Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Position: Chief Financial Officer
Reports To: Board of Directors
Works Closely With: Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, External Auditors, Banking Partners, Tax Advisors, and Legal Counsel
Location: Sarasota, Florida 34243
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the companys financial strategy, accounting, financial reporting, risk management, and financial operations.
The CFO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and will be responsible for ensuring the company maintains a strong financial foundation while supporting continued growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation.
Because we are subject to an independent third-party financial audit, the CFO will have significant responsibility for maintaining accurate financial records, effective internal controls, audit readiness, and a strong working relationship with the companys external auditors.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on financial leader who combines strong technical accounting and financial management skills with sound business judgment and the ability to translate financial information into clear, actionable recommendations for the CEO, executive team, and Board.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership
- Develop and execute the companys financial strategy in alignment with its overall business objectives.
- Serve as a strategic business partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
- Provide financial analysis, insight, and recommendations to support major business decisions.
- Lead long-term financial planning and establish financial objectives that support sustainable growth and profitability.
- Evaluate strategic opportunities, investments, acquisitions, capital expenditures, and other major financial decisions.
- Identify financial risks and opportunities and proactively recommend appropriate courses of action.
- Promote a culture of financial accountability, transparency, and disciplined decision-making throughout the organization.
Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Oversee all accounting and financial reporting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, and month-end and year-end close processes.
- Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial records and financial statements.
- Establish and maintain appropriate accounting policies, procedures, and reporting standards.
- Ensure financial reporting is prepared in accordance with applicable accounting principles and company policies.
- Develop meaningful financial reports and dashboards that provide management with clear visibility into business performance.
- Continuously improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of the companys accounting and finance processes.
Annual Third-Party Audit
- Serve as the primary executive contact for the companys independent third-party auditors.
- Lead and coordinate the annual financial statement audit process.
- Ensure the company is fully prepared for audit fieldwork, including timely preparation of schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and management representations.
- Maintain organized and comprehensive financial documentation to support the audit process.
- Work proactively with auditors to address accounting questions, unusual transactions, estimates, and other areas requiring professional judgment.
- Review audit findings and recommendations with management and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
- Monitor and resolve control deficiencies or other issues identified through the audit process.
- Maintain a strong, professional, and collaborative relationship with the companys external audit firm.
- Ensure management is prepared to communicate significant accounting, financial, and audit matters to the CEO and Board.
Internal Controls & Risk Management
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve effective financial and operational internal controls.
- Ensure appropriate segregation of duties, approval processes, reconciliations, and financial safeguards are in place.
- Regularly assess financial and operational risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Monitor compliance with company policies and applicable accounting, tax, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure timely remediation of internal control deficiencies and audit recommendations.
- Protect company assets and establish appropriate controls over cash, receivables, inventory, equipment, and other significant assets.
- Partner with leadership to identify opportunities to reduce financial and operational risk.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning
- Lead the annual budgeting process and develop the companys long-range financial plan.
- Develop and maintain accurate financial forecasts and financial models.
- Monitor actual results against budget and forecast and provide meaningful variance analysis.
- Establish appropriate financial and operational KPIs.
- Provide management with forward-looking analysis regarding revenue, expenses, profitability, cash flow, and capital requirements.
- Develop scenario analyses to help leadership understand the financial impact of major business decisions.
- Continuously improve forecasting accuracy and financial visibility.
Cash Flow & Treasury Management
- Develop strategies to optimize cash flow and working capital.
- Maintain appropriate liquidity to support ongoing operations and growth initiatives.
- Oversee cash management, banking relationships, and treasury activities.
- Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, and other working-capital drivers.
- Evaluate financing requirements and recommend appropriate financing strategies.
- Maintain strong relationships with banks, lenders, and other financial institutions.
Tax & External Advisors
- Oversee the companys tax planning, compliance, and reporting activities.
- Manage relationships with external tax advisors, auditors, legal counsel, banking partners, and other professional service providers.
- Ensure timely and accurate filing of required tax returns and other financial obligations.
- Identify opportunities for appropriate tax planning and financial optimization.
Board & Executive Reporting
- Prepare and present financial results, forecasts, budgets, and strategic financial analyses to the CEO and Board of Directors.
- Clearly communicate financial performance, risks, opportunities, and significant accounting matters.
- Provide the Board with appropriate information regarding the companys financial position, liquidity, profitability, controls, and audit results.
- Ensure significant financial and accounting matters are escalated appropriately.
Team Leadership
- Lead, develop, and mentor the companys finance and accounting team.
- Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability within the finance function.
- Recruit and retain high-performing finance professionals as the organization grows.
- Develop a finance organization capable of supporting the companys current needs and future growth.
- Promote professionalism, accuracy, integrity, and continuous improvement within the finance function.
Systems & Process Improvement
- Evaluate and improve accounting, financial planning, reporting, and business intelligence systems.
- Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement.
- Ensure financial systems provide reliable, timely, and actionable information to management.
- Lead or support implementation and optimization of ERP and other financial technology platforms.
- Establish scalable financial processes that can support future growth.
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
- CPA, MBA, or other advanced financial credential preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, with significant senior-level leadership experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading or managing an independent third-party financial audit.
- Strong knowledge of financial reporting, accounting principles, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and internal controls.
- Proven experience developing and implementing financial strategies.
- Experience managing and developing accounting and finance teams.
- Strong understanding of audit processes, financial controls, and risk management.
- Experience working directly with external auditors, tax professionals, banking institutions, and other financial advisors.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial executives and Board members.
- High level of integrity, discretion, accountability, and professional judgment.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA designation.
- Experience as CFO, Controller, VP of Finance, or equivalent senior financial leadership position.
- Experience in a privately held, growth-oriented organization.
- Experience with annual audited financial statements.
- Experience strengthening internal controls and preparing organizations for successful audits.
- Experience with mergers and acquisitions, debt financing, equity transactions, or other significant corporate transactions.
- Experience implementing or upgrading ERP and financial reporting systems.
- Experience building finance and accounting functions in a growing organization.
- Industry experience in manufacturing.
Key Performance Indicators for Success
The successful CFO will be expected to:
- Maintain accurate, timely, and reliable financial reporting.
- Deliver a well-organized and efficient annual third-party audit process.
- Maintain strong internal financial controls and promptly address identified deficiencies.
- Improve cash flow, working capital, and overall financial performance.
- Provide accurate and actionable budgets, forecasts, and financial analysis.
- Establish clear financial KPIs and improve management visibility into business performance.
- Support profitable and sustainable company growth.
- Develop a high-performing finance and accounting team.
- Strengthen financial systems, processes, and controls as the company grows.
- Serve as a trusted and strategic advisor to the CEO, executive team, and Board.
- Maintain the highest standards of financial integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
Leadership Profile
The ideal CFO will be:
Strategic Able to see beyond the numbers and understand how financial decisions affect the entire business.
Analytical Able to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and the financial implications of business decisions.
Operational Willing and able to get into the details when necessary while maintaining an executive-level perspective.
Audit-Minded Disciplined about financial controls, documentation, accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness.
Commercially Focused Understands that finance is not simply a reporting function, but a critical partner in growing and improving the business.
Communicative Able to explain complex financial information clearly to executives, employees, Board members, auditors, and other stakeholders.
Ethical & Accountable Demonstrates exceptional integrity, discretion, independence, and professional judgment.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive executive compensation package
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plan
- Paid time off and holidays
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and professional workplace. We consider qualified candidates without regard to legally protected characteristics.
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