ETA INSIDER
Produced by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and hosted by Brian O’Connor, MBA ’08, the ETA Insider Podcast series features all things related to entrepreneurship through acquisition. As one of the only podcasts on ETA, this podcast explores perspectives from different types of searchers (incubated, traditional, and self-funded), insights from recent successful exits, advice from current operators, and reflections from search fund investors.
On Episode 90, “From Diligence to Dashboards: How Finance Shapes Search Success,” Boulay’s Director of Client Accounting Advisory Services (CAAS) and Consulting CFO, Jake Bitz, brings insights to the discussion. He breaks down the accounting realities searchers and newly minted CEOs face before and after acquiring a small business, outlines common red flags uncovered during diligence, and offers practical steps to avoid costly surprises. Bitz also explains how outsourced accounting models support operators as they scale, warns of post-acquisition pitfalls, discusses how CEOs should approach cash oversight, and highlights where AI is already reshaping the accounting and finance function.