Client Experience

Steve Russell

Managing Director & Sr. Portfolio Manager at Highview Capital

Jeff was brought into one of our portfolio companies whose CFO was retiring. Jeff successfully completed several projects for us including upgrading PE level financial reporting, transforming the Accounting function, and building operations KPIs and forecasting models. In particular, Jeff and team built 13-week cash flow models, weekly sales, margin and ebitda reports, reduced the close timing, and built models to guide decisions on opening new greenfield sites. I appreciate Jeff's leadership and style and hope to work with him again.

Jeff Schwaneke

Fortune 25 Chief Financial Officer | Financial Leadership | Business Operating Executive | Health Care members

It was a pleasure working with Jeff as he filled in as interim/deputy CFO for a Company going through a cost reduction and turn around exercise. He was quickly able to spot areas of improvement and pulled together the annual plan in a compressed timeframe. Jeff was able to integrate well with the executive team and quickly earned their respect. Jeff’s experience, executive presence and expertise made the difference in a quick turn-around situation.

Shai Lavie

Head of IT, Operations & Business Leadership supporting: Strategic Planning | Remote teams and project management | Business Relationship Management | Enterprise Applications & Infrastructure | Automation & Innovation

I have had the pleasure of reporting to and working with Jeff for most of my service @IVC. From day one Jeff and I had great chemistry and communication, and I truly enjoyed his support over the years. Jeff empowered and supported the IT organization to reach new heights, and thus I was able to plan and deliver projects that otherwise would have been considered 'mission impossible'. Jeff is a strategic planner and a savvy business leader, that excels in both the realm of finances and in an advisory role working with other groups in the organization. I am grateful to Jeff to have earned his trust, and I look forward for the opportunity to team up with Jeff again in the future.

Recognized Expertise in Private Equity Portfolios and Strategic Transitions

With decades of finance and operational leadership, Strategic Partner Playbooks guides mid-market companies through transactions, finance transformations, and growth initiatives. Our team brings disciplined financial leadership and actionable playbooks that accelerate value creation and deliver results — faster, leaner, and with greater focus than traditional advisory models.

Consumer & Retail

Skincare & Beauty – Restructured FP&A and Accounting for a high-growth, mission-driven beauty brand. Partnered with the CEO to build a dynamic leadership team, streamline the close process, improve Board presentations, and manage a CFO transition.
Omnichannel Women’s Accessories – Served as CFO for a vertically integrated fashion accessories brand with over 200 stores and 1,000+ wholesale accounts. Modernized financial reporting and controls, supported a private equity auction process, and implemented cost containment strategies to prepare the business for a potential transaction in a challenging credit environment.

Healthcare

OTC Healthcare – Led finance transformation for a newly acquired, founder-owned OTC wellness company. Built the value creation plan, implemented a new ERP, reduced monthly close time, and created PE-level budgeting, cash flow, and financial reporting.
Healthcare Services – Advised a national healthcare platform on finance department alignment and collaboration. Led the annual budget process, prepared Board materials with the CEO, upgraded finance talent, and streamlined monthly close.

Industrial & Manufacturing

Engineered Products – Launched a finance transformation for a complex PE-backed industrial business. Upgraded processes, systems, and reporting; restructured leadership; rebuilt monthly close; strengthened senior leadership relationships; and led the annual budget cycle.
Display Manufacturing – Led finance turnaround and IT transformation initiatives, focusing on FP&A, staffing, and cash flow forecasting.

Food & Distribution

Food Distribution – Served as interim CFO for a nationwide PE-backed distributor. Upgraded finance staff and reporting systems, enhanced data/analytics, partnered with operations to address driver shortages post-COVID, and helped launch three greenfield sites.
Private Label CPG Manufacturer – Drove dramatic enterprise value creation as CFO of a multinational vitamins and supplements manufacturer. Led acquisition of largest competitor’s manufacturing business, doubling revenue and tripling EBITDA in three years. Executed ERP migration, margin enhancement initiatives, and a standalone credit facility—positioning the company as a scaled leader in private label health and wellness.

Services & Marketing

Marketing Research – Upgraded the finance team and systems, played a key role in a potential sale of the business, and worked closely with the CEO to build out the executive team as Interim CFO for a PE-backed manufacturer and assembler of Retail displays for cosmetic companies and retailers.
Security Systems Services – As full time CFO after a PE acquisition from its founder, established PE level financial processes, controls and reporting, drove supply chain savings in warehousing and distribution while increasing scale for growth, and led relocation of two largest departments from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to manage double digit growth.