CFO
$400-450k plus bonus/LTI
Dallas, TX - relocation assistance provided
Our client, a $500m+ global manufacturer, has engaged Bell to recruit their next CFO. The company is privately held with a strong balance sheet and and not highly leveraged.
Key traits of the CFO:
Commercial Orientation: Proactively supporting the businesses with financial information and analysis, and business intelligence to support and ensure quality commercial decisions and pricing. Develop and monitor operational metrics relating to the achievement of business objectives. Positively impact commercial relationships through visibility, transparency and relationship building with customers. Capital management as it relates to commercial activity is also a key attribute sought in the successful candidate.
Finance and Control: Oversee the progressive review of finance and control functions on a worldwide basis to ensure consistency and efficiency. Drive the financial strategy and ensure the sound financial foundation and performance of the company through the ongoing development, management and monitoring of appropriate financial controls and systems.
Partnership with the Operating and Other Functional Divisions: Work with the heads of the regional divisions to ensure finance is integral to the management of their businesses – directly influencing decisions related to revenue, margin and cash generation initiatives to ensure the company is delivering on its commitments and driving enterprise value. Provide guidance and assist in cross-divisional initiatives.
Information Technology: Partner with the CIO andprovide leadership interface to the IT function. This includes a strategy for working through various ERP and reporting systems and achieving appropriate synergies.
Talent Management and Development: Lead, manage, recruit, retain and develop an expert finance team, consistently improving the level of talent in the division to support the advancement of the overall business and executive succession planning. Ensure that the culture promotes team and global orientation, proactivity, and excellence through continuous improvement.
Tax: Oversee the tax function including tax planning, compliance, tax accounting and audit, and interface with external tax regulators and advisors. The management of post-tax profits and effective tax rates in this global environment is of utmost importance. The management of local tax districts and the financial implication is a direct responsibility of the CFO.
Candidate Profile
This is a role for a seasoned, business-oriented finance executive with a minimum of 15 years of relevant financial, accounting, audit, treasury, tax, risk management and/or operations experience gained within comparably complex, global organizations. This person will bring agility and a high level of success and comfort in navigating a changing landscape.
Successful candidates will be highly accountable for company performance and will be a collaborative, adaptable leader with a passion for operational and commercial optimization. S/he must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and be energized by working as an integral part of a hands-on leadership team. The candidate will possess an unimpeachable reputation for integrity. The candidate sought must combine sophistication and judgment with strong risk management and detail orientation.
S/he must be comfortable and committed to delving into the details of specific issues and processes, while being able to maintain a perspective on the larger picture. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of driving improvement and lead the finance function to world-class standards. S/he will be experienced in identifying critical issues and opportunities within the finance function and ensuring the necessary experience, specialized technical capability, access to resources and independent authority are in position to advance the company’s reputation, business plans and financial performance. S/he will need to partner closely and supportively with the executive team, and yet constructively challenge thinking so the company achieves its operational and commercial performance objectives.
Two key personal attributes:
- Cultural dexterity; the incoming CFO needs to be able to adapt to a well-established culture with a legacy of cost control and a “get it done” mindset, the CFO needs to be able to adapt to a unique culture and operating ethos reporting to an HQ / Board of Directors outside of US.
- Self-starter mindset; the industry is unique, complex, and fast-paced. With a demanding customer base and a complex global business framework to manage, the CFO will need to quickly and comprehensively “learn the ropes” of the business, its drivers, stress points, and opportunities in a truncated timeframe to be effective.
The successful candidate will be a results-driven go-getter. The company is a global, results-driven, cost-oriented and efficient business which requires a financial leader who knows the entire business from inside to out.
In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:
Group Financial Direction
- The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization, not only for the areas s/he is directly responsible for, but the enterprise as a whole.
- The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.
- An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.
- The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
Executing for Results
- The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
- A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks.
- A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in his/her approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always considering what is best for the organization.
Leading Teams
- The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
- The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
- A leader who is self-reflective and aware of his/her own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.
Relationships and Influence
- Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
- An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in his/her beliefs, and active drive.
- Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
- Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond his/her own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.
