Position Overview
We are partnering with a multi-entity, family-owned organization in the search for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The client, founded in Cincinnati over a century ago, has offices in Cincinnati and Columbus and serves clients in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
The CFO serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to ownership, responsible for shaping the long-term financial and operational direction of the company and its affiliated entities. The CFO plays a critical role in driving enterprise value creation, supporting sustainable growth, optimizing capital allocation, and ensuring the organization is positioned for long-term scalability and succession.
As the senior financial leader, the CFO provides strategic oversight across financial planning, corporate performance, investment strategy, risk management, treasury, technology, and operational infrastructure. This role partners closely with ownership and executive leadership to evaluate growth opportunities, improve organizational performance, strengthen operational discipline, and support strategic decision-making across all business units.
Beyond financial stewardship, the CFO serves as a transformational enterprise leader responsible for accelerating the modernization of systems, advancing reporting and analytics capabilities, strengthening organizational infrastructure, and helping position the company for its next phase of growth and scalability. This role requires a proactive leader who can drive change with urgency, anticipate future business needs, and help the organization evolve ahead of increasing operational complexity and market demands. The ideal candidate combines strong business acumen and strategic leadership with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment while balancing long-term vision with immediate execution priorities.
Enterprise Leadership & Strategic Finance
• Partner with ownership and executive leadership to lead and execute the organization’s long-term strategic and financial vision.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the business owner. Interface with family advisors, including wealth management, tax, and legal to help ensure that the long-term financial goals are in alignment with the company’s financial performance and succession objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide financial strategy, including forecasting, scenario modeling, capital planning, liquidity strategy, and performance optimization.
• Provide strategic insight and decision support related to acquisitions, expansions, major investments, operational transformation initiatives, and new business opportunities.
• Drive enterprise performance management through KPIs, analytics, financial modeling, and operational reporting that support data-driven decision-making.
• Evaluate organizational structure, scalability, and operational efficiency to support sustainable growth across all business entities.
• Lead financial risk assessment and strategic planning initiatives to ensure long-term organizational resilience and business continuity.
• Support the continued evolution of governance practices, leadership infrastructure, and executive decision-making processes within a growing family-owned enterprise.
Financial Stewardship & Operational Excellence
• Provide executive oversight for all financial operations, accounting functions, reporting activities, treasury management, and compliance processes across multiple entities.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and decision-oriented financial reporting that enables executive leadership to effectively manage performance and risk.
• Establish scalable financial processes, internal controls, and operational disciplines that support organizational growth and efficiency.
• Lead enterprise cash flow strategy, working capital optimization, and banking relationships to maintain financial flexibility and operational strength.
• Oversee relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, lenders, and financial partners.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, tax, and fiduciary requirements while maintaining strong corporate governance practices.
Enterprise Infrastructure & Technology Leadership
• Provide executive oversight of enterprise technology strategy, systems infrastructure, cybersecurity, business continuity planning, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Ensure technology investments align with organizational growth objectives, operational scalability, and reporting sophistication.
• Champion process improvement and systems modernization initiatives that enhance efficiency, visibility, and cross-functional decision-making.
• Oversee enterprise facilities and operational infrastructure strategy across multiple locations, ensuring alignment with business growth and employee experience objectives.
Leadership & Organizational Development
• Lead, mentor, and develop finance, accounting, and IT team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Build scalable financial and operational processes to support future growth.
• Partner closely with operational leadership teams across businesses to improve performance and decision-making.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when working with ownership and sensitive business matters.
Strategic Leadership Profile
• A forward-thinking executive capable of balancing strategic vision with operational execution
• A highly trusted advisor who can influence decisions across ownership and executive leadership
• A business leader who understands how finance drives enterprise value and organizational performance
• An effective change leader with experience building scalable infrastructure, systems, and teams
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment while bringing structure, discipline, and strategic insight
• Adept at navigating the dynamics of a privately held, family-owned organization with professionalism and discretion
Qualifications and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably within a mid-sized, privately held, or family-owned business environment.
• Experience overseeing financial operations for multiple entities or business units preferred.
• Strong knowledge of financial planning & analysis, accounting operations, cash flow management, budgeting and forecasting, and strategic financial leadership.
• Experience overseeing IT functions, technology vendors, cybersecurity initiatives, and business systems preferred.
• Experience managing an ERP system conversion preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational involvement.
• Strong communication, leadership, analytical, and relationship management skills.
• High degree of integrity, business acumen, and sound judgment.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, financial software, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Reporting Structure
Reports directly to the President and works closely with ownership and executive leadership teams across business entities.
Supervisory Responsibility
Lead Accounting + Finance team (8) + IT department (2) and oversee outsourced Legal function.
Travel
Position will require monthly travel to the Columbus market.
