Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Manufacturing
Location: Rhode Island (Headquarters)
Company: Stable, family-owned international manufacturer (~$120M revenue)
Position Overview
We are seeking a hands-on, operations-focused Chief Financial Officer to join a well-established, consistently performing international manufacturing company headquartered in Rhode Island. This role is ideal for an experienced CFO who has successfully led a finance organization and is now seeking a meaningful final chapter focused on execution, stewardship, and long-term value creation—rather than turnaround or career acceleration.
This is a manufacturing-first CFO role. Automotive Tier 2 experience is highly valued but not required. Candidates from other discrete manufacturing environments with strong cost control, throughput, and cash discipline will be equally successful. The CFO partners closely with plant leadership and operations to reinforce predictable performance, continuous improvement, and financial control.
Key Responsibilities
Hands-On Manufacturing Operations & Cost Discipline (Primary Focus)
• Maintain a visible, regular presence in manufacturing facilities
• Own and continuously improve standard costing, variance analysis, and plant-level P&Ls
• Reinforce cost discipline across labor, materials, overhead, scrap, rework, warranty, and freight
• Strengthen Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and continuous improvement routines with measurable financial impact
• Support program launches and cost recovery while protecting baseline performance
• Provide clear insight into product, program, and customer profitability
Performance Management, Cash & Capital Discipline
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and rolling outlooks with a strong operational lens
• Track and interpret key manufacturing KPIs (OEE, scrap, yield, inventory turns, delivery performance)
• Maintain disciplined working capital management and cash conversion cycles
• Partner with commercial and operations leaders on pricing and margin analysis
• Develop financial models for capital investments, scenario analysis, and long-range planning
Finance Leadership, Systems & Controls
• Lead accounting, FP&A, cost accounting, tax, audit, and treasury functions
• Ensure accurate reporting, predictable close processes, and strong internal controls
• Incrementally enhance ERP and manufacturing finance systems
Capital, Strategy & Ownership Support
• Support capital investments in tooling, automation, capacity, and productivity
• Manage banking relationships, liquidity, and covenant compliance
• Provide steady, clear communication to ownership and the Board
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to translate operating performance into actionable financial insight
• Monitor financial, operational, and customer risks and escalate appropriately
Working Style & Ownership Partnership
The CFO will operate as a trusted advisor to ownership and executive leadership, balancing financial discipline with the values and long-term objectives of a family-owned enterprise. Success requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to support continuity, lender confidence, and generational business health.
People Leadership & Culture
• Develop a manufacturing-oriented finance team with strong plant engagement
• Strengthen plant controllers as true partners to operations
• Reinforce Lean thinking, accountability, and fact-based decision-making
Qualifications & Experience
• Prior experience as a CFO, Division CFO, or equivalent senior finance leader with full P&L, banking, and Board exposure
• 20+ years of progressive finance leadership, with significant manufacturing experience
• Deep expertise in standard costing, operational accounting, and manufacturing metrics
• Demonstrated success leading through stable, mature operations (not primarily turnaround-focused)
• Experience with capital investment planning, tooling strategies, and lender relationships
• Proven background in product, program, and customer profitability analysis
• Experience supporting international manufacturing operations (e.g., China, Mexico, Czech Republic) preferred
• Experience working within or alongside family-owned or closely held businesses strongly preferred
Compensation Philosophy
Competitive executive compensation emphasizing stability, clarity of expectations, and long-term alignment with ownership. The structure favors a meaningful base salary and a disciplined, achievable incentive tied to company performance, cash flow stability, and stewardship—rather than aggressive upside or transaction-driven rewards.
