Resource · Private equity
A finance systems checklist for PE-backed businesses.
I have worked in finance and systems for private-equity-backed groups across energy, infrastructure, security and travel technology. This is the checklist I use to test whether a NetSuite and finance set-up will stand up to investors, lenders and a deal timetable.
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Want a copy to work from? Email ala@hankali.dev and I’ll send the editable version.
The checklist
Six areas investors and lenders will test.
Use it as a self-assessment before a deal, a refinancing or an investor review.
Reporting
Investor and board reporting
One standard P&L hierarchy with every GL account mapped to it. Actual against budget and forecast. An EBITDA bridge that separates exceptional items. A month-end pack ready within a few working days, with drill-down to transactions.
Controls
Month-end close and controls
A documented close calendar with named owners. Balance sheet reconciliations signed off every month. Approval workflows for purchasing and journals. Locked periods, restricted edit rights and an audit trail.
Structure
Entities and consolidation
An entity register that matches the legal structure. A group chart of accounts with controlled local variation. Multi-currency translation, eliminations and intercompany matched automatically, with no manual plugs in the consolidated balance sheet.
Data
Data and integrations
Every integration documented with field mappings and an owner. Reporting built on a reconciled model, not on saved-search exports. Tie-out tests against the NetSuite trial balance each period. Controlled access to the warehouse and BI tools.
Knowledge
Documentation and access
Processes and configuration written down. User roles reviewed against job functions. More than one person able to administer the system. Training material for the key users.
Deals
Post-acquisition integration
A plan for moving acquired entities onto the group chart of accounts. A repeatable data-migration template with reconciliation per entity. Tax set-up tested in each country before go-live. Group structure changes reflected in the system.
My PE-backed experience
Where I have worked with private-equity-backed businesses.
2025 – now
PE-backed green-energy infrastructure manufacturer
A layered dbt model over NetSuite delivering reconciled balance sheet, income statement and budget reporting across currencies and subsidiaries, with a rules-based management pack and an actual-versus-budget EBITDA waterfall.
NetSuite · dbt · Management pack · EBITDA
2024 – 2026
PE-backed pan-European energy transition company
Led the NetSuite implementation across 102 subsidiaries in six countries, including data migration, the SuiteTax migration and post-go-live automation for banking and treasury.
NetSuite OneWorld · Migration · SuiteTax
2019
PE-backed property and security services group
Group FP&A: weekly cash-flow and stock forecasting, month-end management accounts, and board packs for investors, lenders and executives, plus a credit loss model.
FP&A · Board packs
2019
PE-backed travel technology company
Finance business partner to the software development team, building an NPV investment model and an opportunity-cost model that were used to secure finance sign-off.
Business partnering · NPV · Tableau
Questions
PE finance systems checklist: common questions
Is this checklist only for NetSuite users?
When should a PE-backed business use it?
Can you run the assessment for us?
Do you work on contract inside PE-backed teams?
Is the checklist legal or tax advice?
A 20-minute call is enough to tell you where the gaps are.
Tell me about your finance systems and reporting. No prep needed.
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