Robert Gaffney

Biography

Robert (Bob) Gaffney is a transformational finance and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience driving strategic, financial, and operational excellence across leading alternative investment firms. He has a proven record of building scalable infrastructure, optimizing technology and data architecture, and leading high-performing teams that deliver measurable results.

As Founder and Principal of RFG Consulting, Bob has advised alternative asset managers and family offices on operational strategy, technology enablement, and organizational transformation. His recent engagements include redesigning management company infrastructures, improving data and reporting integrity for private credit managers, and developing performance track records for complex real estate portfolios.

Previously, Bob served as Senior Managing Director and Head of Operations at Wafra, Inc., where he built and led a 45-person operations organization spanning fund accounting, investor services, data management, and project management. He drove enterprise-level efficiency and governance initiatives that supported the firm's growth from $16 billion to $33 billion in AUM, implemented firmwide technology modernization efforts, and delivered Wafra's first SOC 1 Type 2 certification.

Earlier in his career, Bob held senior leadership roles at J.P. Morgan and Cerberus Capital Management, where he scaled operational infrastructure to support multi-asset growth from $3 billion to $30 billion in AUM and directed numerous system implementations and process transformations. He also demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen as the owner and operator of a successful Liberty Tax franchise.

A Certified Public Accountant and graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, Bob combines deep financial expertise with a strategic and pragmatic approach to operational leadership. He is passionate about helping investment firms build scalable, efficient, and technology-enabled organizations that support long-term growth. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and their beloved dog Bentley, travel, golf, live music, and working outdoors.