Case Study
Interim FP&A Specialist
FP&A Leadership Through M&A and Exit Preparation
A high-growth provider of medium-to-high voltage electrical infrastructure and engineering-led construction services was acquired in 2023 by an infrastructure focused PE Firm. The company supports the energy transition by delivering turnkey EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) solutions for utilities and industrial clients—spanning substations, battery storage, and grid electrification. By late 2024, the company had more than doubled EBITDA in under 12 months, completed several strategic acquisitions, and was preparing for a near-term exit with a 10x+ valuation target. To help support this critical transition, the CFO partnered with ETONIEN to bring in a senior interim FP&A resource to lead key initiatives tied to sale-readiness, M&A integration, and financial infrastructure.
Scope
ETONIEN provided a senior interim finance resource to support Saber Power’s CFO through a phase of rapid growth and transformation. The engagement focused on building scalable tools, enhancing performance transparency across business segments, and producing buyer- and board-ready financial deliverables to support a high-stakes exit process.
Key priorities included:
- Designing and executing a robust project-level financial database to support valuation, diligence, and investor storytelling
- Standing up business segment-level financial reporting to clarify margin profiles and growth potential by line of business
- Leading the company’s annual budgeting process while supporting purchase accounting and integration for three active acquisitions
- Preparing internal reporting infrastructure for audit and buyer review
Project Requirements
- Develop the fiscal 2025 budget
- Optimize and manage cash flow processes
- Enhance month-end closing procedures
- Provide post-close support for M&A activities
- Collaborate with the finance and operating team to create a new operating model
- Establish a comprehensive Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) function
Project Deliverables
- Build-Out of Sale-Prep Project Database
- Developed a custom, Excel-based reporting engine incorporating thousands of individual project records—capturing 70–80% of the company’s revenue base
- Translated fragmented ERP output into actionable views across customer, project, and profitability dimensions
- Delivered materials used in early-stage buyer engagement and internal performance reviews
- Segment-Level Financial Visibility
- Designed a dual business segment reporting model that enabled sponsor and CFO to assess financial performance by service line
- Partnered with internal team to deliver this capability ahead of schedule, enabling faster decision-making
- Budget Leadership & Internal Collaboration
- Appointed by the CFO to lead the 2025 budget process, coordinating inputs across departments
- Supported opening balance sheet work and purchase accounting tied to multiple recent acquisitions
- Stakeholder Reporting & Audit Readiness
- Built a project tracking system for over a dozen live engagements to support upcoming audit and review activities
- Helped align reporting with sponsor expectations ahead of diligence and investor discussions
Outcomes
- Delivered a sale-prep database and executive reporting package aligned to buyer expectations
- Enabled segmented performance analysis to support valuation and growth narrative
- Supported a smooth integration path for recent M&A activity
- Strengthened the CFO’s internal capabilities and readiness for future investor engagement
- Positioned ETONIEN as a recurring resource for future financial planning and post-transaction needs
