Elite CFO Talent & Advisory for Investors in the Real Economy

Executive search and interim finance leadership solutions for middle market private equity firms and PE-backed companies in industrial and commercial sectors—particularly those taking on their first institutional capital.

Our Solutions

Rate of Return provides specialized executive search and advisory solutions centered around the Office of the CFO. Our core solutions include:

  • CFO Advisors

    • Independent finance executives who help private equity firms deeply diligence the finance capabilities of prospective acquisitions, providing critical insight into companies' finance functions before they become part of the portfolio

    • Executives who can mentor existing portfolio company finance leadership or oversee major projects from an advisory capacity

  • Interim Finance Leadership

    • Proven CFO and Controller talent who can immediately step into a newly acquired portfolio company to build out robust, PE-ready finance teams and scalable systems

  • Permanent Finance Leadership

    • Specialized CFO recruitment tailored explicitly to executives who understand the unique finance and operational demands of businesses operating under private equity ownership. Particularly companies taking on their first institutional capital

Industry Coverage

We exclusively serve middle market private equity firms and portfolio companies operating within 'real economy' sectors—industries characterized by operational complexity, sophisticated financial management needs, and critical roles in the industrial or commercial economy.

Our core industry coverage includes:

  • Industrial Manufacturing

  • Industrial Services

  • Value-Added Distribution

  • Business & Commercial Services

  • Transportation & Logistics

Why We Do It

Having spent years placing Deal Advisors and Backable Executives for private equity firms across diverse sectors, we’ve seen firsthand the unique finance leadership challenges companies faced by businesses operating within real economy industries when transitioning to institutional capital ownership.

Real economy companies have distinct financial and operational complexities— capital-intensive assets, complex working capital cycles, distributed workforces, and sophisticated logistics considerations. These complexities require unique CFO and finance talent.

Our mission is to accelerate growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation at PE-backed real economy companies by connecting them with high-impact finance executives who understand exactly how to navigate these unique complexities.

How We Can Help

  • Talent Acquisition

    • Curated network of elite CFOs, Controllers, and finance executives proven specifically in PE-backed environments

  • High-Touch Service

    • Personalized, consultative approach — tailoring solutions specifically to your unique situation rather than relying on generic, off-the-shelf methods

  • Expertise & Insights

    • Deep understanding of the unique financial and operational management needs within real economy companies taking on institutional capital

  • Executive Career Support

    • Proactive guidance and advisory support for finance executives exploring new opportunities in the ecosystem of PE-backed real economy companies

Get In Touch

Interested in learning more or discussing your finance leadership needs? Get in touch with the link below.