Thomas Smith

Strategic Finance Executive / CFO

Strategic Finance Executive / CFO
2023 - Current
I am a strategic CFO / Private-Equity professional based in Chicago. I have worked extensively with private-equity and venture backed portfolio companies, with focus on due diligence, M&A, strategy development & strategic financial reporting, data analytics, value creation initiatives, and exit preparedness. I spend time working alongside executives and Boards of PE-backed companies to accomplish key strategic priorities. My previous roles included 11 years at Baird Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm, and 6 and a half years at KPMG in the Transaction Services / Mergers and Acquisitions group. I received a dual-degree (Bachelors’ of Science in Finance and Accounting) from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Principal, US Head of Portfolio Operations
2012 - 2023
Baird Capital is a Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital firm, specializing in investments in the lower middle-market within Technology, Services, Healthcare and Industrial sectors. As US head of Portfolio Operations, worked with both investment teams on new platform deals and executive management teams (CEO/CFO) on value creation initiatives When working on new investment platforms, primary responsibilities included supporting development and execution of due diligence program. Significant focus on financial reporting / assessment, Quality of Earnings / Financial Due Diligence, Financial modeling and underwriting, tax diligence, digital / IT systems diligence, legal diligence, legal documentation, lender and equity selection and documentation, and Purchase Agreement negotiation During ownership period for portfolio companies, worked directly with executive management teams (primarily CEO / CFO) and board of directors on strategy / strategic planning, financial reporting and KPI development, foundational infrastructure building, PE board governance, value creation initiatives, add-on acquisitions, and exit preparedness and execution.

Director Transaction Services
2005 - 2012
Director in Transaction Services (M&A) group. Primarily responsible for financial due diligence (Quality of Earnings, Sales/Margin analysis, working capital and net debt assessment) for both Private Equity and Strategic clients. Worked on both buy-side and sell side engagement across numerous industries, including oil & gas, healthcare, industrial products, aviation, consulting and tech services. Acquisition and divestiture sizes ranged from $10 million to $6 billion in enterprise value. Worked directly with clients (PE sponsors and corporate development teams) and target company management teams (CEO, CFO)