The Power of Networking in Career Development

By Torrey and Gray | April 7, 2025

In today’s fast-paced professional world, skill and experience alone aren’t always enough to advance your career. Whether you’re just starting out, making a mid-career pivot, or climbing the leadership ladder, networking is a powerful tool that can open doors, accelerate growth, and create opportunities you may never have found on your own. What Is Networking, Really? At its core, networking is about building and maintaining relationships. It’s not just attending events and collecting business cards—it’s about creating genuine connections with people who can share insights, offer guidance, and help you grow both personally and professionally. Why Networking Matters 1. Uncovering…

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Building the C-Suite Dream Team: What PE Firms Look for in Portfolio Company Leadership

By Torrey and Gray | March 19, 2025

Joseph Robb, Managing Partner at Torrey & Gray Building the C-Suite Dream Team: What PE Firms Look for in Portfolio Company Leadership Private equity (PE) is a high-stakes game where the right leadership can make or break a portfolio company’s trajectory. As an executive recruiter specializing in placing C-suite leaders for PE-backed businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how the demands of these roles differ from traditional corporate leadership. It’s not just about running a company—it’s about accelerating value creation, aligning with an investment thesis, and delivering results on a timeline that often feels like yesterday. So, what exactly do PE firms…

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The Evolving Landscape of Finance Talent in Private Equity-Backed Businesses

By Torrey and Gray | March 12, 2025

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing financial landscape, private equity (PE) firms are facing unprecedented challenges in attracting and retaining top finance and accounting talent. With increased competition for skilled professionals, rising expectations for financial leadership, and evolving regulatory environments, the need for high-caliber finance professionals has never been greater. Why Finance & Accounting Talent is Critical for PE-Owned Businesses Private equity-backed companies operate in a high-stakes environment where financial discipline, strategic growth, and operational efficiency are essential for success. Strong finance leadership can make or break an investment by ensuring: Accurate financial reporting and compliance with evolving regulations. Data-driven decision-making…

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2025 Salary Guide for Financial Leadership Across Industries

By Torrey and Gray | January 8, 2025

Joseph Robb Managing Partner at Torrey & Gray January 8, 2025 As we navigate through 2025, financial leadership continues to be a cornerstone of organizational success across various industries. Whether you’re a seasoned CFO or an aspiring financial analyst, understanding salary trends can help you better negotiate your worth and plan your career path strategically. Exploring Industry-specific Salaries Each industry offers unique opportunities and compensation packages for financial leadership roles. Here’s a glimpse into what professionals in key financial roles can expect this year: Technology: The tech industry remains a lucrative field for financial leaders. CFOs can earn between $250,000…

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KPMG and Deloitte support returning from 150 back to 120 credit hours (plus experience) for CPA eligibility.

By Torrey and Gray | October 17, 2024

Recently Deloitte threw in their public support of reducing the credit hour requirement for CPA Exam eligibility to 120 from the current 150.  Their studies indicate the quality of audits and other work were not enhanced by the increased requirement.  Additionally, there has been a long term trend of declining CPA applicants since the requirement was introduced in the early 2000’s. “The 150-hour credit rule was costly to students, though studies showed that the extra 30 credit hours had no impact on the quality of audits or CPA candidates and it makes sense firms would back something that fixes a…

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Navigating Revenue Recognition Trends in SaaS Companies

By Torrey and Gray | March 29, 2024

In the dynamic landscape of Software as a Service (SaaS) companies, revenue recognition practices have evolved significantly over the years. With the advent of new technologies, changing customer expectations, and evolving accounting standards, SaaS companies are continually adapting their revenue recognition strategies. This article delves into the current trends shaping revenue recognition in the SaaS industry. Subscription-Based Models – One prominent trend in revenue recognition for SaaS companies is the widespread adoption of subscription-based models. Traditional upfront payments have given way to recurring revenue streams, where customers pay a subscription fee at regular intervals. This shift has led to the…

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AI To Impact Most Jobs – Including Accounting

By Torrey and Gray | September 22, 2023

According to Indeed.com’s recent AI At Work report, Generative Artificial Intelligence AKA “GenAI” is expected to affect nearly all jobs in some way, with about 20% of them facing a high risk of exposure.  Labor related jobs, which are among the highest currently in demand from employers should be the least affected.  When ChatGPT was asked which skills it could perform best, Accounting, Finance, Legal and Educational skills were among the highest – meaning that GenAI thinks it can potentially impact these sectors the most through automation of tasks.  For the full Indeed report, CLICK HERE. Torrey & Gray specializes…

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Why Should I Hire an Interim Cost Controller?

By Torrey and Gray | September 13, 2023

Why Should I Hire an Interim Cost Controller? In the fast-paced world of business, managing costs efficiently is a crucial aspect of achieving sustainable growth and profitability. One way to ensure that your organization stays on top of its financial game is by hiring an interim cost controller. This article explores the benefits of bringing in an experienced cost accountant as an interim solution and how their expertise can help your business track and reduce labor and other costs effectively. 1. Unparalleled Cost Accounting Expertise: Interim cost controllers are professionals with a wealth of experience in cost accounting. They have…

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EY Halts Potential Split

By Torrey and Gray | April 13, 2023

Big 4 accounting firm EY announced it is cancelling its potential split to separate their auditing and consulting businesses. For the MSN article click here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/taxes/accounting-firm-ey-calls-off-plans-to-split-firm/ar-AA19Kh64 For an explanation of potential conflicts read this article from UCLA https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/separating-auditing-from-consulting-more-complex-than-it-seems/

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CFO Optimism inching upward to a rating of 55 out of 100 per CFO Survey

By Torrey and Gray | March 29, 2023

In today’s newly released CFO Survey, optimism is inching up modestly to a rating of 55 out of 100.  Historical average is 60 out of 100.  This is despite increased feelings of unfavorable borrowing conditions for capital equipment financing and a rise in respondents who say they are delaying capital expense investment. Torrey & Gray specializes in placing accounting and finance professionals in industries including manufacturing and retail, financial services, nonprofit and professional services.  As one of the top Chicago area based recruiting firms for Chief Financial Officers, Controllers, Accounting and Finance Managers and other related positions, we serve clients…

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