Company Overview
Our client is an established, private equity-backed manufacturing company with multiple operating locations across the United States. The organization is focused on accelerating profitable growth, strengthening operational performance, and building the infrastructure necessary to support continued expansion, strategic acquisitions, and long-term enterprise value creation.
We are conducting a search for an accomplished Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the executive leadership team and play a critical role in the company's next phase of growth.
Position Summary
The Chief Financial Officer will serve as a strategic business partner to the CEO, Board of Directors, and Private Equity ownership group, with executive responsibility for the company's Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology functions.
This executive will be instrumental in driving financial performance, operational excellence, organizational scalability, and shareholder value creation. Beyond traditional financial leadership, the CFO will provide oversight of key corporate shared services, strengthen business processes, and establish the financial and operational infrastructure required to support continued growth, acquisitions, and a future liquidity event.
The ideal candidate is a commercially minded, hands-on financial executive with a strong manufacturing background, demonstrated success in private equity-backed environments, and the ability to operate effectively at both strategic and tactical levels.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Corporate Strategy
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, executive leadership team, and Private Equity sponsors.
- Develop and execute financial and business strategies that accelerate profitability, cash flow, and enterprise value creation.
- Provide executive leadership across Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, and Corporate Administration.
- Partner with operational leadership to improve business performance across five manufacturing locations.
- Support strategic acquisitions, business integrations, organizational transformation, and preparation for a future liquidity event.
Financial Leadership & Performance
- Oversee all accounting, financial reporting, treasury, tax, audit, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
- Drive EBITDA improvement, working capital optimization, cash flow generation, and gross margin expansion.
- Establish robust financial reporting, forecasting, and KPI systems that improve visibility into business performance.
- Develop profitability analysis by customer, product, business unit, and manufacturing location.
- Manage banking relationships, capital structure, debt facilities, and financial risk.
- Provide financial analysis supporting pricing strategies, capital investments, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Lead financial due diligence, acquisition modeling, integration planning, and transaction readiness.
Private Equity & Board Relations
- Serve as the primary financial liaison with Private Equity sponsors, Board members, lenders, and external stakeholders.
- Prepare and present monthly financial reporting packages, operating performance reviews, and strategic business updates.
- Develop financial models and business plans supporting long-term value creation and potential exit strategies.
- Establish financial discipline, accountability, and transparency throughout the organization.
Human Resources & Organizational Leadership
- Provide executive oversight of the Human Resources function, ensuring alignment between workforce strategy and business objectives.
- Partner with HR leadership on organizational development, succession planning, leadership development, and talent management.
- Oversee compensation structures, incentive programs, benefits strategies, and workforce planning.
- Drive initiatives that improve employee engagement, retention, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.
- Support change management and organizational integration associated with acquisitions and business growth.
- Establish HR performance metrics and ensure compliance with employment regulations.
Information Technology & Digital Transformation
- Provide executive oversight of Information Technology, including ERP systems, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and business applications.
- Develop and execute a technology roadmap aligned with operational objectives and long-term business growth.
- Lead ERP implementations, upgrades, and system optimization initiatives.
- Promote the adoption of business intelligence, automation, AI, and advanced analytics to improve operational decision-making.
- Oversee cybersecurity governance, disaster recovery, business continuity, and technology risk management.
- Evaluate technology investments that enhance productivity, financial visibility, and organizational scalability.
Operational Excellence & Manufacturing Performance
- Partner closely with Operations and Supply Chain leadership to improve manufacturing efficiency and profitability.
- Drive improvements in inventory management, inventory turns, labor productivity, and working capital.
- Establish operational KPIs and reporting systems that provide greater visibility across manufacturing locations.
- Support Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Strengthen financial accountability and performance management throughout the organization.
Leadership & Organizational Development
- Build, mentor, and develop high-performing Finance, HR, and IT leadership teams.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability across corporate shared services.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
- Develop scalable processes, systems, and organizational structures to support continued growth.
Candidate Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- CPA strongly preferred; MBA or advanced business degree desirable.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive finance and executive leadership experience.
- Previous experience as a CFO, VP of Finance, or senior financial executive within a multi-site manufacturing organization.
- Demonstrated experience working with Private Equity sponsors, Board members, and executive leadership teams strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to drive EBITDA growth, improve cash flow, optimize working capital, and strengthen financial performance.
- Experience providing executive oversight of Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology functions.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing finance, cost accounting, inventory management, and operational performance metrics.
- Demonstrated success implementing ERP systems, improving financial reporting, and building scalable business processes.
- Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, business integrations, and organizational transformation.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial information into actionable business strategies.
- Hands-on, collaborative leadership style with the ability to operate in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.
Key Measures of Success
Success in this position will be measured through:
- EBITDA growth and margin improvement
- Cash flow generation and working capital optimization
- Financial reporting accuracy and forecasting effectiveness
- Improved manufacturing and operational performance
- ERP optimization and technology modernization
- Organizational development, employee retention, and leadership effectiveness
- Successful acquisition integration and business scalability
- Strong relationships with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Private Equity sponsors
- Long-term enterprise value creation and readiness for a future liquidity event
