PE AND VC:
THE CFO'S COMPLETE GUIDE
A comprehensive masterclass on navigating the private capital landscape — from venture capital economics and funding rounds to cap table management and PE leveraged buyouts.
Part 01
SYLLABUS READY
The Private Capital Landscape
PE, VC & Growth Equity
How private capital markets are structured, the investment thesis behind each segment, and why the CFO's
relationship with investors defines the company's financial trajectory.
7/10
Complexity
9
Pages
Part 02
SYLLABUS READY
Venture Capital Economics
Fund Structures & Carry Math
The economic architecture of VC funds — LP/GP economics, the management fee and carry model, fund
lifecycle, and the return math that drives every VC decision.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 03
SYLLABUS READY
The Funding Round
Term Sheets & Valuation
Pre-money and post-money valuation mechanics, the term sheet provisions that matter most financially,
liquidation preferences, and data room discipline.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 04
SYLLABUS READY
The Cap Table
Equity Ownership & Waterfall
Building and maintaining a clean cap table, dilution modeling for financing rounds, option pool
management, and exit scenario waterfall analysis.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 05
SYLLABUS READY
Financial Reporting
Board Packages & KPIs
The monthly and quarterly board package structure, the KPI framework that translates operational
performance into financial terms, and investor communication cadence.
8/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 06
SYLLABUS READY
Unit Economics
The Language of Venture Scale
Mastering CAC, LTV, LTV/CAC ratio, and payback periods. Using cohort analysis and gross margin
segmentation to define the path to profitability.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 07
SYLLABUS READY
Managing the Burn Rate
Runway & Spend Governance
Cash runway modeling, spend prioritization, and headless management. The financial milestones that
determine the timing and terms of your next round.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 08
SYLLABUS READY
Revenue Recognition
SaaS, Marketplace & Subscriptions
ASC 606 implementation, gross vs. net revenue for marketplaces, and the reconciliation between ARR and
GAAP revenue for audit readiness.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 09
SYLLABUS READY
Growth Equity
Transitions & Minority Rights
The financial governance shift from venture to growth equity, budget approval disciplines, and the CFO's
role as the company approaches profitability.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 10
SYLLABUS READY
The Financial Plan for Scale
Budgets & Board Approval
The annual budget process from kickoff to approval, rolling forecast disciplines, and financial model
architecture connecting unit economics to the P&L.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 11
SYLLABUS READY
FP&A at the Growth Stage
Building the Analytics Function
Structuring the FP&A team, the analytical tools and models FP&A must own, the business partnership model
connecting finance to every function, and the data infrastructure for sophisticated analysis.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 12
SYLLABUS READY
GAAP & Audit
Compliance at Growth Stage
The first audit process, common adjustments in growth companies, ASC 805 for acquisitions, ASC 718 for
equity compensation, and navigating the audit committee relationship.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 13
SYLLABUS READY
Equity Compensation
ISO, NSO, RSUs & 409A
Tax treatment and governance for various equity instruments. 409A valuation management, timing
discipline, and the financial statement impact of equity at scale.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 14
SYLLABUS READY
M&A Strategy
The Buy-Side Playbook
Acquisition thesis, financial screening criteria, target due diligence, and deal structuring. The CFO's
role in negotiations and purchase agreement financial terms.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 15
SYLLABUS READY
Integration Finance
The First 100 Days
Managing Day 1 readiness, financial system harmonization, chart of accounts integration, and synergy
realization tracking following an acquisition.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 16
SYLLABUS READY
Series C & Beyond
Late-Stage & Pre-IPO
Transitioning to SEC reporting standards, internal controls under SOX, auditor upgrade timelines, and
building the financial narrative for the S-1.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 17
SYLLABUS READY
Private Equity Mechanics
LBO Structure & Finance
How PE funds structure and finance acquisitions, sources and uses analysis, debt financing components
(Senior, Mezzanine), and the return arithmetic of the LBO model.
10/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 18
SYLLABUS READY
Due Diligence (Target Side)
What PE Buyers Examine
Preparing for the systematic financial audit of a PE buyer. Quality of Earnings (QoE) from the seller's
side, data room architecture, and management presentation discipline.
9/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 19
SYLLABUS READY
The 100-Day Plan
First Quarter Priorities
Immediate financial governance upgrades, debt facility onboarding, baseline holding period models, and
building relationships with PE operating partners.
8/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 20
SYLLABUS READY
Capital Management
Covenants, PIK & Waterfalls
Managing leveraged capital structures: monthly covenant compliance, PIK interest mechanics, free cash
flow for debt repayment, and the exit waterfall analysis.
10/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 21
SYLLABUS READY
PE Value Creation
EBITDA & Multiple Expansion
The three levers of PE returns: operational EBITDA expansion, multiple arbitrage through transformation,
and financial engineering through capital optimization.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 22
SYLLABUS READY
PE Incentive Plans
Rollover, Ratchets & Promotes
Aligning management with the value creation agenda. Rollover equity mechanics, sweet equity ratchets,
promote structures, and modeling management economics.
10/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 23
SYLLABUS READY
Add-On Acquisitions
Platform & Bolt-On M&A
The buy-and-build strategy from the CFO's perspective. Financial criteria for bolt-ons, accelerated due
diligence, purchase accounting at scale, and synergy tracking.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 24
SYLLABUS READY
Exit Preparation
Financial Readiness Checklist
Preparing for the hold-period conclusion. Financial cleanup 12 months out, sell-side QoE preparation,
data room assembly, and crafting the exit narrative.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 25
SYLLABUS READY
The IPO Process
S-1 Readiness & Public Transition
The most demanding financial event. S-1 preparation, PCAOB audit requirements, the roadshow narrative,
and the transition to recurring public reporting.
10/10
Complexity
8
Pages
Part 26
SYLLABUS READY
The M&A Exit
Sell-Side Process & Terms
Managing a competitive sale process. Banker selection, negotiating purchase agreement financial terms
(NWC pegs, earnouts), and interim governance.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 27
SYLLABUS READY
Secondary Transactions
Continuation Funds & Tenders
GP-led secondaries and employee liquidity events. Fairness opinions, LP transfer mechanics, and the
valuation requirements of non-exit liquidity.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 28
SYLLABUS READY
SPAC Transactions
The De-SPAC Financial Model
An alternative IPO path. SPAC mechanics, PIPE financing, warrant liability accounting, and the complex
pro-forma requirements of a de-SPAC merger.
10/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 29
SYLLABUS READY
International Considerations
Cross-Border & FX Risk
Managing global complexity. Multi-currency reporting (ASC 830), cross-border transfer pricing,
international tax structuring, and multi-jurisdiction cap table governance.
9/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 30
SYLLABUS READY
ESG in Private Capital
Reporting & LP Expectations
Integrating ESG into financial governance. LP reporting templates (ILPA), major frameworks (SASB, TCFD),
carbon cost modeling, and ESG due diligence in M&A.
8/10
Complexity
6
Pages
Part 31
SYLLABUS READY
CFO Transitions
Joining, Leading & Exiting
The personal dimensions of the private capital CFO role. First 90 days framework, establishing
governance authority, and the financial terms of CFO departures.
8/10
Complexity
7
Pages
Part 32
SYLLABUS READY
Building Your Career
The Private Capital CFO Trajectory
The skill set of distinguished CFOs, network architecture for private capital roles, and the financial
career thesis from first PE role to public company.
7/10
Complexity
7
Pages