Career advice series: How to stand out and step up
14.07.2025 – Articles
Private equity firms are evolving and so are the expectations of the professionals behind the scenes, from fund accountants to future CFOs.
In the first of our career advice series for next-generation finance and operations talent, we spoke with Khuram Bajwa, Partner at specialist recruiter One Ten Associates, about career paths, skills that stand out, and what it really takes to get ahead.
What does a typical career path look like in private equity for finance and operations professionals?
Khuram Bajwa: From our perspective, a lot of candidates will be entering the space with some kind of accounting qualification, either through an audit firm or via in-house training. Once qualified, they hit a crossroads: some continue down the finance and operations route, while others explore moves into investment roles or M&A or corporate finance.
Private equity firms typically bring people in through the finance function.