a finance role, you may find yourself getting overwhelmed or not learning real best practices. Your immediate boss will determine your quality of life and how much you end up learning, so be very careful who you choose to work for. This would honestly be my number 1 criteria to choose between jobs.
Brand also matters a lot here - working for a tiny PE portco in an inflated title might not open up many doors outside of other pe portco roles, but working at a reputable corporate would be additive from a brand perspective.
Thank you. That's one of the considerations, while the PE portco is not tiny and is doing well in a growing industry, I don't think I'll receive a ton of mentorship so hard to really learn the best practices.
If it’s a pure M&A role, you’re likely fine because you already learned how to do deals in PE. If its a brand new function you’ve never done before, could be worth going somewhere more established where you have people to actually teach and develop you.
What matters most in any job is who you are working for - people largely determine how happy or unhappy you’ll be in a role. So I would think about your relationship with the sponsor and the management team.
Whats considered a reputable corp? Any F500 size company?
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