225. The Private Equity CFO | Culture, Control & Closing the Books Faster with Richard Sanders

CFO 4.0 - The Future of Finance

Send us your thoughts

In this episode of CFO 4.0 – The PE CFO Series, Hannah Munro is joined once again by Richard Sanders, Founder and Managing Partner at Sullivan Street Partners. Together, they dive into “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of private equity—an honest conversation unpacking what it’s really like behind the boardroom doors of a PE-backed business.

With a wealth of experience across corporate, startup and PE environments, Richard shares practical insights on how CFOs can protect their teams, influence direction, and stay focused on long-term value—even in short-term funding cycles.

In this episode, they explore:

• The shift in relationships and leadership behaviours post-PE investment
• What to retain (and what to adopt) when transitioning into a PE environment
• The evolving role of the CFO and how it differs from a Finance Director
• Why month-end speed matters—and how it changes company mindset
• Balancing investor expectations with long-term business thinking
• The signs of disengagement from your PE house—and how to respond

Links mentioned:

• Richard's Linkedin
• Learn more about Sullivan Street Partners

• Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.
• Subscribe to our Podcast!

Chapters

1. Introduction to CFO 4.0 (00:00:00)

2. The Good, Bad and Ugly of PE (00:01:12)

3. Where Control Actually Lies (00:05:00)

4. The Many Hats of a PE-Backed CFO (00:09:58)

5. CFO vs. Finance Director Roles (00:14:00)

6. Looking Forward, Not Backward (00:17:30)

7. Balancing Short and Long-Term Thinking (00:26:38)

8. Managing PE House Involvement (00:32:57)

9. Warning Signs and The Ugly Truth (00:38:21)

10. Closing Thoughts and Next Episode (00:43:37)