2025 Salary Guide
This Salary Guide provides the most in-demand jobs and salary ranges for 2025. Our expert recruiters bring you the most current, competitive pay trends from their well-versed market perspectives.
Full article on www.boardroominsight.com
In the first few weeks of the year, Boardroom Insight started hearing from industry insiders that the then-sluggish M&A market was turning a corner. In February, the head of private equity at the world’s fifth-largest accounting firm told us buy-and-build transactions were on the upswing. A few months later, one of PwC’s top deal executives went even further, informing us there’s a “picture of optimism and recovery in the M&A market.”
That early enthusiasm later turned into a wave of acquisitions. This year’s deal volume was buoyed by the record-breaking amount of dry powder that private equity firms had amassed during the M&A market’s deep freeze. Buyers focused much of their attention on the red-hot IT sector, but the professional services market wasn’t left out either. Cybersecurity shops, sustainability advisory firms and all manner of other consultancies were picked up in the second half of 2024. End-of-year M&A market reports are painting a clear picture of returning deal demand.
Boardroom Insight recently got an inside look at the dynamics of a professional services acquisition in the current market environment. Mike Kelly is founder and partner at Conexus Recruiting, a talent acquisition firm based in California. The company is active across the accounting, IT and HR segments, the three core pillars of the consulting sector’s revenue base. The firm recently acquired a partner called CV Resources to bolster its core staffing business. Kelly walked us through the deal as well as Conexus Recruiting’s recent launch of an advisory practice. The new unit’s specialties include, among others, helping private equity firms carry out post-deal process optimization at the businesses they buy.
Boardroom Insight: What new capabilities is CV Resources bringing to the table?
Mike Kelly: CV Resources enhances our ability to fill roles below the controller level, from accounting manager to staff accountant, on both an interim and direct-hire basis. They also expand our geographic reach with offices in Seattle, Portland, and Boise, allowing us to serve new regions. Additionally, CV Resources enables us to offer their services to our extensive client base from San Diego to Santa Barbara, further broadening our service offering.
Boardroom Insight: Why an acquisition instead of building out those capabilities in-house through hiring?
Mike Kelly: We’ve collaborated with CV Resources on a referral basis for over four years and have come to highly value their capabilities, scale, and speed. Their established presence in the Pacific Northwest is something we didn’t have, and this acquisition strengthens our footprint in that region. Furthermore, demand for staff accountants and senior accountants is rising rapidly, while the supply of qualified talent is shrinking. By acquiring CV Resources, we gain ownership of this essential capability to meet growing client needs.
Boardroom Insight: Finance and HR teams have a lot more software tools at their disposal than a decade ago, and not just from the big vendors. Have tech skills become a bigger factor in candidate sourcing across those two fields?
Mike Kelly: Technology has certainly become ubiquitous in the human capital space, with most firms having access to the same tools at a low cost. However, the key differentiator is the speed and specialization we bring. We focus on verticals where talent is scarce and highly sought-after. In fact, 95% of the candidates we place, whether interim or direct hire, are sourced through our relationships, not through generic platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed. This approach allows us to move quickly, maintain professionalism, and deliver a higher caliber of service and candidates.
Boardroom Insight: Conexus’ last big announcement was the launch of an advisory unit that does post-acquisition consulting. How did that come about?
Mike Kelly: Conexus has over 200 CPAs and MBAs providing project-based and interim support throughout Southern California. Our clients range from private equity-backed companies to rapidly growing mid-market businesses and large public firms. Many of these clients operate lean finance teams and require “just-in-time” expertise for critical projects like M&A, divestitures, ERP implementations, and digital automation (e.g., speeding up month-end closes or automating manual processes).
Our advisory unit emerged from the increasing need for specialized expertise in these areas, where clients lack the time or resources to manage both daily operations and complex, high-priority projects. Our team adds significant value by bringing in deep knowledge of tools, processes, and industry-specific experience to ensure successful outcomes.
Southern California – December 3, 2024 – Conexus Recruiting, a leading provider of specialized recruitment and staffing solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of CV Resources, a highly regarded staffing firm focused on finance and accounting services. Facilitated by The Resourcing Group (TRG), this acquisition strengthens Conexus’ position in key markets such as Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, while significantly enhancing its ability to meet staffing needs within the Office of the CFO.
With over a decade of experience in providing interim and direct-hire staffing solutions, CV Resources has earned a stellar reputation in the finance and accounting sectors. This acquisition allows Conexus to broaden its service offerings and deepen its expertise in the finance space, particularly in addressing staffing needs at both the Staff and Senior Staff levels—an area previously outside the scope of its services.
“We are excited to welcome CV Resources into the Conexus family,” said Mike Kelly, Partner at Conexus Recruiting. “The demand for skilled accounting professionals continues to rise as fewer students enter the field, creating a significant talent gap across finance functions. This acquisition strengthens our ability to bridge that gap, particularly within the critical Office of the CFO.”
Sean Gill, Los Angeles Partner at Conexus, commented, “Having worked closely with CV Resources for over five years as a trusted referral partner, we know firsthand the quality of their interim and direct-hire talent. This acquisition enhances our ability to serve the full spectrum of client needs, from clerical to senior accounting roles, and further strengthens our commitment to delivering top-tier staffing solutions for the Office of the CFO.”
Matt Primeau, Orange County Partner at Conexus, added, “CV Resources has built a well-earned reputation in the finance and accounting space, and we’re excited to integrate their expertise into our own. This partnership positions us for continued growth and allows us to offer a wider range of high-quality staffing solutions across a growing array of industries.”
As part of the acquisition, Conexus will leverage CV Resources’ extensive network within Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, expanding its footprint and enhancing its capacity to deliver specialized staffing solutions across Finance, Accounting, IT, HR, and executive-level roles. This strategic expansion will enable Conexus to tap into new markets, industries, and geographies, further driving its growth and success.
“We’ve always prioritized exceptional talent and service at CV Resources,” said Mike Vass, Founder of CV Resources. “By joining forces with Conexus, we can broaden our reach, improve our offerings, and create even more opportunities for our clients and candidates. We’re looking forward to the future and are excited to grow as part of such an innovative and forward-thinking organization.”
About CV Resources
CV Resources is a leading staffing firm specializing in finance and accounting interim and direct hire placements. With a strong focus on delivering high-quality talent, CV Resources has built a reputation for excellence in staffing solutions across Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
For more information, visit www.cvrstaffing.com.
Did you know that the average North American company takes six days to complete its monthly financial statement close?
But what if you could close your books in one day or less?
The key is optimizing your process without sacrificing accuracy. This webinar will reveal strategies for speeding up your month-end close—while improving quality and reducing costs.
*CPE Credit Available
Join Jill and Steve Primm, Partners at Conexus Advisory, as they cover:
Who Should Attend:
Finance professionals, controllers, accountants, and anyone working in or alongside the Office of the CFO who wants to improve the month-end close process.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to close faster, better, and cheaper.
Click here to register for the webinar.
It's been a while since we last updated you on our Conexus Advisors practice, which has been growing and extremely busy. We want to share some of our recent engagement successes.
We were initially brought on to automate the month-end close process for a rapidly expanding company generating $100 million in revenue, which is at the forefront of creating a network of interconnected devices. Additionally, the CFO requested our assistance in reviewing and documenting best practices for revenue recognition (ASC 606) and lease accounting (ASC 842) for auditor review.
We collaborated with a leading medical device manufacturer to revamp their accounting processes and implement industry best practices. Our efforts streamlined financial operations, improved reporting accuracy, and optimized internal controls, ultimately enhancing decision-making and driving efficiency within their finance function.
We assisted a major construction services firm in addressing a significant issue within their procure-to-pay accounting cycle. Our team conducted a comprehensive review of over 5,000 transactions to ensure accuracy and adherence to internal controls. By identifying discrepancies and making necessary corrections, we not only resolved immediate concerns but also fortified the company’s foundation for ongoing transaction management, thereby reducing future risks and enhancing financial integrity.
We partnered with a multi-unit healthcare organization to integrate several newly acquired entities into their existing operations. By standardizing processes and aligning key financial systems, we facilitated a smooth transition while ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Our focus on unifying accounting practices and improving data flow empowered the company to manage its growing operations more effectively.
We performed a thorough review of each entity’s state and local tax filings and procedures to ensure compliance with Nexus reporting requirements. This involved registering and reporting for new states as necessary. Where discrepancies were identified, we amended prior returns to ensure full compliance with tax obligations. We also prepared and submitted voluntary disclosure applications, assisting the company in resolving past non-compliance with minimized penalties and filing amended returns to recover refunds from previous overpayments.
As the year-end crunch and audit time is approaching, please let us know how we can assist you.
Contact us at info@conexusrecruiting.com for more information.
We are thrilled to announce that the Orange County Business Journal has recognized Conexus Recruiting as one of Orange County's "Fastest Growing Medium Private Companies." This accolade is a testament to our team's hard work, dedication, and the trust our clients place in us.
As the fastest-growing staffing and recruiting firm in Southern California, we've proven that our approach resonates with businesses in our dynamic market. We owe this achievement to our exceptional team, whose expertise and commitment drive our success. We're equally grateful to our clients who trust us with their critical hiring needs and to the talented professionals we've had the privilege to place.
Thank you for being part of the Conexus journey. We're excited about what the future holds and look forward to continuing to serve our community with unparalleled staffing and recruiting solutions.
LOS ANGELES, June 4th, 2024 – Conexus, the fastest-growing interim solutions and executive search firm in Southern California, announces the launch of its Conexus Advisory Practice.
The addition of Conexus Advisory demonstrates the firm’s commitment to serving the “Office of the CFO” for private equity-backed and public companies across Southern California. Comprised of Big Four CPAs with technical and operational expertise in accounting and finance, Conexus Advisory is equipped to manage post-acquisition system and business process optimization, technical pronouncement research and analysis, comprehensive transaction support, restatement assistance, and IPO readiness.
"We are thrilled to announce the launch of Conexus Advisory and bring our collective expertise to the vibrant business community of Southern California," said Sean Gill, Co-Founder of Conexus.
"A major differentiator of our group is that we not only help diagnose the challenges and opportunities our clients face in the “Office of the CFO”; added Conexus co-founder Matt Primeau. “We leverage our operational focus to work side by side with them and improve the actual business process,”
Mike Melloh partner with the firm who heads up the Los Angeles Executive Search group said “organizations are increasingly challenged with the intricacies of dealing with accounting matters ranging from complex technical accounting, financial reporting, and operational accounting that sometimes fall outside of the day-to day operations. Outsourcing certain aspects of the accounting function provides companies with the efficiency, flexibility, and skillsets that they desire.”
“As a trusted partner to CFOs and executive teams, Conexus Advisory is dedicated to building long-term relationships based on integrity, transparency, and excellence,” said Marty McKeever, a partner with the firm who heads up Conexus Advisory. “The firm's commitment to client satisfaction, combined with its deep industry knowledge and collaborative approach, sets it apart as a leading provider of accounting advisory services in Southern California.”.
Conexus brings the expertise needed to flawlessly execute business-critical projects as well as recruiting top talent in Finance, Accounting, Technology and Human Resources. In the last 12 months we have completed more than 300 direct hire and executive searches, deploy consultants on more than 600 assignments, with nearly 200 consultants actively working at Conexus’ clients.
For all inquiries, please contact Marty McKeever at Marty.M@conexusadvisors.com
NEW YORK, January 16, 2024 – MidOcean Partners, a premier middle market private equity firm focused on the business services and consumer sectors, has made a strategic investment in Conexus Recruiting (“Conexus” or "the Company”). The Company was previously backed by an investment from McNally Capital. MidOcean Partners plans to continue the Company’s aggressive growth plan through comprehensive organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Conexus has quickly become one of the largest consulting and recruiting firms in Southern California. The Company provides Interim Consulting, Advisory, Direct Hire, and Executive Search solutions in the disciplines of Finance & Accounting, Technology, and Human Resources, and has grown exponentially in the past three years. In 2023, the company completed more than 250 direct hire and executive-level searches, deployed consultants on more than 400 interim assignments and advisory projects, and ended the year with nearly 200 consultants actively working at Conexus’ clients. In late 2023, Conexus acquired Logis CFO, a competitor providing Executive Search, Direct Hire, and Interim Consulting solutions for the Office of the CFO for clients in Southern California and other select markets nationally.
“2023 was a very exciting year for our company. We were able to significantly expand our presence in the finance and accounting area through the addition of Logis, all while completing a recapitalization with MidOcean,” said Partner and Co-Founder Mike Kelly. “My partners have built exceptional businesses that provide best-in-class solutions. We are positioned to capitalize on many new opportunities, including a continued focus around the Office of the CFO.”
MidOcean Partners is a longtime investor in human capital businesses with Conexus representing MidOcean’s fifth investment in the space. Within the human capital sector, MidOcean focuses on end markets with clear secular growth trends, and Conexus falls squarely within this thesis.
Elias Dokas, Managing Director at MidOcean, commented, “We are very excited to invest behind Conexus, who are proven leaders in servicing the Office of the CFO. Conexus has built an impressive business that has experienced strong growth due to delivering superior service to its customers. We look forward to working closely with the Conexus leadership team to capitalize on these opportunities and to thoughtfully expand the Company.”
MidOcean Partners is a premier New York-based alternative asset manager specializing in middle-market private equity and alternative credit investments. Since its inception in 2003, MidOcean Private Equity has targeted investments in high-quality middle-market companies in the consumer and business services sectors. MidOcean Credit was launched in 2009 and manages a series of alternative credit strategies, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and customized separately managed accounts.
For more information, visit https://www.midoceanpartners.com/
Southern California competitors join forces to create staffing and direct hire powerhouse.
LOS ANGELES – Conexus Recruiting announces the acquisition of Logis, a top regional competitor based in Southern California. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in Conexus’ trajectory as it continues to emerge as a leading national provider of high-end interim consulting, retained search, and direct hire talent acquisition solutions.
Both specializing in the "Office of the CFO," Conexus and Logis have earned reputations for excellence in their respective niches, with Conexus further extending its service lines to encompass technology and human resources. The integration of Logis into the Conexus family not only brings together two highly compatible entities but also amplifies their collective market presence. This union capitalizes on the strengths of both organizations, presenting clients with an expanded talent pool and the specialized expertise needed for seamless execution of business-critical projects.
“This is a combination of two companies that are extremely well matched,” said Conexus founder and partner, Mike Kelly. “The folks who founded Logis are all former colleagues, so this is a homecoming of sorts; bringing together two strong teams of recruiting professionals who have collaborated successfully in the past.”
“This is an opportunity to better serve our clients and candidates by joining forces with our most formidable competitor,” said Logis co-founder, Marty McKeever. “Our combined network of customers and talent will make it virtually impossible to compete against.”
“One new opportunity that we will have as a larger company with greater financial backing is to build out a bench consulting practice, allowing us to attract and retain the highest caliber professionals with a desire to impact multiple clients annually,” said Logis co-founder, Ryan Milne.
This acquisition is a true combination of forces offering new leadership opportunities for existing personnel, while maintaining current partner roles. Both Conexus and Logis will continue to occupy existing office spaces across Southern California and nationally. Clients and candidates can now benefit from an even more extensive team of world-class staffing professionals with decades of combined experience in high-end professional recruiting and talent acquisition.
About Conexus Search, LLC Conexus is a fast-growing, well-respected, interim-focused staffing and recruiting firm specializing in middle management and the C-suite, filling gaps in finance and accounting, technology, and HR throughout Southern California. Conexus is committed to providing its clients with high-quality, high-value workforce solutions, enabling it to attract a broad spectrum of clients from large, high-growth employers to small, locally owned companies across various industries.
Read the Press Release on PR Newswire here.
On this Veterans Day, our team at Conexus Recruiting would like to express our deepest gratitude to all veterans for their service and sacrifice. Your dedication to this country has not gone unnoticed.
To build a strong foundation for the future, companies must remain aware of recruiting trends and constantly be on the lookout for skilled talent. In this guide, we share compensation data on the most in-demand jobs in Finance, Accounting, Technology, and Human Resources and how much employees can expect to earn in 2024.
The guide offers a unique, real-time perspective, as all the data is from the 300+ direct hire searches and nearly 9,000 candidate interviews we conducted over the last year in Southern California!
In the 2024 Guide:
Please fill out the form below or visit this page to download the 2024 Conexus Salary Guide.
Matt Primeau and Mike Kelly from Conexus are partnering with PNC Bank to host a CFO/CEO breakfast and economic forecast featuring Christopher Schwarz of the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. We are super excited for Chris to be our keynote speaker; he has been cited by the New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Barron’s. He has also appeared on CNBC and was included in testimony before the U.S. Congress House Financial Services Committee!
Below is the invite with details. Space is limited, so please Register using the link below to secure a spot by June 7th!
Thursday, June 21, 2023
7:30 am | Registration & Networking
8:00 am | Breakfast & Program
The Pacific Club | 4110 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Register here by June 7, 2023