The OpportunityThis is a rare opportunity for an accomplished public-company finance executive to build, rather than inherit, a platform of national significance. The Chief Financial Officer will be a true architect of the enterprise: designing the capital strategy that funds an acquisition pipeline, constructing the financial and compliance infrastructure of a defense-trusted manufacturer, and preparing the company for the public markets from day one.
The CFO will operate as the CEO's closest thought partner and as a principal voice with the Board, investors, lenders, and government customers. The mandate spans capital formation, M&A execution and integration, government contract finance, and public-company readiness with direct line of sight to a public listing.
The RoleReporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CFO will lead all aspects of finance and will carry four interlocking mandates:
1. Strategic & Board Partnership- Serve as strategic partner to the CEO and Board on corporate strategy, capital allocation, acquisition prioritization, and long-term value creation.
- Own the financial roadmap that connects today's acquisition pipeline to a planned public market event.
- Institute public-company discipline and culture around Board reporting, forecasting credibility, and enterprise performance management.
2. Capital Formation & Capital Markets- Lead equity and debt financing across the capital structure, including institutional and strategic equity, commercial and structured credit, project finance, and government funding vehicles (e.g., DoD industrial-base programs, Title III, grants, and cooperative agreements).
- Build and manage relationships with institutional investors, lenders, research analysts, auditors, and advisors while positioning the company for the public markets.
- Drive IPO readiness, including audit quality, SOX-caliber internal controls, SEC-ready reporting, equity story development, and investor relations capability.
3. Acquisition & Buy-and-Build Execution- Partner with the CEO to source, evaluate, structure, and close acquisitions; lead valuation, financial due diligence, financing, and negotiation of transaction terms.
- Build the repeatable integration playbook across finance, accounting, treasury, ERP, reporting, and KPIs that converts a portfolio of acquired businesses into one company.
- Standardize financial processes while protecting the technical talent, customer relationships, and program execution of acquired businesses; identify, quantify, and deliver synergies.
4. Financial & Government-Contract Infrastructure- Lead strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, treasury, cash management, financial reporting, tax, and compliance for a multi-site advanced manufacturing enterprise.
- Build the government contract finance backbone, including FAR/DFARS compliance, CAS-compliant cost accounting, DCAA/DCMA audit readiness, indirect rate structures, and pricing across cost-type, fixed-price, and OTA vehicles.
- Scale financial systems, controls, and a high-performing finance team ahead of growth, acquisitions, and manufacturing expansion.
Measures of Success - First 12 to 18 Months- Capital in place. A financing strategy designed and executed that fully funds the near-term acquisition pipeline and operating plan on favorable terms.
- Transactions closed and integrated. Two or more acquisitions diligenced, closed, and operating on a common financial platform, with synergy targets quantified and tracked.
- One company, one set of numbers. Consolidated monthly close, unified ERP/reporting roadmap, and Board-grade KPIs across all operating units.
- Government-trusted infrastructure. DCAA-audit-ready cost accounting and compliant indirect rate structures supporting competitive bids on DoD programs.
- Public-company readiness on track. Audit, controls, governance, and reporting maturing on a defined path to IPO with credibility established among institutional investors and the Board.
- The team built. A scalable finance organization with strong leaders in controllership, FP&A, government contract finance, and M&A integration.
The CandidateWe are seeking a sitting or recent CFO (or equivalently seasoned public-company senior finance officer) who combines capital markets sophistication with the operating grit of deeply technical, manufacturing-intensive businesses serving the Department of Defense.
Strongly Preferred Experience- Public-company experience. Officer-level experience as CFO or as a direct report to the CFO of a publicly traded company, with ownership of SEC reporting, SOX compliance, earnings processes, and investor relations.
- Capital markets execution. A track record of raising institutional capital and executing capital markets transactions such as an IPO or de-SPAC, follow-on equity offerings, private placements, and/or syndicated or structured debt.
- Hard-tech operating experience. Senior finance leadership in a deeply technical, engineering-driven business in photonics, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, aerospace systems, or comparable hard-tech industries, with fluency in manufacturing economics, yield, capacity investment, and long product development cycles.
- Defense and government contracting. Experience in a defense contractor or a business with a substantial DoD or U.S. Government customer base, including working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, CAS cost accounting, DCAA/DCMA audits, indirect rates, and government contract types.
- M&A leadership. Hands-on leadership of acquisitions from valuation and diligence through structuring, financing, closing, and post-acquisition integration, ideally within a roll-up, platform, or buy-and-build strategy.
- Public company transition. Experience taking a company public or serving as CFO during the first years operating as a public company.
- Federal R&D programs. Exposure to DARPA, AFRL, DOE, NASA, or similar federal R&D contracting environments, including experience supporting SBIR/STTR-to-program-of-record transitions.
- Systems integration. Experience integrating multiple acquired businesses onto a common ERP platform and financial control environment.
- National security regulatory expertise. Familiarity with regulatory frameworks affecting defense and national security businesses, including CFIUS, ITAR/EAR, and FOCI mitigation.
- Security clearance eligibility. U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Leadership Competencies & Personal Attributes- Builder's mindset. Energized by creating infrastructure, teams, and playbooks rather than maintaining them.
- Commercial judgment with financial discipline. Knows when to move at deal speed and when to slow down for compliance and audit integrity.
- Executive presence. Credibility in the boardroom and on the shop floor, with the ability to communicate with equal fluency to institutional investors, government customers, and engineers.
- Low ego, high ownership. Thrives as a true partner to a founder/CEO in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.
- Uncompromising integrity. Befitting a steward of investor capital and a trusted partner to the U.S. Government.
Education & Credentials- Education. Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.
- Experience. 15+ years of progressive financial leadership, including executive-level responsibility.
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