We are seeking an accomplished Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the global financial strategy of our growing planning and landscape architecture firm. As an integral member of the executive leadership team, the CFO will drive financial performance, steward corporate governance, mitigate design‑industry risk, and support long‑term growth for a multi‑office design practice operating under a C‑corporation structure. This leader must successfully combine global experience with strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a passion for supporting a creative, project‑based environment.
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to shape firmwide strategy, evaluate growth opportunities, and support long‑range planning while ensuring alignment with the firm’s risk appetite.
- Provide financial insight that enables strong business decisions across planning, landscape architecture, and design services, including evaluation of contractual, operational, and market risks.
- Lead M&A activities including diligence, valuation, deal structure, and integration with attention to regulatory, tax, contractual, and liability exposures inherent in design firms.
- Support firm risk planning, including scenario modeling, business continuity strategies, and mitigation approaches for global operations.
Financial Management
- Own global budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management across all studios and regions, ensuring financial risks are identified early and addressed proactively.
- Partner with the COO to improve project profitability, resource utilization, backlog visibility, fee estimation, and realization, while strengthening controls around scope management, subconsultant oversight, and change‑order discipline.
- Further implement KPIs, dashboards, and reporting that enhance predictability, highlight emerging risks, and empower operations and project managers.
- Monitor financial exposure tied to client billing terms, accounts receivable aging, cash flow, and credit risk across global clients and markets.
Accounting, Reporting & Controls Oversight
- Oversee consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP with strong internal controls, compliance, and audit readiness that reduce financial and operational risk.
- Ensure accurate application of ASC 606 revenue recognition for landscape architecture and planning work (T&M, fixed fee, reimbursable costs, milestones), mitigating revenue‑recognition risk common in project‑based work.
- Strengthen the internal control framework, including fraud prevention, procurement discipline, and project‑level documentation standards, to reduce exposure across global offices.
- Oversee annual audits and ensure clean audit outcomes through disciplined compliance, documentation, and risk‑aware accounting practices.
Tax, Treasury & Corporate Structure
- Direct global tax planning and compliance for a C‑corporation, ensuring mitigation of tax exposure, regulatory risk, and compliance gaps across U.S. and international jurisdictions.
- Manage transfer pricing, intercompany agreements, and cross‑border financial structures with focus on tax‑efficient and risk‑controlled operations.
- Oversee cash management, treasury operations, FX exposure, and banking relationships while monitoring liquidity risk, currency volatility, and global cash position.
Firmwide Systems, Data & Transformation
- Guide modernization of financial systems, ERP/PSA, project accounting, BI tools to support project workflows common to architecture, planning, and design practices, with strong internal controls built into system workflows.
- Champion data integrity, automation, and process improvement to reduce operational risk, improve accuracy, and shorten cycle times.
- Ensure finance processes and technology systems scale securely and compliantly with global expansion, including cybersecurity considerations related to financial data.
- Leverage AI to create departmental and firmwide efficiencies of reporting, processes and procedures.
Leadership, Culture & Governance
- Lead and develop a global finance team across FP&A, accounting, tax, treasury, and regional practice finance, ensuring consistent financial controls and risk‑aware decision‑making across all offices.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and sound judgment consistent with a creative professional services environment.
- Partner closely with design, operations, HR, marketing, and client leaders to strengthen firmwide performance, reinforce compliance with professional licensure and QA/QC standards, and reduce professional liability exposure.
- Support alignment with contractual risk policies, insurance requirements, regulatory standards, and project delivery protocols that protect the firm and its licensed professionals.
Experience
- 15+ years of progressive finance leadership, ideally within architecture, engineering, planning, design, consulting, or other professional services firms.
- Deep understanding of project accounting, utilization metrics, fee structures, and financial dynamics specific to the design industry.
- Experience managing contractual, operational, and financial risks within a global professional services environment.
- Expertise in U.S. GAAP, ASC 606, multi‑entity consolidations, and global operations.
- Background with C‑corporation tax strategy, treasury management, transfer pricing, and risk‑informed corporate structuring.
- Successful track record leading systems transformation (ERP/PSA preferred: Deltek Vantage Point).
- Strong strategic acumen paired with hands‑on operational leadership.
- Bachelor’s degree required; CPA and/or MBA strongly preferred.
Travel
- Periodic global and domestic travel required to visit offices, partners, and project locations.
We are looking for a candidate who can successfully:
- Lead finance for a globally recognized design practice with a strong reputation for innovation and excellence.
- Influence the next chapter of growth and evolution within a purpose‑driven, mission‑aligned creative firm.
- Implement disciplined financial and risk‑management practices that protect the firm, support creative excellence, and enable smart growth.
- Collaborate with passionate, multidisciplinary teams shaping public spaces, communities, and the built environment.
