Strategic Finance and Accounting Leader
Position SummaryThe VP Finance and Accounting will play a critical leadership role across the organization, partnering closely with ownership, operations, and sales leadership to guide financial strategy and business performance. In a small company environment, this individual must be comfortable operating both strategically and tactically - overseeing core accounting functions while also driving high-level business planning, profitability initiatives, and operational decision-making.
Approximately 20% of the role will focus on accounting oversight and financial reporting, while the majority of responsibilities will center on strategic finance, operational partnership, cash flow management, and executive leadership.
This individual must possess strong business judgment, leadership presence, and the confidence to challenge decisions, control spending, and provide candid financial guidance when necessary.
Key Responsibilities
Accounting & Financial Leadership (20%)
- Lead and manage the monthly close process
- Oversee preparation of monthly financial statements and management reporting
- Ensure timely, accurate, and reliable financial reporting
- Maintain financial controls and reporting integrity
- Oversee cash management and monitor company financial health
- Support payroll, HR administration, and financial systems/process improvements as needed
Strategic Finance & Business Partnership (70%+)
- Serve as a strategic advisor to ownership and leadership team on growth, profitability, and operational strategy
- Build annual budgets, forecasts, and financial models to support business planning
- Analyze sales trends, margins, and operating performance to identify opportunities for improvement
- Develop actionable recommendations to maximize profitability and improve operational efficiency
- Drive cash flow management and financial planning initiatives
- Establish KPIs and performance metrics to monitor revenue, margins, and business performance
- Help prioritize organizational initiatives and create focused execution plans to achieve company goals
- Partner closely with sales leadership to ensure financial discipline and margin accountability
- Evaluate business opportunities, investments, hiring decisions, and spending initiatives through a financial lens
- Identify operational and financial risks and implement mitigation strategies
- Provide direct, candid, and data-driven feedback to ownership and leadership team
- Operate as a true business partner focused on driving long-term company value
Desired Background & Experience - 10+ years of progressive finance/accounting leadership experience
- Prior experience as a CFO, Head of Finance, VP Finance, or senior finance leader within a small to mid-sized company
- Experience in wholesale distribution required
- Experience working in entrepreneurial or privately held businesses with revenues between $10M-$50M strongly preferred
- Combination of large company training and small company leadership experience is highly valued
- Strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and operational finance
- Demonstrated ability to influence leadership decisions and drive accountability
- Bachelor`s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required
- CPA and/or MBA preferred
Ideal Candidate Profile - Mature, confident, and business-oriented finance leader
- Comfortable saying "no" and challenging ideas when appropriate
- Commands respect through credibility, communication, and financial insight
- Able to deliver difficult financial realities professionally and constructively
- Strong backbone with the ability to hold departments accountable for spending and profitability
- Strategic thinker who operates as a trusted advisor to ownership
- Hands-on leader willing to operate both strategically and tactically
- Forward-thinking, operationally minded, and focused on continuous improvement
What Success Looks Like - Improved profitability and margin performance
- Stronger cash flow visibility and financial discipline
- Better alignment between finance, sales, and operations
- Clear KPI reporting and improved business decision-making
- Enhanced operational efficiency and accountability across the organization
- A finance function that actively drives strategy, growth, and long-term business value rather than simply reporting results
