Job Description
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Chief Financial Officer
Lead with purpose. Own the outcome. Do the right thing the right way. If you’re someone who values ownership, purpose, and people, we’d love to welcome you to the Life Cycle Engineering way.
We are an employee-owned, mission-aligned federal government contractor in search of an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors. This is a rare opportunity for a CFO who values ownership, legacy, and people-first leadership as much as technical excellence and regulatory rigor.
As an ESOP company, our success is directly tied to the success of our employee-owners. You’ll play a central role in stewarding this ownership culture—ensuring financial strength, ESOP sustainability, and transparency—while helping guide the organization through growth, recompetes, and strategic evolution.
Why This Role Is Different
Real Strategic Influence
This is not a back-office CFO role. You’ll have a seat at the table shaping strategy—supporting growth initiatives, optimizing contract profitability, advising on risk, and helping the business scale in a highly regulated environment.
Hands-On Leadership with Impact
You’ll lead within a Corporate Services Group (CSG) combining strategic vision with a practical, sleeves-rolled-up approach.
Employee Ownership with Meaning
You won’t just manage an ESOP—you’ll help protect and grow it. As ESOP steward, you’ll partner closely with the external trustee, oversee valuations and repurchase planning, and ensure ERISA compliance.
High-Trust, Family-Oriented Culture
We operate with a strong sense of accountability, mutual respect, and care for one another. This is an environment where executives are trusted, supported, and expected to lead with integrity and empathy.
The Role Details
As a key member of the ELT and partner to the CEO, the CFO is responsible for leading the financial strategy, compliance, and fiscal management of a diversified business comprised primarily of Department of Defense (DoD)/Government Contracting (GovCon) business but also industrial private sector consulting. This role ensures full compliance with federal contracting regulations while supporting sustainable growth, contract profitability, and operational excellence. The CFO will play a leadership role with other executives in strategic and corporate planning and risk management. The CFO is responsible for the following functions of the CSG: Accounting; Contracts; IT & Business Optimization; Purchasing; and Security. Additionally, the CFO serves as ESOP steward, coordinating with the external trustee, managing annual valuations, repurchase obligation planning, and ensuring ERISA compliance. The CFO must be able to adapt to continually evolving demands and thrive in an autonomous and deadline-oriented environment.
Key Responsibility Areas
Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership
Develop and execute financial strategies to support the growth and success of our business, including ESOP sustainability and repurchase obligation funding
Advise the CEO, ELT, and Board on financial performance, risk, and growth initiatives
Ensure alignment of financial planning with S-Corporation tax implications and pass-through entity compliance
Support strategic planning for recompetes, contract extensions, and new contract pursuits including forward rate analysis and potential pool rate or structure changes.
Lead financial due diligence for potential mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures
Establish and sponsor from the executive level a series of optimization or lean projects that increase the productivity of the LCE team and optimize revenue and profit opportunities.
Team Leadership
Provide strategic and operational leadership to the LCE/CSG organization
Provide effective leadership development within the CSG organization
Ensure credibility of the CSG by promoting timely and accurate support services to all operational groups
Lead change effectively by building commitment in a collaborative team environment
Utilize a hands-on approach to address accounting issues and problem solving (ability to conduct, teach, and coach the accounting team on various accounting functions, policies, and procedures)
Establish and provide organizational accountability to ensure deliverables and performance levels meet internal client needs and expectations within the context of the LCE values and strategic goals
Government Contract Compliance
Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and agency-specific regulations
Oversee indirect rate structures, cost accounting standards, and cost allocations
Identify and understand the treatment of unallowable costs as defined in FAR 31.201
Manage DCAA, DCMA, and other government audits and reviews
Ensure proper revenue recognition under cost-plus, T&M, and fixed-price contracts
Oversee contract security requirements
Financial Budgeting, Reporting & Controls
Oversee annual organizational budgeting process
Establish annual target overhead rates
Oversee monthly and annual financial reporting
Monitor overhead rate performance and rate variances
Ensure timely invoicing and collections in compliance with contract terms
Maintain strong internal controls and audit-ready financial systems
Establish policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance and efficiency
Ensure compliance with GAAP and government accounting requirements
Oversee the Costpoint accounting system and other management information systems
Pricing & Contract Support
Oversee proposal pricing, cost volumes, and competitive rate development
Support contract negotiations, rate approvals, and contract modifications
Ensure accurate contract budgeting, forecasting, and burn rate analysis
Monitor contract profitability, funding ceilings, and contract closeouts
Risk Management & Compliance Oversight
Identify and mitigate financial, compliance, and contract performance risks
Oversee tax compliance, including federal, state, and local requirements, with emphasis on S-Corp regulations
Ensure compliance with ERISA and ESOP fiduciary standards
Oversee annual ESOP valuation process and communication to employee-owners
Manage relationships with auditors, bankers, investors, insurance brokers, and government agencies
Negotiate and oversee lease agreements and legal contracts
Oversee custody of LCE fixed assets, including facilities, renovations, furniture and equipment, software and licenses, leased assets, and government owned inventory.
Oversee facility security requirements
Serve as an internal advisor for the LCE 401(k) savings plan and member of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Core Team
External Partnerships
Act as primary financial liaison to the Board of Directors and external ESOP trustee
Leverage existing relationships within industry and professional networks to grow business within federal contracting and industrial client base
Regularly attend and participate in industry events and community engagements to build your personal and LCE network
Auto req ID
464227BR
Minimum Education Required
Bachelors
Job_Category
Accounting
Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities
Professional Qualifications & Experience
CPA with BS in Finance, Accounting, or related field
10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience in government contracting, preferably in privately held ESOP owned companies
Extensive knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, DCAA/DCMA requirements
Experience with cost-plus, T&M, and fixed-price government contracts
Proven experience supporting audits, proposals, and contract negotiations
Experience with ESOP administration
Key Skills & Competencies
Expert knowledge of government contracting finance and compliance
Hands-on accounting system experience, preferably with Costpoint
Strong analytical, pricing, and financial modeling skills
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities
Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to employee-owners and board members
Strong collaboration and troubleshooting skills
High ethical standards and attention to regulatory detail
Ability to operate in a highly regulated, audit-intensive environment
Citizenship & Clearance
U.S. citizenship required
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance
City*
Charleston
State*
South Carolina
Job Code
Finance_ Finance
Affiliate Sponsor
Life Cycle Engineering
