The Company.
Our client is a private equity-backed, leading supplier of steel tubular piling products in the U.S. and the U.K. The Company's headquarters are in Houston, Texas (East Houston / Sheldon / Channelview area), and our client specializes in the sourcing, value-add processing and distribution of prime and non-prime tubulars for high-value piling applications in the construction and infrastructure markets. The Company maintains over 80,000 tons and 2 million feet of inventory across six locations in the U.S. and U.K., enabling it to provide best-in-class service and delivery.
The organization has evolved into an industry leader for steel pipe utilized in foundations, micropile, pile driving and helical pipe in new/existing structural support and anchoring applications. It serves as a critical supplier in the construction of commercial projects including data centers, skyscrapers, solar farms, distribution centers, oil and gas, and rail projects.
The Company’s global reach and extensive national and international experience provide a strong value proposition to both customers and suppliers, resulting in the Company’s critical role in the tubular supply chain. For its suppliers, the Company’s strong U.S. and global sourcing relationships allow it to purchase large volumes of surplus and secondary pipe at a premium to commercial alternatives. For customers, the Company maintains an array of engineering and build-to-design services to meet tolerance and architectural design needs, and maintains value-add processing capabilities including threading, cleaning, splicing, cutting and other fabrication solutions resulting in upgraded material sold at a discount to prime pricing. With its active procurement of reject and surplus tubulars for reuse in construction piling applications, the Company is also a key contributor to the circular economy and saves thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually.
In addition to its Houston, Texas headquarters, the Company maintains distribution and processing facilities throughout the U.S. and the U.K. Sites are strategically located near predominant suppliers, as well as rail and shipping ports, allowing for quick and efficient transportation, and its vast network provides valuable insight on market demands and trends driving purchases and volumes.
Our client is well-positioned to take advantage of ongoing U.S. infrastructure investments that support its customers’ end-market applications. With compelling historical growth, minimal capex and a resilient, asset-light business model, the Company is positioned for continued, profitable growth.
The Company was acquired in 2022 by a Midwest-based private equity firm focused on building leading middle-market industrial businesses. The firm brings a hands-on, partnership-oriented approach and deep experience working constructively with management teams to drive operational excellence and strategic growth. The sponsor is committed to providing the resources, tools, and support needed to enable long-term success and continued value creation across the organization.
The Opportunity.
The CFO will provide overall direction and financial leadership to the Company while playing a significant role in the development of financial processes, controls and standards for the organization. The CFO will report to the President and will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the Company. This includes all accounting, finance, forecasting, strategic accounting, revenue recognition, compliance, and institutional financing. Through a constructive and energetic style, the CFO will provide the leadership and long-term vision necessary to improve the Company’s growth within thetubular manufacturing and distribution industry, with an emphasis on improving the Company’s EBITDA margins.
Responsibilities:
- Direct and oversee all aspects of the accounting, finance, forecasting, budgeting and compliance functions of the Company
- Lead the Company’s ongoing transition into an innovative, efficient and professional finance environment, including evaluation of ERP platforms and IT improvement initiatives
- Facilitate the ongoing development of processes and controls to provide timely and accurate sales projections, income statements, cash flow, capital expenditure reports, contribution margin analysis and demand planning
- Work with the President and the Company’s Board of Directors to develop multi-year strategic growth and value enhancement plans for the Company, which would include tools to: (i) develop and evaluate business plans/ROI structure and methodology, (ii) monitor and track performance to targeted ROI objectives and (iii) support development of mitigation plans/countermeasures if ROI objectives are not being met
- Work with lending institutions to manage cash needs, the Company’s lending relationship, and ensure compliance with all debt covenants
- Review and provide recommendations to the President and operations leadership to adjust the organizational design of the Company to improve operational efficiencies
- Ensure that effective internal controls are in place and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting
- Work closely with the President and the Board to evaluate strategic options leading to suitable returns for shareholders
Candidate Requirements.
To achieve success in this dynamic environment, the CFO will need a broad array of financial leadership and business operation skills. Ideal candidates will possess a strong track record of leading the finance function of a private equity-owned organization through a disciplined, process-oriented approach; preferably, a portion of this experience has been gained in the procurement, distribution and fabrication industries. The ideal candidate has successfully communicated and instilled a “no excuses,” action-oriented approach through clear objectives and expectations to drive performance throughout his/her organization. Additionally, ideal candidates will possess:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance; MBA and/or CPA is highly desirable
- Prior CFO, VP of Finance, Controller or equivalent senior leadership role within companies of similar size and complexity
- Demonstrated cost accounting experience, preferably with average cost accounting experience in a fabrication, distribution or similar environment
- ERP system implementation experience is highly desirable
- Strong interpersonal skills, ability to build and lead teams, communicate, and manage well at all levels of the organization
- Ability to process and synthesize information quickly to translate into understandable, actionable forecasts and decision-making
- Detailed, metrics-driven approach to leadership and financial decision-making
- Demonstrated history of developing process-driven improvements within similar organizational structures
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain a high level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency
- Hands-on approach to financial problem-solving and willing to perform all finance functions necessary to improve organizational performance
- Self-aware and open to feedback
- Ability to work in-office at the Company’s headquarters in Houston, Texas (East Houston / Sheldon / Channelview area)
