Senior Manager, CFO Advisory (Carve-Out/Separation)

At Stout, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations in all we do – we call it Relentless Excellence ®. Both our client service and culture are second to none, stemming from our firmwide embrace of our core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and being Great communicators. Sound like a place you can grow and succeed? Read on to learn more about an exciting opportunity to join our team.

Impact You'll Make

• Execute and lead Separation & Carve-Out engagements, serving as a trusted advisor to private equity sponsors and corporate clients across the full transaction lifecycle, from deal perimeter definition through standalone Day 1 operations.
• Lead workstreams spanning Separation Diligence, TSA Planning & Structuring, Day 1 Readiness, SMO (Separation Management Office) Mobilization, TSA Exit, and Standalone Transition.
• Assess operational dependencies across business functions (finance, IT, HR, supply chain, sales/commercial, facilities, and shared services) to identify entanglements, separation risks, execution challenges, and value creation opportunities.
• Prepare and review carve-out and standalone cost analyses, including standalone operating models, TSA requirements and pricing, shared services assessments, and dis-synergy analyses.
• Develop executive-ready presentations and client deliverables, communicating findings, recommendations, and implementation plans to CEOs, COOs, functional leaders, and private equity sponsors.
• Partner with clients to bridge diligence with execution by translating recommendations into actionable separation and stand-up workplans.

What You'll Do

Transaction Support

• Support clients throughout the transaction lifecycle, from pre-close planning through post-close execution.
• Execute Separation Due Diligence engagements focused on identifying key entanglements and dependencies across people, process, systems, contracts, and IP.
• Evaluate target operating models to identify execution risks, operational gaps, scalability concerns, and opportunities for value creation.
• Develop separation strategy recommendations, including definition of separation scenarios and deal perimeter (people, systems, vendor contracts, and other resources).
• Assist clients with Transaction Execution activities including workplan development, milestone tracking, governance, issue resolution, and cross-functional coordination.
• Support executive leadership teams throughout critical transaction milestones.

Separation & Integration

• Lead cross-functional workstreams supporting pre- and post-close separation activities.
• Assist with Day 1 and Day 100 readiness planning across all impacted functions.
• Stand up and run Separation Management Office (SMO) governance and execution, including workstream tracking, risk/issue logs, and steering committee reporting.
• Design future-state operating models for the standalone business.
• Develop separation and stand-up roadmaps.
• Lead separation planning for carve-outs and divestitures, including:
  • Standalone cost analysis
  • Shared services evaluations
  • Corporate cost allocations
  • TSA development, negotiation, and exit planning
  • Organizational design and workforce transition
  • Systems and technology transition planning (ERP, HRIS, CRM, and other core platforms)

Client & Sponsor Advisory

• Advise executive leadership teams (CEO, COO, CFO, and functional leaders) on operating model effectiveness for the standalone entity.
• Evaluate business processes and dependencies across key functions to identify separation complexity and risk.
• Recommend operational improvements that increase readiness and reduce transaction/execution risk.
• Support organizational redesign before and after transactions.
• Assist clients with interim leadership and execution support during periods of transition.
• Develop executive reporting and governance frameworks that support post-transaction decision-making.

Technology & Data

• Work with a range of enterprise systems relevant to the client (ERP, HRIS, CRM, and other platforms) to understand entanglements and inform separation planning; deep technical/systems expertise is not required, but comfort working alongside IT and systems teams is.
• Utilize project management, tracking, and analytics tools to manage complex, multi-workstream separations.
• Leverage AI-enabled technologies to enhance diligence, research, project management, and client deliverables.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor junior professionals across separation and transaction support engagements.
• Manage multiple client engagements while maintaining high-quality deliverables and client service.
• Contribute to the continued enhancement of separation methodologies, templates, and best practices.
• Foster collaboration across Stout's Financial Due Diligence, Valuation, Tax, and CFO Advisory teams to deliver integrated client solutions.

What You Bring

• Experience supporting complex separation, carve-out, or integration engagements in a transaction environment.
• Strong background in one or more of the following:
  • Separation Due Diligence
  • TSA Structuring, Negotiation, or Exit Planning
  • SMO / IMO Governance and Execution
  • Transaction Strategy or Execution Planning
• Experience leading or supporting cross-functional dependency mapping, deal perimeter definition, or standalone cost analyses.
• Understanding of operating models and organizational design, finance background is a plus but not required; experience in operations, IT, HR, or general management consulting is equally valuable.
• Experience supporting private equity transactions, mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, or carve-outs.
• Ability to translate diligence and planning findings into actionable, executable workplans.
• Strong project management, client communication, and executive presentation skills, comfortable running a multi-workstream program (SMO/IMO) with competing stakeholders and tight timelines.
• Strong analytical and organizational capabilities with the ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously.
• Interest in leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency, research, and client delivery.

Education and/or Training

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, or a related field required.
• 8+ years of experience in Transaction Advisory, CFO Advisory, Deal Advisory, Finance Transformation, or Management Consulting.
• Experience supporting Operational Due Diligence, Integration & Separation, Transaction Execution, or carve-out engagements preferred.
• Experience serving private equity clients and portfolio companies is highly desirable.
• Combination of consulting and industry experience preferred.
• CPA, MBA, CFA, or other relevant professional designation preferred.

How You'll Thrive

• Thrive in a fast-paced, transaction-focused consulting environment supporting clients through complex business events.
• Deliver thoughtful solutions that bridge transaction strategy with execution.
• Collaborate across Stout's Accounting & Reporting Advisory, CFO Advisory, Valuation, Tax, and other service lines to provide integrated client solutions.
• Build strong relationships with clients and colleagues while demonstrating Stout's core values of being Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and Great Communicators.
• Deliver Relentless Excellence® by helping clients successfully navigate transactions while improving finance organizations and creating long-term value.

Why Stout?
At Stout, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.
We foster a culture of inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success. Our leadership is committed to inclusion and belonging across the organization and in the communities we serve.
We invest in professional growth through ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback, ensuring our employees are supported in achieving their career goals.
Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.
Learn more about our benefits and commitment to your success.

https://www.stout.com/en/careers/benefits

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

Stout is an Equal Employment Opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of valid job requirements, qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. 

Stout is required by applicable state and local laws to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The range for this role considers several factors including but not limited to prior work and industry experience, education level, and unique skills. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.