Chief Operating Officer – Private Equity Backed Professional Services Platform

Position: Chief Operating Officer – Private Equity Backed Professional Services Platform

Reports To: CEO

Location: United States – Fully Remote – Willing to travel 50% - 75% (See Travel Disclosure Below)

Travel Disclosure: Travel, based on business needs, within Canada & the United States is required. First year travel can average 50%; during surge periods such as pre-acquisition due-diligence, and post-acquisition integration travel can reach up to 75%.

Chamberlain Advisors is conducting an executive search seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer for our direct client, Litco LSO, a first-of-its-kind legal support organization with operations in Canada and the United States. As a cornerstone of the executive team, you will report directly to the CEO and partner closely with board members, private equity sponsors, and other executive leadership team members. Successful candidates will have deep private equity platform, buy-and-build (roll-up) strategy experience within white-collar professional services environments. This role involves significant responsibility in overseeing post-acquisition integrations of founder-led businesses and leads the ongoing business transformation, financial management, and executive advisory required to meet to meet PE sponsor expectations. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an experienced operations leader who seeks to lead and scale a business to $100M+ EBITDA through acquisition and organic growth, plus an exit.

Summary Of Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership to develop and execute strategic plans.
• Oversee the integration of acquired companies, ensuring seamless transitions and alignment with corporate goals.
• Lead business transformation initiatives to drive operational efficiency and growth.
• Manage financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Provide executive advisory to meet and exceed private equity sponsor expectations.
• Drive the company towards achieving $100M+ EBITDA through both acquisition and organic growth strategies.
• Prepare the business for a successful exit.
  
  

Core profile: alignment with one of the following is required to get you in the conversation

• Chief Operating Officer of a PE-backed white-collar professional services company: A senior operations executive and trusted advisor with a proven track record within rapidly growing, private equity-backed, buy-and-build environments. Demonstrates deep expertise and experience leading operations within a white-collar professional services environment such as: Dental Support Organizations (DSO), Medical Support Organizations (MSO), RIA/Investment Management, Insurance, Audit/Tax, Human Capital Advisory, Consulting platforms rapidly growing through acquisition.
• Operations executive with experience leading PE-backed companies through a period of rapid growth & exit: A senior operations executive and trusted advisor with a proven track record within rapidly growing, private equity-backed, buy-and-build environments. Demonstrates deep expertise and experience leading operations, post-acquisition integration, business transformation, and change management initiatives during periods of rapid growth. Exceptional executive presence and strong emotional intelligence. Experience successfully exiting or has taken a business through the sale process.
  
  

Differentiators: these will set you apart in the selection process

Private Equity Experience

• Develop and execute value creation plans in private equity-backed environments, particularly in buy-and-build strategies.
• Manage the transition from a founder-led business to a professionalized PE majority-owned business.
• Align operations with PE group sponsors' expectations, driving value creation through to a profitable exit.
  
  

Executive Advisory And Leadership Development

• Mentor executives, enhancing their strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrate exceptional executive presence and strong emotional intelligence to manage complex social dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build robust relationships.
• Advise, counsel, and empower managing partners and business unit leaders, providing clarity and reassurance in management meetings.
• Influence and drive change across multiple organizational layers, managing diverse C-level executives and personalities.
• Exhibit a mentorship style, coaching and guiding executives through transitions and maintaining alignment with the platform's strategic goals.
  
  

Operational Management And Excellence

• Lead and optimize operations, ensuring compliance with industry standards and enhancing service delivery.
• Implement best practices, streamline processes, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Manage rapid growth and transformation, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainability with a focus on budget performance and cost control.
• Advise business unit leaders on a wide range of HR-related topics, including but not limited to workforce planning, employee retention, compensation and incentive structures, performance management, policy and procedures, and talent acquisition.
• Establish project management practices that ensure projects are successfully completed and enhance firmwide visibility and alignment with critical business initiatives. This includes managing project scope, planning, timelines, resource allocation, issue and risk management, and associated reporting.
  
  

Multi-Stakeholder Management, Leadership, And Influence

• Excel in managing relationships with diverse stakeholders, including PE sponsors, future investors, executives, BU presidents, and employees.
• Possess strong communication and negotiation skills to align varying interests and achieve consensus.
• Ensure all parties are engaged and informed throughout the decision-making process.
  
  

Post-Acquisition Integration

• Lead seamless integration of acquired companies, aligning processes, cultures, and systems to achieve strategic objectives.
• Drive continuous business transformation and change management initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering a culture of adaptability and innovation.
  
  

Ongoing Business Transformation And Change Management

• Drive business transformation initiatives that focus on value creation.
• Balance the demands of rapid change with maintaining operational stability and efficiency.
• Ensure newly acquired firms transition smoothly into the platform while meeting revenue and profit goals over time.
  
  

Financial Acumen

• Understand financial operations, including budgeting, P&L, EBITDA, and financial reporting.
• Act as an advisor, translating business decisions into financial impacts and liaising between finance, operations, business unit leaders, and executive leadership.
• Manage cost overruns, revenue shortfalls, and help business units transition to financial reporting standards required by PE sponsors.
• Monitor KPIs, consolidate data, achieve small goals, and measure down to granular details to ensure all financial objectives are met efficiently.
  
  

Team Building And Management

• Build and manage teams effectively, particularly in high-pressure environments with limited resources.
• Demonstrate the ability to work hands-on while also delegating tasks appropriately to maximize team performance and productivity.
  
  

Clear And Effective Communication

• Exhibit strong communication skills, ensuring clear and effective information flow within the organization.
• Foster an environment of transparency and open dialogue, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
  
  

Strong Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

• Demonstrate exceptional self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
• Manage emotions effectively and understand and respond to the emotions of others, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Navigate complex social dynamics, resolve conflicts, and build strong, productive relationships.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Operations Management, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• Proven experience as a COO or in a similar senior executive role within an acquisitive PE backed, white-collar professional services environment.
• Extensive experience in private equity-backed environments, particularly with buy-and-build strategies and rapid growth at scale.
• Experience leading a company through significant growth periods and successful exit.
• Strong financial acumen, with expertise in budgeting, P&L, EBITDA, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated success in post-acquisition integration and ongoing business transformation initiatives.
• Exceptional executive presence, emotional intelligence, and multi-stakeholder management skills.
• Proven track record in team building, management, and clear, effective communication.
• Extensive experience in private equity platforms and buy-and-build strategies within white-collar professional services.
• Proven track record of leading post-acquisition integrations of founder-led businesses.
• Strong financial management skills and experience in business transformation.
• Ability to work closely with executive leadership, board members, and private equity sponsors.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and execution capabilities.
• Demonstrated success in scaling businesses to significant EBITDA milestones.
  
  

About Litco LSO

Litco LSO is a first-of-its-kind legal support organization, uniquely developed to allow equity participation by lawyers, team members, investors, and finance sources across North America, and carefully structured to ensure that it satisfies all American and Canadian legal and regulatory requirements.

We unite our partners in a cohesive network that's supported by a centralized service platform. From this platform, each practice receives proven, best-in-class support to streamline and enhance a full suite of essential business functions: operations, people and culture, accounting and finance, technology, marketing, administration and more. The results are designed to be truly transformative.