VP of Finance - Defense Programs #0610
2 days ago
Cincinnati
Job Description Our client, a private equity-backed defense manufacturer headquartered in Ohio, is seeking a Vice President of Finance to lead and strengthen the organization’s financial foundation. The company is a respected subcontractor with longstanding ties across the naval and aerospace supply chain and operates in full accordance with FAR, DFAR, and CAS standards. This is a newly established, highly visible leadership opportunity created with succession planning in mind. The successful candidate will play a central role in enabling the CFO to focus on growth initiatives and acquisitions, while building toward a clear path to future CFO responsibility. For a finance executive who wants to lead independently, shape financial strategy, and leave a lasting mark, this role offers significant long-term potential. Key Responsibilities • Partner with senior leadership across the business to improve operational performance and efficiency, • Oversee the finance and accounting function, ensuring accurate and timely delivery of financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, audits, certified cost and pricing, and job cost reporting, • Guide the continued development of the company’s internally built ERP/finance platform, with an emphasis on process improvement and a more efficient, accurate close cycle, • Provide financial leadership on working capital needs, capital deployment, and cash flow strategy, including assessing capex opportunities through a return-on-investment lens, • Manage, mentor, and further develop a lean but experienced finance team in a dynamic, fast-moving environment, • Act as a trusted advisor to the executive team on topics such as investment priorities, capital allocation, and overall business performance, • Help ensure receivables are closely managed and collections are executed in line with agreed terms, • Take part as a senior leader in strategic planning efforts, ensuring financial plans support the company’s long-range objectives, • Produce and circulate core financial reporting packages for executive stakeholders, • Work closely with the CFO on cash flow forecasting, management reporting, and board and lender materials, • Apply benchmarking, financial modeling, and performance metrics to evaluate the scalability, risk profile, and impact of strategic initiatives, • Monitor the financial health of existing and prospective customers in order to reduce exposure to risk Requirements • Demonstrated success leading a small finance/accounting team, • Strong skills in financial reporting, analysis, and modeling, • Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting, • Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and evolving organization, • At least 10 years of progressive experience in finance and/or accounting positions, • Prior experience with percentage-of-completion accounting, • Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities across all levels of the organization, • US citizenship is required, • Experience in multi-site manufacturing environments and financial statement consolidation, • Proven ERP experience, including implementation work or substantial process improvement within an ERP setting, • Hands-on expertise in defense manufacturing accounting, including working knowledge of FAR, DFAR, and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Preferred Qualifications • CPA credential, • Previous experience in a CFO succession or CFO-track role, • Background within a private equity-backed portfolio company, including exposure to equity-based incentive structures and liquidity events Benefits • Base Salary: ~$180,000, • Bonus: Performance-based bonus, • Equity: Equity participation through the Management Incentive Plan (MIP), • Vacation: 3 weeks, • Health Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and ancillary coverage, • Retirement: 401(k) Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. 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