Director
Chicago, IL /
Portage Point Partners /
Transformation, Restructuring & Interim Management
Portage Point Partners (“Portage Point”) is a business advisory and interim management firm that partners with stakeholders during periods of transition, underperformance or distress.
Portage Point is currently seeking exceptional candidates to work on challenging transformation, financial restructuring, interim management, strategic realignment, performance improvement and other operational and financial advisory projects across a variety of industries. Our team members are frequently given significant responsibility beyond their prior experience level, creating opportunity for unconstrained personal and professional advancement.
The Director role at Portage Point is a busines development client delivery leadership position that represents a unique opportunity for highly capable professionals with a proven track record and relevant network. Directors will focus on developing new and existing client relationships as well as ensuring all aspects of strategic, operational and financial engagements are delivered with the highest quality standards and impact. Directors, in addition to making substantial contributions to overall firm growth, should be prepared to lead challenging and complex engagements within a small, collaborative team environment.
Responsibilities
- Working directly with senior personnel at Portage Point and our clients to develop comprehensive solutions to complex operational and financial challenges across the business lifecycle including formulating and implementing value creation, business transformation and performance improvement plans, contingency planning and bankruptcy preparation / execution
- Working with the Portage Point team of Associates to Managing Directors to conduct analysis and lead execution of all deliverable workflows
- Assessing organizational (and individual) structures and effectiveness
- Leading liquidity management (cash flow forecasting, treasury operations and stakeholder communications), case administration (filing preparation, bankruptcy reporting, claims support and plan support) and supporting the development and formulation of business / restructuring plans
- Identifying and re-allocating resources to operational, growth, financial and strategic initiatives with highest risk adjusted return
- Developing detailed financial projections and business plans
- Leading preparation of executive reporting packages including key performance indicators (“KPIs”), financial performance, budget, board of director presentations and stakeholder presentations
- Structuring and incorporating streamlined financial and operational processes to improve efficiencies
- Identifying and re-allocating resources to operational, growth, financial and strategic initiatives with highest risk adjusted return
- Presenting KPIs, financial performance, budget, board of director presentations, stakeholder presentations
- Leading various operational, financial and management meetings
- Leading key constituent communications / negotiations
- Leveraging network and relationships to yield an active referral base of high-quality opportunities
- Contributing to the origination and selling of projects including experience pitching to or partnering with senior executives, private equity firms, lenders, lawyers and other related buyers
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from a top university
- Typically at least seven years of total experience with five or more years of investment banking, consulting, restructuring / distressed or private equity at a top-tier firm in addition to two or more years spent operating, investing, advising operational improvements and / or servicing stakeholders or a compelling non-traditional background
- High degree of maturity with a proven ability to build rapport with and influence senior executives, middle managers, line workers, private equity firms, lenders and lawyers and deliver high-value work that exceeds client expectations
- Advises the client and makes decisions that demonstrate expertise, synthesizing the core drivers of both the clients’ business, situational analyses and the underlying complexity of the situation to maximize value
- Extensive experience managing other professionals and acting in a manner that serves to motivate, develop and bring out the best in others. Provides clear direction, coaching and mentoring to team members
- Full mastery of financial modeling including ability to review three statement models, 13-week cash flows, dynamic KPI packages and complex ad hoc analysis
- Ability to deliver and craft insightful, influential presentations, with elevated attention to messaging, structuring, formatting and quality control
- Personal network and relationships that yield new opportunities and engagements across transformation, restructuring and interim management
- Proven ability to cross-sell complementary service offerings and expand network
- Eagerness to be responsive at all times and act with urgency
- Open to frequent travel and work at client sites
- Commitment to out-perform in high pressure, time-constrained environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including strong email etiquette
- Ability to coach others to develop technical and client facing competence
- Applicable professional certification(s) are preferred
Compensation
Highly competitive compensation with quarterly bonus payments, premium health insurance and 401(k) programs
