Private equity’s influence is accelerating across industries, reshaping ownership structures and altering the role of finance chiefs. In accounting alone, there have been at least 90 private equity-related deals since 2020, including 52 in 2025, according to CPA Trendlines Research. Projections suggest that more than half of the top 30 accounting firms could have PE ownership by year-end.
Beyond accounting, private equity firms now own around 10% of U.S. apartment stock, highlighting their growing presence across sectors. These investments often provide businesses with capital to scale, but they can also create tension between short-term returns sought by investors and the long-term visions of founders.
Finance leaders stress that success under private equity ownership requires building credibility, fostering trust, and articulating the “why” behind financial decisions. Experts caution against CFOs becoming passive executors of investor mandates, urging them instead to shape the economic narrative and balance sponsor expectations with operational resilience.
Private equity ownership can bring resources in hiring, outsourcing, and technology, but also raises demands for clear returns and transparency. This trend carries particular weight for CFOs, demanding stronger communication, careful protection of financial integrity, and a focus on sustaining performance amid increasing scrutiny.
