COMPANY INFORMATION

Our client is a well-established, founder-led professional services organization that partners with businesses ranging from emerging organizations to Fortune 100 companies. With decades of industry experience, the company is entering an exciting phase of growth focused on operational excellence, AI adoption, scalable systems, and profitable expansion.

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, growth-oriented leadership team where innovation, accountability, and continuous learning are part of the company's DNA.

Company Snapshot

• Approximately 30–35 employees with plans for significant growth.
• Founder-led, privately owned B2B professional services company.
• Fully remote workforce across the U.S.
• Executive leadership role reporting directly to the CEO.
• High-impact environment with strong cross-functional collaboration and growth opportunities.

Core Values

• Continuous Learning ("Learn-it-All" Mindset)
• Accountability & Ownership
• Innovation & AI Adoption
• Collaboration & Emotional Intelligence
• Growth Mindset
• Customer-First Approach

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced Director of Finance & Operations to serve as the CEO's strategic business partner and operational leader.

This executive-level position combines financial leadership, operational excellence, business systems, and process transformation. The successful candidate will replace the company's current fractional CFO while leading Finance and Operations under one accountable leader.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who enjoys improving businesses through financial discipline, operational efficiency, AI-enabled automation, and scalable processes. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO while helping position the company for its next phase of growth.

Essential Job Functions

Financial Leadership

• Own the company's financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial controls, and monthly close process.
• Ensure an efficient month-end close process, targeting a seven-day close cycle.
• Develop accurate executive dashboards and reporting that serve as the organization's single source of truth.
• Improve forecasting accuracy and executive visibility into financial performance.
• Analyze customer, program, and service-line profitability to drive strategic decision-making.
• Develop reporting that identifies core products, core customers, and overall business profitability.
• Monitor P&L, balance sheet, margins, expenses, and cash flow while identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Manage and mentor the Controller while transitioning finance responsibilities from fractional support to an internal function.
• Lead banking relationships, including credit line renewals and lender due diligence.

Operations Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing Operations team (2–3 direct reports), establishing clear ownership, accountability, and performance expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement by redesigning workflows, eliminating inefficiencies, and modernizing business operations.
• Reduce manual work through process automation and scalable operating procedures.
• Build an operating cadence with measurable KPIs across departments.
• Partner closely with Operations, Customer Success, and Revenue teams to improve execution and customer experience.
• Reduce founder dependency by assuming ownership of day-to-day execution while enabling leadership to focus on strategic growth.

Revenue Operations & Business Systems

• Own CRM integrity (Salesforce preferred or equivalent enterprise CRM), ensuring accurate pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Improve CRM data hygiene, reporting accuracy, and dashboard automation.
• Partner with Sales leadership to improve pipeline visibility and forecast reliability.
• Develop reporting around customer profitability, service delivery performance, and operational efficiency.

AI, Process Improvement & Automation

• Champion the practical, day-to-day use of AI to improve Finance and Operations.
• Leverage AI and automation tools to eliminate repetitive work and improve decision-making.
• Transform undocumented, manual processes into scalable, repeatable operating procedures.
• Build systems and reporting infrastructure that support long-term business growth.

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to the CEO.
• Provide data-driven recommendations that improve financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Lead organizational change while earning trust across long-tenured teams.
• Balance strategic planning with hands-on execution in a player-coach environment.
• Build accountability while fostering collaboration across departments.

First-Year Success Metrics

First 90 Days

• Develop a deep understanding of the company's financial operations, systems, and reporting.
• Assess current financial processes and identify immediate opportunities to improve reporting accuracy and cost efficiency.
• Build relationships across the organization while gaining the trust of key operational stakeholders.
• Deliver accurate, automated financial reporting and executive dashboards.
• Evaluate existing workflows and create a roadmap for operational improvements.

Within 6 Months

• Successfully transition finance responsibilities from fractional support to the internal team.
• Improve workflow efficiency through automation and process redesign.
• Deliver reliable CRM reporting and financial dashboards.
• Implement a consistent operating cadence supported by measurable KPIs.
• Improve customer and program profitability reporting.

Within 12 Months

• Deliver measurable improvements in forecasting accuracy, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Establish Finance and Operations as scalable, data-driven functions.
• Significantly reduce founder involvement in day-to-day operations.
• Build a sustainable operational foundation capable of supporting the company's next stage of growth.

Requirements

Must-Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience managing direct reports, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and organizational development.
• Experience leading Finance within organizations generating $10M+ in annual revenue (ideal experience supporting companies between $15M–$50M).
• Strong expertise in:
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
• Budgeting and Forecasting
• Cash Flow Management
• Financial Controls
• Margin Analysis
• Executive Reporting
• P&L and Balance Sheet Management
• Proven experience leading Operations teams and driving cross-functional execution.
• Experience redesigning workflows and implementing process improvements or automation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success improving customer, program, or service-line profitability.
• Strong CRM experience, preferably Salesforce, including reporting, dashboarding, and pipeline visibility.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online or comparable accounting platforms.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools to improve business processes (Claude experience strongly preferred).
• Experience securing or renewing business credit facilities and supporting lender due diligence.
• Demonstrated success working in founder-led or entrepreneurial environments.
• Strong executive communication skills with the confidence to provide constructive feedback and influence senior leadership.
• Proven ability to lead remote teams successfully.
• Willingness to travel to San Francisco approximately four times per year.
• U.S. work authorization (no sponsorship available).

Nice-to-Haves

• CPA and/or MBA.
• Experience serving as an EOS Integrator.
• Professional Services experience, particularly within:
• Learning & Development
• HR Consulting
• Management Consulting
• IT Managed Services (MSPs)
• Staffing & Recruiting
• Managed Accounting or Back-Office Services
• Experience supporting organizations through sustained double-digit revenue growth.
• Experience implementing AI-enabled business transformation initiatives.

Working Conditions

• Fully remote within the United States.
• Preference for candidates located in the Western or Central U.S. time zones.
• Standard business hours with executive-level flexibility.
• Travel to San Francisco approximately four times annually.
• Highly collaborative, growth-oriented, founder-led environment with significant autonomy and visibility.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $170,000–$190,000 (flexibility for exceptional candidates)

Annual Bonus: 10–20% of base salary, tied to financial and operational performance

Target Total Cash Compensation: Approximately $187,000–$228,000+, with flexibility up to approximately $240,000 total cash for exceptional candidates.

Comprehensive benefits package provided.