Finatal is partnered with a middle market private equity fund ($7bn AUM) on a CFO search for an environmental services portfolio based out of California. It was acquired 2.5 years ago by PE after an excellent period of growth driven by a large recurring customer based. The business generates $100m revenue and is made up of 14 branches across 6 states. As the business enters the second half of its investment cycle, an excellent CFO is required to upscale and professionalize the current framework, lead on the remaining M&A strategy and prepare for the eventual exit. The desired candidate will have strong cash management, be super commercial across all business functions and have strong PE experience. This candidate must be willing to be in California.
Key focus areas:
- Oversee end-to-end function for multidivisional lines of business and branches, including strategic finance, treasury, accounting, FP&A, tax, and reporting.
- Develop and maintain a culture of accountability. Oversee the buildout of a unique finance and accounting organizational design to match the growth and needs
- In partnership with the CEO, shape strategic direction of the company and in the identification and execution of investments (both organic & M&A).
- Develop, manage, and direct the company’s long-term financial plans and performance drivers. Maintaining a strong handle on current actions that have future implications for success.
- Ability to course correct as needed to ensure structure and commercial agreements minimize risks while optimizing financial return.
- Manage the relationship with the Board and Private Equity Partners. Keep this group fully abreast of developments and issues and engage the Board in discussion and decision-making related to all M&A integration activities.
- Develop and lead the company’s strategic financial planning (FP&A) and annual budget process, including the consolidation and preparation of the monthly financial reporting package.
- Implement and scale financial reporting systems aligned with the growth and increasing complexity of the organization.
- Deliver high value-added operational KPI and financial analyses for internal (executives and Board) and external (lenders) stakeholders to drive strategic planning and decision-making.
- Be willing to get out in the field, “roll-up the sleeves” and strengthen relationships with existing customers as well as new customers and channels.
- Drive best practices and processes across the organization based on a strong foundation of analytics and metrics.
- Develop, implement, and ensure compliance with internal financial and accounting policies and procedures while preparing the company to scale for growth.
- Embedding a culture of integrity, ethics and transparency. Earn the respect of his or her peers, subordinates, and superiors for his or her integrity, ethics, moral compass, and ability to set a standard for their leadership to follow.
Professional Experience & Qualifications:
- Experience as a strategic, innovative, and disciplined financial/business leader, ideally in a multi-site or services business.
- Experience in a leveraged environment is preferred. Extremely skilled at cash management.
- Turnaround or restructuring experience is a plus.
- Experience as a successful CFO within a private equity portfolio company with a foundation in accounting and operational finance is desired. Candidates with executive leadership experience as a “#2” finance leader will also be considered.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to appreciate commercial strategies, operational processes, technology, and leadership in a distributed field structure across regions and state territories.
- Ability to attract, mentor and retain financial talent. Experience building, developing and leading high-quality teams with a reputation of working cross-collaboratively at all levels of an organization.
- Team player who uses data to drive continuous performance improvement and is a respected and trusted partner to senior management.
- Experience executing best-in-class process improvement disciplines to optimize business results.
- Command of financial concepts, including accounting, cash management, budgeting, revenue recognition, cost accounting, activity-based costing, financial modeling, and forecasting.
- Driven and humble. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Can champion and sell ideas both internally and externally.
- Able to “get hands dirty” and can also articulate a vision. Driven to see tangible results and collaborate with others to drive them.
- An undergraduate degree in accounting, finance or related discipline is required. MBA or CPA is desirable.