Help Shape the Future of an Industry-Leading Design Firm
This is more than a finance leadership role—it's an opportunity to help guide the future of one of the Northeast's most respected architecture and engineering firms.
BerryDunn has partnered with our client, SMRT, to find a strategic, growth-minded Director of Finance to work closely with our President and leadership team as we build on more than 140 years of success. If you're energized by influencing business strategy, evaluating growth opportunities, leading mergers and acquisitions, and helping an established firm evolve into its next chapter, we'd love to talk with you.
You'll have a seat at the leadership table, where your insights will directly influence major business decisions, financial strategy, operational performance, and long-term growth. This is a highly visible position for a finance executive who enjoys looking beyond the numbers to help shape an organization's future.
Whether identifying acquisition opportunities, improving financial performance, mentoring a small but mighty accounting team, or partnering with project leaders across the firm, you'll play a meaningful role in the continued success of a company known for innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.
About SMRT
Founded in 1884, SMRT is a multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm specializing in the design of complex, sustainable, and high-performing environments throughout the United States, with a strong presence across the Northeast.
Our clients bring us their most challenging projects—tight schedules, ambitious goals, and technically complex environments—and our collaborative teams consistently deliver thoughtful, innovative solutions. We build lasting relationships because we solve problems, communicate openly, and deliver results.
Just as importantly, we invest in our people. We foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth, providing opportunities for our employees to expand their expertise while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.
With a strong financial foundation, an outstanding reputation, and an ambitious strategic vision, SMRT is well-positioned for continued expansion.
You Will:
Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Finance is a key member of the executive leadership team and a strategic partner in shaping the firm's future. This leader will have broad responsibility for the organization's financial health while helping translate its vision and growth ambitions into actionable business strategies.
This is more than a traditional finance leadership role. The Director of Finance will bring a forward-looking perspective to the business—providing the financial insight, analysis, and discipline needed to evaluate growth opportunities, improve enterprise performance, allocate resources effectively, and strengthen long-term value. Working closely with the President, Board, shareholders, and operational leaders, this individual will help guide the firm through its next phase of growth, including evaluating and executing mergers, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and other expansion opportunities.
The successful candidate will be both a strategic business advisor and a hands-on financial leader—someone who can move comfortably between the boardroom and the details of the business, challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, and turn financial information into decisions that drive performance.
Strategic Leadership & Business Growth
- Partner with the President, Board, and executive leadership team to shape and execute the firm's long-term business and financial strategy.
- Serve as a trusted financial and strategic advisor, bringing an objective, enterprise-wide perspective to decisions involving growth, investments, organizational structure, and resource allocation.
- Develop financial models, forecasts, scenarios, and business cases that enable leadership to evaluate strategic alternatives and make informed decisions.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen profitability, scalability, operational performance, and long-term enterprise value.
- Evaluate opportunities for geographic expansion, new services, strategic partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and other growth initiatives.
- Lead the financial evaluation and valuation of potential acquisitions, including modeling, scenario analysis, return-on-investment assessments, and risk evaluation.
- Direct financial due diligence, coordinate external advisors, and partner with leadership and legal counsel through negotiations and transaction execution.
- Develop financial integration strategies and establish performance measures to assess the success of acquisitions and other major investments.
- Monitor economic conditions, industry trends, competitive dynamics, and other external factors to identify emerging opportunities and risks.
- Help establish meaningful financial and business metrics that provide leadership with a clear view of organizational performance and progress against strategic objectives.
Financial Strategy & Stewardship
- Provide overall leadership for the firm's financial strategy, ensuring financial resources are aligned with strategic priorities and long-term objectives.
- Oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial modeling, and long-range financial planning.
- Develop and maintain a forward-looking financial planning process that helps leadership anticipate opportunities, challenges, and capital requirements.
- Deliver insightful financial reporting and analysis to the President, Board, and executive leadership, emphasizing trends, implications, and recommended actions rather than simply historical results.
- Establish and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and risk management practices that support sustainable growth.
- Lead the annual audit process and oversee tax planning and compliance activities.
- Manage banking relationships, financing activities, treasury functions, and the firm's overall capital strategy.
- Oversee enterprise risk management, insurance programs, and multi-state corporate licensure.
- Review significant contracts and partner with outside legal counsel on financial, transactional, and business matters.
- Ensure the firm's financial infrastructure, systems, and processes can effectively support continued growth and increasing organizational complexity.
Business Performance & Partnership
- Partner with project and operational leaders to improve project economics, utilization, pricing, resource allocation, and profitability.
- Help leaders understand the financial drivers of their businesses and identify opportunities to improve performance.
- Establish a culture of financial accountability while ensuring financial considerations are integrated into broader business decisions.
- Translate complex financial information into clear business insights, recommendations, and actions for both financial and non-financial leaders.
- Collaborate with shareholders and senior leaders on business planning, investment decisions, compensation considerations, and other matters that affect the firm's long-term performance.
- Partner with Human Resources in overseeing payroll, retirement plans, employee benefits, and other areas where financial and people strategies intersect.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, technology, and organizational efficiency.
Team & Organizational Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a lean, high-performing accounting team.
- Build a finance function that is viewed as a strategic resource and business partner throughout the organization.
- Develop the capabilities, systems, and processes needed to support the firm's continued evolution and growth.
- Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, reporting, processes, and organizational efficiency.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful monthly financial close and reporting processes.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented culture within the finance function and across the organization.
You Bring
- A relevant bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field, with 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic financial leadership, preferably within a professional services environment.
- Demonstrated experience serving as a strategic business partner to a President, CEO, Board, or executive leadership team.
- A track record of helping organizations develop and execute growth strategies, improve profitability, and strengthen overall business performance.
- Demonstrated success leading mergers and acquisitions, including financial modeling, valuation, due diligence, transaction support, and post-acquisition integration.
- Strong executive presence and the ability to influence, challenge, and advise senior leaders while building trust across the organization.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to move from financial data to strategic insight and action.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to make complex financial and business concepts accessible and actionable for non-financial audiences.
- A collaborative, pragmatic leadership style and demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams.
- Experience leading financial systems, process improvement, and technology initiatives in a growing organization.
- CPA or other relevant professional credential is beneficial.
- Advanced proficiency with financial systems and Microsoft Office; Deltek Vantagepoint experience is a plus.
Why Join SMRT?
Joining SMRT means becoming part of a firm with an exceptional reputation, a collaborative culture, and a clear vision for the future. Here, your work won't be confined to the finance department—you'll help influence company strategy, evaluate transformative growth opportunities, and make decisions that shape the future of the organization.
In return, we offer:
- Competitive compensation package
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and community service time
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance
- 401(k) with automatic company contribution
- Tuition and professional education assistance
- Flexible work environment
- A collaborative leadership team that values new ideas, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Significant opportunity for professional growth and long-term career advancement
At SMRT, we believe great ideas come from collaboration, curiosity, and empowered leaders. If you're looking for an opportunity where your financial expertise can influence strategy, drive growth, and leave a lasting impact on an outstanding organization, we'd welcome the opportunity to meet you.
Pay: $180,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Portland, ME 04101
