Working at a Private Equity Firm

A private equity firm buys an interest in a company that is not listed publicly and is able to turn the business around or expand it. Private equity firms raise funds by way of an investment fund with a specific structure, distribution waterfall and then invest it in the companies they wish to invest in. Limited Partners are the investors in the fund, and the private https://partechsf.com/ equity firm is the General Partner, responsible for purchasing or selling the fund and overseeing the funds.

PE firms are often accused of being ruthless and seeking profits at all cost, but they have extensive management experience that enables them to improve the value of portfolio companies by improving operations and other functions. For example, they can guide new executive staff through the best practices of corporate strategy and financial management and assist in the implementation of streamlined accounting, procurement, and IT methods to reduce costs. They also can find operational efficiencies and boost revenue, which is a method to enhance the value of their investments.

Private equity funds require millions of dollars to invest and they can take years to sell a company at a profit. The sector is, therefore, highly in liquid.

Private equity firms require previous experience in banking or finance. Associate associates at entry-level work mostly on due diligence and financing, whereas senior and junior associates focus on the relationship between the firm and its clients. Compensation for these roles has been on an upward trend in recent years.