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Enterprise architecture session for an advisory firm technology buildout
Case Study · Professional Services / Accounting & Advisory

One workforce partner for the technology buildout.

A full technology buildout for a PE-backed advisory firm scaling through acquisition, every engagement type under one MSA.

Sector
Accounting & Advisory
PE-backed, scaling through M&A
Engagement
MSA + Direct Hire Addendum
Signed at the C-suite (CTO / CFO)
Timeline
Ongoing · multi-year
Sustained across acquisitions
Scope
Full technology stack
Security · data · cloud · integration · HR
Result
One accountable partner
Every engagement type under one MSA
— The Challenge

A PE-backed advisory firm growing through acquisition.

A PE-backed accounting & advisory firm was scaling through acquisitions, each deal bringing another technology stack to integrate.

  • The need: a full technology buildout: fractional CISO, architects, apps leads, PMs, ops.
  • The constraint: one accountable partner, not ten vendors with ten QBRs.
  • The frame: every engagement type under a single MSA.
The hardest part isn't filling any single role. It's being the partner that can carry a technology buildout, across the engagement models the work needs.
— Our Approach

How we built it: one MSA, the right model per role.

  • One MSA, signed at the C-suite.

    Negotiated directly with the CTO, with banking-grade confidentiality and IP terms for a regulated professional-services environment.

  • Direct-hire addendum when scope shifted.

    When some roles fit better as direct hires than ongoing consultants, the MSA flexed to add them, terms set per engagement.

  • Sourcing calibrated to the role.

    A fractional CISO isn't sourced like a systems admin. Each role vetted to its own bar.

  • Engagement model matched to the work.

    Senior leaders at 20 hrs/week as fractional execs; specialist consulting on retainer where it fit.

— The Outcome

What the relationship delivers.

1
Agreement for the entire buildout
MSA + addendum carries every role · no per-role renegotiation
8
Disciplines staffed under one partner
Security · data · cloud · integration · HRIS · apps · PM · ops
C-suite
Relationship held at the top, across years
CTO and CFO engaged throughout · single point of accountability
0
Vendor handoffs to manage
One partner instead of ten: every discipline under one roof
We didn't want ten vendors for ten roles — we wanted one partner who could carry the whole buildout and stand behind it. Thunderhawk delivered that under a single agreement, and got the calibration per role right where most firms don't.
Chief Technology Officer PE-Backed Accounting & Advisory Firm

Building out a technology function?

Tell us the buildout, the engagement models you need, and the executive sponsor. We'll tell you whether we can carry it, and we'll be honest if we can't.