Finance Manager role in PE-backed manufacturing (Ontario) vs Commercial Finance Manager in a 100-year-old private company (U.S. East Coast

I’m an FP&A / business finance professional with about 8 years of experience, mostly in FMCG/manufacturing finance (supply chain finance, commercial finance, pricing, and FP&A).

I’m currently deciding between two opportunities and would appreciate some perspective from people in finance.

Option 1 • Finance Manager role at a PE-backed manufacturing company • Located in Ontario, Canada • Compensation around 135k CAD • Role involves plant finance, operations support, cost analysis, and working closely with leadership • Faster paced environment due to private equity ownership

Option 2 • Commercial Finance / Pricing Manager role • Located in a lower cost-of-living city on the U.S. East Coast • Compensation around 135k USD • Focus on pricing strategy and commercial finance supporting sales • Company is privately owned and has been in business for ~100 years

At this stage of my career I’m thinking about: • Compensation and long-term earnings potential • Cost of living • Career growth and resume value • Work-life balance

The U.S. role obviously pays more in nominal terms, but the Canadian role could offer broader operational exposure in a PE environment.

For people who have worked in PE-backed manufacturing vs commercial finance roles, which would you consider stronger for long-term career progression?