Chief Financial Officer

COMPANY:
Private equity-backed specialty packaging business.

REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:
This position will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and oversee a team of accounting and finance professionals across multiple domestic and international sites.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:
As a key business partner to the CEO, the CFO serves as a member of the senior leadership team and is responsible for all financial, accounting, and analytical support across the organization. In addition, the CFO is expected to partner with the CEO and private equity sponsor to define and execute the company’s value creation plan, with direct accountability for EBITDA growth, cash generation, and enterprise value enhancement.

Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

Define and gain approval, alongside the senior leadership team, for the company’s annual business plan, operating budget, and capital budget as a function of the strategic plan and current priorities; measure and manage ongoing performance against those budgets.
Partner with the CEO and private equity sponsor to execute the company’s value creation plan, with accountability for EBITDA growth, cash generation, and enterprise value creation.

Drive the rapid build-out of a best-in-class, standalone finance infrastructure post carve-out, replacing legacy shared services with scalable systems, processes, and controls to enable full operational independence and value creation.
Lead integration and optimization of financial reporting platforms to enable scalability, integration of add-on acquisitions, and real-time performance visibility.

Work closely with the senior leadership team, the private equity firm, and the board on add-on acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.
Lead financial preparation for a future transaction, including quality of earnings readiness, data-room development, and coordination with advisors.
Play a central role in transaction execution, including buyer diligence, negotiations, and closing processes.

Lead all aspects of internal and external financial reporting, including reporting to executives, the board, lenders, and investors, as well as oversight of the annual audit.
Lead enterprise-wide FP&A, including budgeting, forecasting, and KPI development (including development of a live “data cube”); deliver actionable insights on performance, profitability, and cash flow to drive decision making.
Lead identification and monitoring of financial and operational risks and controls and develop strategies to mitigate those risks.
Direct the treasury function, including interest rate hedging, capital structure management, debt financing (in partnership with the private equity sponsor), and covenant compliance.
Manage lender reporting compliance and deliverables including compliance certificates, financial covenants, leverage, and excess cash flow calculations under the credit facility.
Oversee tax compliance and planning in conjunction with external advisors, ensuring timely and accurate filings while optimizing tax efficiency.
Own the company’s insurance program, including property, casualty, product liability, D&O, cyber, and employee benefits, working with broker and head of HR to oversee policy maintenance and claims management.

Partner with commercial leadership to drive pricing strategy, margin expansion, and customer profitability analytics, including contract structuring and long-term agreement evaluation.
Drive operational finance, including cost accounting, inventory management, and plant-level performance analytics to improve efficiency and margins.
Drive optimization of net working capital, including receivables, payables, inventory, and supplier terms.
Lead capital allocation decisions, ensuring disciplined ROI on capital expenditures.

Partner closely with the senior leadership team to advise and present to the board of directors.
Develop, mentor, and hire as needed to build a high-performing finance organization and strengthen succession depth.
Instill a culture of accountability and performance across the organization.

REQUIREMENTS:

15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, including as a CFO of a standalone private equity-backed multisite industrial or manufacturing business of significant size.
Demonstrated track record of partnering with CEOs and private equity sponsors to drive enterprise value creation, including EBITDA growth, cash flow improvement, and execution of a formal value creation plan leading to a successful exit.
Experience leading finance through a carve-out, TSA/SLA separation, or standalone transition, including building scalable finance infrastructure, ERP systems, reporting, and internal controls is preferred but not required.

Strong operational finance background in a manufacturing or industrial environment, including cost accounting, inventory management, plant-level performance management, and capital allocation.
Experience managing financials of a global business, including local statutory reporting, multicurrency consolidation, transfer pricing, etc.
Considerable experience and understanding of US GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting; IFRS experience is preferred but not required.
Proven experience leading M&A activities, including due diligence, valuation, and integration of add-on acquisitions in a private equity-backed or growth-oriented environment.
Strong commercial finance acumen, with experience supporting pricing strategy, margin expansion, customer profitability analysis, and contract structuring.
Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing finance teams, including FP&A, accounting, treasury, and systems functions.
Highly analytical and commercially oriented leader with a bias toward action, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making; able to translate financial insight into operational and strategic action.

Strong communication and influencing skills with experience presenting to boards, private equity sponsors, lenders, and executive leadership teams.
Experience leading a business and financial organization through a sale (exit) process, including preparation of sell-side QofE, data cube, marketing materials, and buyer due diligence.
Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting required; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred.

COMPENSATION:
Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, annual bonus, equity opportunity, and competitive benefits package.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
For more information, please contact:

Jonas Hedin, Managing Partner
jhedin@CLCBsearch.com
704-377-0362
Coleman Lew Canny Bowen