Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree partners with private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events including acquisitions, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, integrations, and performance improvement initiatives.
The Strategic Finance Consulting team works alongside sponsors and executive leadership to strengthen financial visibility, improve forecasting rigor, and drive enterprise value creation within middle-market portfolio companies.
The Director PositionThe Director is a senior leadership role within Palm Tree’s Strategic Finance Consulting practice. Directors are responsible for guiding client engagements, overseeing financial strategy initiatives, and maintaining direct communication with private equity sponsors and executive leadership teams.
This role requires deep financial expertise, strong commercial judgment, and the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable strategic recommendations. Directors serve as both technical leaders and client relationship stewards, ensuring engagements deliver measurable value creation outcomes.
Unlike Accounting Advisory, which centers on historical reporting and technical accounting matters, Strategic Finance Consulting focuses on forward-looking financial planning, liquidity management, performance optimization, and operational transformation within sponsor-backed environments.
Directors are expected to operate as trusted advisors to CFOs and sponsors while simultaneously leading internal teams and contributing to firm growth.
Core ResponsibilitiesStrategic LeadershipGuide project teams and oversee engagement execution across multiple concurrent clients
Maintain consistent communication with private equity sponsors and executive stakeholders
Ensure deliverables are commercially sound, actionable, and aligned with value creation objectives
Serve as a senior escalation point for complex financial or operational issues
Lead the design and execution of integrated 3-statement financial models
Oversee development of 13-week cash flow models and rolling 12-week liquidity forecasts
Direct AOP, budgeting, and forecasting processes within portfolio companies
Guide scenario planning, covenant modeling, and capital structure analysis
Perform and supervise advanced quantitative and performance analyses
Facilitate executive-level working sessions and board presentations
Present financial insights and performance updates to sponsors and management teams
Provide actionable recommendations tied to EBITDA growth, cash flow optimization, and valuation impact
Develop long-term client relationships and serve as a trusted strategic advisor
Advise on restructuring team processes, FP&A infrastructure, and reporting cadence
Support organizational design improvements and finance function build-outs
Drive 100-day plans and ongoing performance tracking initiatives
Identify operational inefficiencies and margin improvement opportunities
Mentor and develop Associates, Senior Associates, and Vice Presidents
Provide structured feedback and performance coaching
Foster a culture of accountability, rigor, and intellectual curiosity
Identify and pursue new business opportunities within existing and prospective clients
Support proposal development and pitch efforts
Contribute to expanding Palm Tree’s Strategic Finance platform
Publish insights on strategic finance, liquidity management, and value creation
Represent Palm Tree at industry events and conferences
Contribute to firm-level intellectual capital and market positioning
10+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, investment banking, restructuring, or private equity
Proven track record in client services or private equity-backed portfolio company environments
Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and client relationships
Advanced financial modeling expertise, including liquidity forecasting and scenario analysis
Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and AOP processes in complex environments
Strong executive communication and presentation skills
Ability to operate in fast-paced, sponsor-driven environments
CPA, CFA, or MBA credentials are viewed favorably but not required.
Compensation and BenefitsBase salary range of $200,000–$225,000, plus performance-based incentive bonus.
Medical, dental, and vision premium coverage.
Competitive 401(k) program.
Unlimited paid time off (PTO).
Robust maternity and paternity leave program.
Travel: 25%–50% travel may be required depending on client engagements.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, investment banking, restructuring, or private equity
- Proven track record in client services or private equity-backed portfolio company environments
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and client relationships
- Advanced financial modeling expertise, including integrated 3-statement models, liquidity forecasting, and scenario analysis
- Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and AOP processes in complex environments
- Strong executive communication and presentation skills
- Ability to operate in fast-paced, sponsor-driven environments
- CPA, CFA, or MBA credentials
What We Do
Palm Tree is the modern M&A advisor. Our model is a hybrid of consulting, investment banking, and accounting, and we integrate with our clients to enable them to prepare for, respond to, and execute strategic events. Palm Tree navigates the time-sensitive, demanding, uncompromising rigors of M&A from the perspective of owners and investors. We provide comprehensive financial, transactional, and operational solutions to our private equity and corporate clients. This gives them the advantage of experience and expertise across the full continuum of transactions, transitions, and transformations. Our elite teams at Palm Tree are led by seasoned M&A professionals who have worked in private equity, investment banking, Big Four accounting, Elite Three consulting, and business operations. We provide a unique opportunity for high-performing Big Four & Elite Three individuals to break into the M&A industry and experience accelerated career growth. In addition, Palm Tree offers real-world experience internships and entry-level programs to undergraduate and graduate students and entry-level candidates. We pride ourselves on training well-rounded individuals to be prepared for a career in M&A. We provide our employees with proprietary training that leverages “best practices” from Palm Tree’s collective experience, training you on how to evaluate a business, improve a business and facilitate a transaction. We are presently hiring in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas markets for all experience levels within each of Palm Tree’s service lines: financial due diligence, consulting, and investment banking. If you have an interest in developing a unique skill set for the world of M&A, drawing from our direct middle market experience, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at www.palmtreellc.com/contact. We’d love to hear from you!
_0.png)
