Why a start-up CFO will keep its finance function small

Xen is an online platform that intends to channel individual wealth from Asia into US and European GPs. We spoke to newly installed CFO Tim Janke, who was Blackstone’s first chief financial officer in Asia-Pacific, to get under the firm’s skin.

Tellingly, Janke intends to keep Xen’s finance function very small. Partly because investments in the tech platform will automate much of the work that would otherwise fall the finance team (something we are hearing over and over) and partly because using outside accounting firms “to be the arms and the legs” leaves no question as to “what the cost is to the platform, as opposed to the cost to LPs.”

In other news, sister publication Regulatory Compliance Watch has gathered intel from CCOs on recent SEC exams and offers some tips on how to ace your next one.

Email prepared by Toby Mitchenall.