Patrick Javier

SK Agreement & Next Steps

• Amy confirmed that SK has alignment, approval, and a signed agreement to proceed with the search.
• Initial candidate screenings will involve Amy, Jim Crossen (CFO), TaylorThompson (General Counsel), and a new, unnamed Head of Portfolio Operations.
• Amy emphasized the need for a candidate who can develop a technology playbook for firm infrastructure and has private equity experience.
• John will be assisted by Mike and Mariah, his Director of Recruiting, who will be the dedicated recruiter for this search.
• John requested a 30-45 minute kickoff call next week with Amy, Jim, and Taylor to discuss the job description and answer questions.
• Amy will coordinate with her admin, Taylor's admin, and Jim's admin to schedule the kickoff meeting.
• John will send an invoice for the retainer and a W-1 form to Amy. (right after kickoff meeting happens)

IT Role Details

• The current IT support is handled by an admin supporting the executive committee and a third-party administrator, Thrive.
• Taylor is currently making technology compliance decisions that are perceived as over-locking and making technology engagement harder.
• The new IT hire will address technology initiatives, including the deployment of 73strings and integration with NetSuite (existing ERP).
• The role involves optimizing existing technologies, identifying new needs, onboarding new systems, and ensuring optimal usage.
• The position is a "building job" with significant opportunity to shape the firm's technology landscape.
• The company will be 80 employees strong once Jason joins.
• The new IT hire will be heavily involved in answering DDQs (diligence questionnaires) for the upcoming Fund 7 fundraise.

Candidate Requirements

• A four-year college degree is not a strict policy, but a compelling candidate without one would be necessary.
• John noted that IT is a field where many successful individuals may not have completed a four-year degree.

Company Structure & Related Entities

• Amy clarified that job postings on LinkedIn under "SK" that appear to be different companies are cross-marketing for portfolio companies.
• TPC Group, a company that appeared in a screenshot Mariah sent, is no longer owned by Amy's firm, so its appearance is an error.
• Jamshid, a co-founder, signed the agreement.
• Jamshid and Barry, co-founders, are Iranian and were sent out of Iran before the revolution, similar to Amy's brother-in-law Hussein.

IT Director A growing investment firm seeks an experienced IT Director to assess, refine, and elevate their entire technology function. This is a newly created leadership role for a firm that is scaling rapidly and preparing for increased operational and regulatory demands.   The i successful candidate will be hands-on, highly articulate, comfortable advising senior leadership, and able to quickly evaluate systems, vendors, and processes and work across different functions of the firm to drive results. This individual will own the IT function and help shape the firm’s long-term technology strategy.   Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current IT infrastructure, including MSP performance, cloud infrastructure, information security programs, and application ecosystem.
• Lead vendor and product (e.g., CRM, investment management systems, compliance platforms, security tools) evaluations and due diligence.
• Review current MSP relationship and evaluate, recommend and onboard alternative support models.
• Lead overall relationship management and oversight of 3rd party help desk vendors and MSPs
• Ensure technology, processes, and controls align with the requirements of the SEC and other regulatory/compliance regimes, investor expectations and best practices. .
• Oversee follow-ups from penetration tests, audits, and security assessments and recommend remediation or other go-forward adjustments to firm policies and procedures.
• Review and strengthen cybersecurity programs (MFA, data-loss protection, email security, backup policies, endpoint protection, etc.).
• Advise firm leadership and — when needed — speak with investors or consultants about the firm’s IT and information security programs.

 

• Work closely with internal stakeholders across the finance, portfolio operations, compliance, and investment teams to assess, devise and implement solutions to address pain points.

Required Experience & Skills

• Experience working for a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), private equity fund, hedge fund or similar financial services firm is required.
• Proven success supporting/leading IT for 75+ users.
• Strong background managing and evaluating MSP providers.
• Familiarity with RIA regulatory requirements, investor due-diligence processes, and responding to DDQs.
• Experience with pen testing processes, remediation planning, and security controls.
• Hands-on knowledge of common RIA/financial-services technologies, such as:
  • Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Office 365)
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM
  • Compliance platforms (e.g., Compliance Alpha, Schematic)
  • Patch management, device encryption, remote support
  • Email security tools (e.g., Mimecast)
  • Data/analytics and investment platforms (e.g., Trep, Costar, Argus)
  • Cloud-hosted environments and endpoint management services (Intune, Azure / O365 ecosystem)

• Experience administering and managing a cybersecurity program, including:
  • Incident response planning
  • Vendor risk management
  • Data loss protection
  • RIA regulatory requirements
  • Cybersecurity insurance requirements and audits
  • SOC 2 compliance
• Understanding of AI-related workflows (the firm is beginning to adopt AI tools).
• Strong verbal communication skills — capable of explaining technical topics clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Self-starter, low-ego, “figure it out” mindset; comfortable owning the IT function with limited oversight.
• Ability to evaluate systems, identify gaps, and produce clear and actionable recommendations