Position: Chief Financial Officer
Location: Springfield, MO
Duration & Type: Full-Time, Monday – Friday; Onsite ** Relocation Required **
Compensation: Competitive base salary & year-end performance bonus. Total rewards include healthcare (medical, dental, vision), PTO policy, matching 401(k), and additional rewards.
Chamberlain Advisors is conducting an executive search seeking a CFO for our direct client, a fast-growing PE-backed beauty supply distributor. As a cornerstone of the executive team, you will report directly to the President and Board of Directors and bring your deep experience providing strategic oversight to support a company’s rapid growth within a beauty distribution/service sector industry. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an experienced finance leader with an entrepreneurial spirit who would be excited to provide finance leadership to scale a company.
Core profile: alignment with following is required to get you in the conversation
- Chief Financial Officer of a PE-backed company: A senior executive that has managed the financial actions of a PE-backed distributor or manufacturing supply company and has ensured monthly, quarterly, and annual consolidated financial reports are accurate and completed in a timely manner. Accountability and strategic oversight of critical finance and accounting division operating functions to include managing cash flow, capital allocations, planning and budgeting, forecasting and analysis, treasury functions, financial integrations, growth and strategic planning.
- VP or Deputy Chief Financial Officer of a PE-backed company: A seasoned finance professional ready to take the next step into a CFO role who has significantly contributed to the financial operations of a PE-backed commercial business services or manufacturing sector company as described above.
Differentiators: these will set you apart in the selection process
- Entrepreneurial spirit and company culture alignment: The ideal candidate should have a strong desire to build, grow, and own the outcomes of a business’s success, with a continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to take a hands-on approach to achieve results quickly. They should have an authentic executive presence and be respected, relatable, and approachable across the organization. The candidate should prioritize team success over individual titles and have experience aligning corporate culture with organizational goals to create a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Accounting, FP&A, and Reporting: The candidate should have CPA-level expertise; a strong background in financial planning, analysis, and accounting is essential. This role encompasses preparing budgets, managing multi-year forecasting, projecting cash flow requirements, fostering banking relationships, and engaging in investor meetings. As the organization's primary financial authority, the candidate will ensure the operational alignment of the accounting and finance functions.
- PE-Backed Company Experience: Previous experience in the intense and fast-paced nature of private equity environments. Key to this role is the ability to work with and report to private equity stakeholders, preparing fit-for-purpose reporting, driving value-creation initiatives with a sense of urgency, capital structures, fundraising, and growth strategies, and building a strong relationship between the company's leaders and its private equity partners.
- People Leadership: Significant experience managing, motivating, and engaging employees in an effort to develop and foster a client focused culture that incorporates the voice-of-customer, and continuously seeks out ways to add value and benefits for the customer. Develops, mentors, and inspires others with a shared vision of success.
- Interpersonal Communication Skills: Candidates who have demonstrated the ability to clearly and concisely communicate, both oral and written, at all levels within an organization. Candidates who listen first, then quickly assess and understand the specific communication needs of their audience, adjusting their communication style and approach to ensure understanding and comprehension.
- Thought Leader, Process Optimization, Strategic Thinking, & Problem Solving: Ideal candidates will have a proven track record of spearheading key business optimization initiatives by utilizing industry best practices. They should be adept at identifying and executing process consolidations, workflow enhancements, and other measures that drive cost savings and elevate operations, service quality, and customer satisfaction.
What you will be accountable for
Executive Leadership
- Acts as the chief finance & accounting expert, extending support to the President, individual business functions, and private equity sponsors, and offering informed recommendations to progress the business.
- Provides technical and financial model support throughout the organization, ensuring all divisions align with the company's overarching vision and mission.
- Leads strategic financial planning and analysis, providing recommendations for Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology departments to optimize operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth.
- Partners with senior management and other company leaders on formulating and driving business strategies and make financial recommendations for various internal business units.
- Focuses on ensuring the firm operates with a continuous improvement and forward-thinking mindset, always prepared for future challenges and opportunities.
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability across the organization.
Accounting Function Leadership
- Sets and drives the accounting vision and objectives, rapidly addressing gaps and advancing processes to align with organizational goals.
- Engages in regular, transparent communication with staff, direct reports, and external stakeholders, focusing on refining administrative and financial processes for scalable growth.
- Collaborates with external auditors, proactively addressing concerns and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Leads the consolidation of accounting functions for newly acquired entities, ensuring seamless integration.
- Manages treasury functions such as cash management, forecasting, and cultivating strong banking relationships.
Financial Strategy & Planning
- Directs annual strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes, ensuring the organization works with updated and accurate financial reporting and KPI assessments.
- Develops and implements comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the company's goals and objectives.
- Conducts financial analysis and forecasting to support informed decision-making and drive business growth.
- Evaluates investment opportunities and risk management strategies to maximize financial performance and shareholder value.
- Monitors actual figures versus budgeted, performs variance analyses, and adjusts forecasts in response.
- Identifies trends for innovation and recommends solutions to gain a competitive edge in the industry.
- Spearheads M&A transactions from inception through post-acquisition integration, providing thorough assessments of financial forecasts, valuation ranges, and all modeling assumptions.
- Shares in-depth strategic insights on business performance, emphasizing P&L, KPIs, and other critical metrics.
- Implements a strategic transfer pricing strategy to optimize tax efficiencies across various entities and states.
What qualifications you need
- Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in accounting or finance. MBA or equivalent work experience is highly desired.
- Certified Public Accountant or other professional designations relevant to the position are a plus.
- Typically, 10 - 15+ years of total experience and progressive career growth, ideally within the Health and Beauty distributor space and within private equity backed organizations.
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience providing leadership and oversight of finance & accounting teams.
- At least 10+ years of budgeting, and financial planning & analysis (FP&A) experience.
- Has led a business through a period of rapid growth driven by M&A.
- Sound judgment and decision-making skills, with the capacity to balance short-term financial goals with long-term sustainability and growth objectives.
- Experience working with private equity backed companies.
- Track record of success aligning the finance function to support strategic growth goals.
About our client
Founded over 32 years ago, Salon Service Group is the nation's largest privately owned professional beauty distributor. It proudly partners exclusively with the Professional Beauty Industry, through salons, spas, and stylists. It has conveniently located, professionally exclusive, wholesale stores representing its independently owned, high-end professional portfolio of haircare brands across its territories. SSG is committed to excellent service, quality products, and strong lifelong partnerships with its customers. Its highest priority is to provide its customers with the tools and support they need for success. If you desire to be with a growing organization, creating a new path of growth and success, and being part of the solution then apply now.
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