THRIVE FINANCE COUNCIL
Operating in Private Equity Is Different
For CFOs and finance leaders operating in, or moving toward, private equity–backed companies.
As a CFO or finance leader in a PE-backed company, you're expected to have answers - fast, accurate, and defensible. But the reality behind those decisions is rarely clean.
Most finance leaders don’t have a true sounding board at this level.
This is built to change that.
Led by Andrew Gormley and Susanna Madden, with occasional guest operators sharing real experience from PE-backed companies.
How to Join the Finance Council
The Finance Council is part of the Thrive Private Equity Leadership Platform - a private community for operators working in, or preparing to step into, private equity-backed companies.
When you join the platform, you get access to:
- The Finance Council (peer group + live sessions)
- Live events with PE-backed CEOs, CFOs, LPs, and investment bankers
- A full library of recorded sessions and masterclasses
- Practical coursework designed for private equity operators
- US PE Deal Daily with market signals and insights
- Resource Room with tools, templates, and operator frameworks
- A private network of operators navigating similar challenges
You can join the platform with a 14-day free trial, which includes access to the first Finance Council session.
WHAT FINANCE LEADERS IN PE NAVIGATE
Finance Leadership in Private Equity Is Different
Finance leaders in PE-backed companies operate in a different environment. Expectations are higher, timelines move faster, and the role often expands well beyond traditional finance responsibilities. The Council is designed to help members navigate these realities with stronger judgment, practical operating perspective, and peer insight.
The First 100 Days
Understanding sponsor expectations, stabilizing reporting, and quickly building credibility with leadership and investors.
Sponsor Expectations & Communication
Learning what private equity partners actually want to see in board materials, reporting cadence, and strategic discussions.
Prioritizing Growth
Evaluating where finance should focus first and how to support growth initiatives without losing operational discipline.
Acquisition Integration
Integrating acquisitions, aligning systems, and building scalable financial infrastructure while still running the day-to-day finance function.
Exit Preparation
Understanding what sponsors expect from finance leadership as a company moves toward a future transaction.
Growing Into the CFO Seat
Developing the judgment and leadership presence required to move from strong operator to trusted PE-backed CFO.
HOW THE COUNCIL WORKS
A Practical, Peer-Level Forum for Finance Leaders
The Thrive Finance Council is designed to create high-value discussion in a focused, confidential setting. Sessions are structured enough to be useful, but flexible enough to address the real issues finance leaders are navigating in PE-backed environments.
Meet Every Other Week
Join live 1-hour sessions every other week to stay connected to practical discussion without adding unnecessary burden to your calendar.
Focused Group Format
The council is intentionally structured to support meaningful discussio, large enough for diverse perspective, but focused enough to ensure every member can engage and contribute.
Real PE Finance Topics
Sessions focus on the issues that matter most in PE-backed companies — sponsor expectations, the first 100 days, acquisition integration, growth prioritization, and exit preparation.
Facilitated Discussion
Andrew Gormley and Susanna Madden guide each conversation to keep it practical, relevant, and grounded in real operator experience.
Peer Learning
Members learn not only from the facilitators, but from the shared experience, judgment, and perspective of other finance leaders navigating similar environments.
Built for Application
The goal is not theory. It is to help members leave each session with better judgment, stronger perspective, and ideas they can apply immediately.
FIRST THREE SESSIONS
What We’ll Be Discussing
The Finance Council begins with sessions focused on the realities of stepping into and operating within PE-backed companies - what matters, what gets scrutinized, and where finance leaders need to be sharp from day one.
What PE Sponsors Expect from Finance Leadership
How private equity sponsors evaluate finance leaders, what signals credibility with investors, and how the CFO role differs from traditional corporate finance environments.
The First 100 Days
How to diagnose the organization, stabilize reporting, and establish credibility quickly while aligning with sponsor expectations and board priorities.
Execution Discipline & Initiative Prioritization
How finance leaders evaluate growth opportunities, sequence initiatives, and balance strategic priorities while maintaining operational discipline.
COUNCIL LEADERSHIP
Led by Leaders Who Know the PE Finance Environment
The Thrive Finance Council is led by leaders who bring both real operating experience and deep perspective on what it takes to succeed inside PE-backed companies.
Andrew Gormley
PE Finance Leader | Former Certara Finance Executive
Andrew Gormley is a finance leader with deep experience inside private equity-backed environments. At Certara, he helped lead acquisition activity, finance transformation, and the company’s path through significant growth and successful exits.
Earlier in his career, Andrew built a strong foundation in investment banking and corporate finance, with experience across Deutsche Bank, Piper Jaffray, KPMG Corporate Finance, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
He brings a rare combination of sponsor-facing perspective, M&A experience, and practical finance leadership insight into what it takes to operate successfully in PE-backed companies.
Susanna Madden
Founder, Thrive Resources
Susanna Madden is the founder of Thrive Resources, a private equity talent platform focused on helping operators and executives build and advance their careers inside PE-backed portfolio companies.
Through Thrive’s executive search work, leadership platform, and operator community, Susanna works closely with CFOs, finance leaders, and portfolio company executives navigating the realities of private equity environments.
She brings a broad market view of what firms are looking for, how finance leaders differentiate themselves, and what it takes to grow into larger roles across the PE landscape.
WHO THIS COUNCIL IS FOR
Who This Is For - and Who It’s Not
The Finance Council is built for experienced finance leaders operating in, or intentionally moving into, private equity-backed environments.
CFOs in PE-Backed Companies
Finance leaders responsible for sponsor reporting, board communication, acquisition integration, and scaling finance infrastructure - including those newly operating under private equity ownership.
Controller, VP Finance, & VP FP&A
Senior operators preparing to step into CFO roles and looking to sharpen judgment, visibility, and readiness for sponsor-facing leadership.
Finance Leaders Moving Into PE
Corporate finance leaders actively working toward their first role in a PE-backed company and looking to understand what success actually looks like in that environment.
Finance Leaders Scaling With PE
Finance leaders navigating growth, acquisitions, and increasing complexity inside private equity-backed businesses.
This council is designed for experienced professionals. It is not intended for early-career finance roles.
JOIN THE FIRST SESSION
Join the Thrive Finance Council Through a 14-Day Free Trial
Access the Finance Council through the Thrive Private Equity Leadership Platform - including live sessions, practical toolkits, recorded content, market intelligence, and resources built for operators working in or moving toward PE-backed companies.
Your free trial includes access to the first Finance Council session.
