Overview
We are seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the executive leadership team of a growing, multi-entity engineering and professional services organization. This executive will provide strategic financial leadership across accounting, financial planning and analysis, tax, enterprise risk management, ESOP administration, financial systems, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.
The ideal candidate will have significant executive finance leadership experience within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Candidates from broader professional services organizations will also be considered; however, AEC experience is strongly preferred. The organization generates annual revenue exceeding $500 million, and candidates should have demonstrated financial leadership within organizations of similar scale. Experience supporting companies with annual revenues of at least $300–$400 million is required, with a strong preference for experience exceeding $500 million.
This executive will partner closely with executive leadership and the Board to drive long-term financial performance, operational excellence, and sustainable growth while supporting an employee-owned (ESOP) business structure and maintaining S-Corporation compliance.
Key Responsibilitie
sExecutive & Strategic Leadershi
- pDevelop and execute long-term financial strategies aligned with organizational objectives
- .Drive profitability through pricing strategies, margin improvement, overhead optimization, and operational efficiencies
- .Evaluate financial performance of capital investments, acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives
- .Lead enterprise-wide automation and continuous process improvement efforts
- .Build, mentor, and develop high-performing finance, accounting, tax, audit, risk, and ESOP teams
- .Partner with operational leadership to improve project profitability, billing performance, cash flow, and resource utilization
- .Provide financial oversight for government contracting compliance
.
Financial Management & Corporate Governan
- ceDirect all accounting and financial reporting activities in accordance with GAA
- P.Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes across multiple business entitie
- s.Present financial results, forecasts, KPIs, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership, the Board, and ESOP trustee
- s.Maintain strong internal controls and enterprise-wide financial governanc
- e.Standardize accounting practices across business entities and ensure audit readines
- s.Improve financial reporting capabilities and operational workflow
- s.Establish enterprise financial policies governing procurement, capital expenditures, intercompany transactions, expense management, and transfer pricin
- g.Provide executive oversight of financial policies supporting ERP and enterprise financial system
s.
Audit, Compliance & Risk Managem
- entLead external financial audits and serve as the primary liaison with auditors, valuation firms, regulators, and ESOP truste
- es.Oversee internal audit activities, enterprise risk assessments, compliance initiatives, and corrective action pla
- ns.Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state financial regulatio
- ns.Partner with legal, operations, and safety leadership to strengthen enterprise risk management and insurance progra
- ms.Support claims management and financial reserve oversig
ht.
Tax Strategy & ESOP Administra
- tionDevelop tax strategies while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulati
- ons.Oversee corporate tax reporting and external tax advis
- ors.Ensure continued S-Corporation complia
- nce.Manage ESOP governance, annual valuations, fiduciary compliance, and long-term sustainability plann
- ing.Support employee-owner education and financial literacy initiati
ves.
Financial Systems & Digital Transform
- ationProvide executive oversight of ERP and enterprise financial sys
- tems.Ensure financial systems support accurate reporting, strong internal controls, and business intellig
- ence.Lead finance automation initiatives and data governance improvem
- ents.Evaluate technologies that enhance financial reporting and executive decision-ma
king.
Mergers & Acquis
- itionsLead financial due diligence for acquisitions and strategic partner
- ships.Support valuation analysis, transaction structuring, purchase accounting, and post-acquisition integr
- ation.Ensure acquisition activities align with tax strategy, ESOP requirements, and long-term capital pla
nning.
Required Qualifi
- cations15+ years of progressive finance and accounting leadership expe
- rience.Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related
- field.Master's degree pre
- ferred.CPA certification pre
- ferred.Valid driver's license if operating a vehicle for business pu
- rposes.Executive finance leadership experience within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry strongly preferred. Candidates from other professional services organizations will also be cons
- idered.Demonstrated CFO or senior finance leadership experience supporting organizations with annual revenues of at least $300–$400 million, with strong preference for experience in organizations exceeding $500 million in annual r
- evenue.Extensive experienc
- e with:S-Corporation str
- ucturesGAAP acc
- ountingMulti-entity financial consol
- idationExecutive-level financial re
- portingAudit man
- agementTax strategy and regulatory com
- plianceFAR
- auditsAdvanced financial modeling and analytical capabi
- lities.Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Dynamics financial s
- ystems.Experience developing budgets, forecasts, cash flow models, and scenario an
- alyses.Ability to translate complex financial information into actionable business recommend
- ations.Proven success establishing financial discipline, accountability, and operational improv
- ements.Demonstrated leadership developing and mentoring high-performing finance
- teams.Excellent communication skills with experience presenting to executive leadership and Boards of Dir
- ectors.Experience leading or supporting mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence and integ
- ration.Strong understanding of ESOP compliance, valuation processes, and employee-owner communi
cation.
Key Skills
- RequiredExecutive Financial Le
- adershipFinancial Planning & Analysis (F
- P&A)GAAP Financial R
- eportingAEC & Professional Services Financial Ma
- nagementMulti-Entity Ac
- countingCorporate Go
- vernanceEnterprise Risk Ma
- nagementMergers & Acqu
- isitionsTax Strategy & Co
- mplianceERP & Financial Systems Le
- adershipInternal Controls & Audit Ma
- nagementStrategic Planning & Executive Business Par
tnership
Additional In
- formationRelocation assistance is a
- vailable.Annual performance bonus opportunity o
- f 20–25%.The client is seeking candidates with operating company CFO experience rather than private equity-focused bac
- kgrounds.Strong preference for candidates with AEC industry experience and experience leading finance organizations at comparable reven
ue scale.
