A $60M family-owned promotional products supplier was undergoing acquisition by a private equity firm and preparing to operate under institutional ownership for the first time. During diligence, the finance function was identified as a critical gap requiring immediate improvement.

The sponsor required a Day 1 finance leader capable of stabilizing operations and building infrastructure in a complex, transaction-heavy environment. The business operated with a high SKU count, thousands of customers, and a large volume of small orders, requiring hands-on leadership with experience in light manufacturing and high-volume workflows. The role also required an onsite presence five days per week to support the transition.

ETONIEN deployed an Interim Day 1 CFO/Controller to lead the finance function through the ownership transition and establish a scalable foundation. Acting as a hands-on partner to leadership and the sponsor, the interim leader introduced structure, discipline, and visibility across financial operations while coordinating closely with external advisors, including CohnReznick on Quality of Earnings and Transaction Advisory.

The engagement successfully guided the company through a critical inflection point, establishing the financial rigor and infrastructure required to operate under private equity ownership. The business gained improved visibility into performance, stronger cash flow management, and reporting processes aligned with GAAP and lender expectations.

ETONIEN’s interim leader also played a key role in recruiting and onboarding a permanent CFO, ensuring continuity and positioning the finance function to scale alongside the company’s growth objectives.