VP vs Principal

What is the difference between the VP and Principal roles in a PE firm? a lot of online resources have them at the same spot in the hierarchy as if they might be interchangeable terms but I have seen funds that have both

 
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Typically vp is post mba and will start out leading some dd work streams and being in charge of business dd (Calls vdr etc), financing, qofe and ic memo writing. By year 2/3 they should be qbing all aspects of the deal. Principal will on top of that also be leading a lot of committee discussions, focusing on angle generation in deals, leading mgmt meetings, leading value creation thesis generation, negotiations (purchase agreement), and finally beginning deal gen.

Think of vp as the execution specialist who by year 2/3 is 100% handling execution. Principal assists/guides that but also tries to differentiate the firm (angle generation), generate deals, negotiate on legal, and help sell the deal internally

That’s what I’ve seen / is probably broadly applicable

 

Depends really, really heavily on the fund. When I got promoted to Principal, my responsibilities didn’t change one iota. Same everything.

The primary differences are: - Pay bump. - You are generally viewed as more capable within the organization. You might start getting invited to lead certain things you weren’t previously exposed to (such as participation in fundraising activities, representing the fund in trade shows, serving as the lead at the board meeting if the Partner isn’t available for whatever reason). - Expectations of you by others are greater. You are expected to know the deal process cold and have a breadth of experience to draw from.

At some firms, they staff both a Principal + VP on deals, and therefore the promotion is very meaningful. At others, it is a title change and nothing else. Depends really heavily on the individual firm.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

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