C

Integration Management Office

Preserve Value. Capture Synergies.

The first 100 days after close determine whether a post-merger integration creates or destroys value. Without cross-functional coordination and deep finance expertise, synergies go uncaptured and risks go unmanaged.

We run the Integration Management Office for platform acquisitions, bolt-ons, carve-outs, and true mergers. Kadmus provides the structure and oversight to ensure the investment thesis is protected while synergies are captured.

IMO Capabilities

Day 1 Readiness

Critical path activities, legal entity setup, bank accounts, payroll continuity, IT access, communications

100-Day Planning

Detailed workstream plans, milestone tracking, executive reporting, issue escalation

Target Operating Model

Future-state design for people, process, and technology across all functions

Synergy Tracking

Identification, validation, and reporting of cost and revenue synergies

Cross-Functional Oversight

Coordination across Finance, HR, IT, Sales Ops, Legal, and Operations

How an IMO Is Structured

An integration management office is not a status-meeting layer—it is the operating structure that turns an integration thesis into tracked, owned work. The structure we stand up has three tiers:

Steering Committee

Sponsor deal team and executives from both organizations. Owns decision rights, resolves escalations, and holds the integration to the investment thesis

IMO Lead

Runs the integration cadence: weekly workstream reviews, milestone and interdependency tracking, risk and issue management, and a concise executive report the steering committee can act on

Workstream Leads

Functional owners across Finance, HR, IT, Sales Operations, Legal, and Operations—each accountable for their milestone plan and their share of the synergy targets

Kadmus typically serves as IMO lead with deep ownership of the Finance workstream, bringing structure the other functions plug into. Integration priorities vary by sector—multi-site roll-ups in home services and healthcare integrate differently than a SaaS bolt-on—and the 100-day plan reflects that from the start.

Integration Models We Support

Absorption — Target fully integrated into acquirer's operating model

Symbiosis — Best practices adopted across both organizations

Preservation — Target operates semi-autonomously with financial integration

Holding — Minimal integration, emphasis on quick-win synergies

Finance Integration Specifics

Opening balance sheet and purchase accounting, closing statements and net working capital, month-end close documentation, management reporting package development, 13-week cash forecast, ERP assessment, chart of accounts alignment, bank account setup and legacy delink.

Post-Acquisition M&A Day 1 Readiness 100-Day Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Integration Management Office (IMO)?

An IMO is the central structure that coordinates a post-acquisition integration—managing cross-functional workstreams, tracking milestones and synergies, and escalating issues to executives. It exists to make sure the investment thesis is protected while synergies are actually captured.

Which integration models do you support?

Four models: absorption (target fully integrated into the acquirer’s operating model), symbiosis (best practices adopted across both organizations), preservation (target operates semi-autonomously with financial integration), and holding (minimal integration with emphasis on quick-win synergies).

What does finance integration specifically include?

Opening balance sheet and purchase accounting, closing statements and net working capital, month-end close documentation, management reporting package development, 13-week cash forecasting, ERP assessment, chart of accounts alignment, and bank account setup with legacy delink.

Why do the first 100 days matter so much?

The first 100 days after close determine whether an acquisition creates or destroys value. Without cross-functional coordination and deep finance expertise, synergies go uncaptured and risks go unmanaged—so we anchor the work in Day 1 readiness and a detailed 100-day plan.

What are the roles and responsibilities within an IMO?

A typical IMO structure has three tiers. A steering committee of sponsor and executive stakeholders owns decisions and escalations. An IMO lead runs the integration cadence—tracking milestones and interdependencies, managing risks, and reporting to the steering committee. Functional workstream leads across Finance, HR, IT, Sales Operations, Legal, and Operations own their integration plans and synergy targets.

What should a 100-day post-merger integration plan include?

Day 1 critical path items (legal entities, bank accounts, payroll continuity, IT access, communications), workstream-level milestone plans with named owners and dates, a synergy roadmap with validated targets, an executive reporting rhythm, and clear escalation paths. The plan should be built before close and matched to the integration model—absorption, symbiosis, preservation, or holding.

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