Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Freidel & Associates, LLC • Full-time • Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States • $250k - $350k / year • 1w ago

Position Summary

Our client is a family-owned, industrial manufacturing and commercial heat-treat services provider with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company has a rich heritage rooted in over a century of industrial craftsmanship, reliability, and reinvention.

The CFO will serve as a strategic partner to the President and executive team, overseeing all financial aspects of the multi-national organization while managing day-to-day accounting operations and advising on multi-disciplinary strategic business matters, including capital investments, supply chain, product mix, and overall strategic issues.

This role will oversee the plant accountants at the Canadian and European locations to ensure accuracy and alignment of the organization from a finance and accounting perspective. This role oversees accurate cost accounting, treasury management, inventory valuation, and financial reporting to support manufacturing operations and profitability. The ideal candidate will combine strategic vision and innovative perspective with hands-on expertise in manufacturing finance and accounting.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with manufacturing goals and long-term growth
Financial Management & Analysis: Oversee accounting functions including cost accounting, financial analysis, inventory management and financial reporting
Cash Flow & Risk Management: Manage liquidity, working capital, treasury, cash flow, forecasting, and banking relationships; mitigate financial risks
Operational Efficiency: Partner with plant managers to improve financial performance through lean initiatives and ERP optimization. ERP implementation experience a plus
Team Leadership: Support the recruiting of an experienced manufacturing Accounting Manager to support the position in the U.S. Develop and mentor a high-performing accounting and finance team with manufacturing expertise
Tax Advisor Collaboration: Collaborate with third-party tax advisor for federal, state and local income tax filing preparation, ensuring overall compliance
Cultural support: Champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and financial discipline across the organization.
Accounting Manager Duties to Temporarily Support - Pending New Hire:
Financial Reporting: Ensure timely and accurate financial statements in compliance with GAAP; manage internal controls and external auditors
Cost & Inventory Control: Maintain cost accounting systems; monitor inventory valuation and reconciliation variances
Fixed Asset Planning: Review and validate capital projects to ensure alignment with strategy and satisfactory returns on investment
Multi-entity/jurisdiction support: Intercompany eliminations and international transactions, including overseeing global transfer pricing policy and ensuring alignment among finance, tax, and operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, CMA, or equivalent preferred
10+ years of progressive finance experience, including manufacturing industry exposure
Strong knowledge of GAAP, manufacturing, cost accounting, and inventory management
Experience with ERP systems and manufacturing financial processes (SAGE experience preferred)
Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills.

Preferred Skills

Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives
ERP implementation experience
Openness to adopting and effectively using AI tools to streamline financial operations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $250,000.00 - $350,000.00 per year

Benefits: