Chief Financial Officer

The Opportunity

Abeln, Magy, Underberg & Associates has been retained by our client, a Tier 1 contract manufacturer of electronic circuit board assemblies, cables, harnesses, and ground support equipment to recruit for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO will oversee the financial operations of the company, ensuring financial health and compliance with industry regulations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a financial leader who wants to stay close to the business and operations—not just oversee accounting. The CFO will be a strategic partner to the CEO and collaborate closely with the executive leadership team while providing hands-on leadership across finance, accounting, financial planning, cash flow, business performance, and working to transform and improve the accounting and finance function.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with a privately held, family-owned, entrepreneurial, or similar sized organization. Experience working within a company of approximately 300–750 employees is particularly attractive.

Relocation assistance to Dickinson, ND will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic financial partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.

• Lead all aspects of finance and accounting, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, tax, and financial controls.

• Provide meaningful financial analysis and insight to support business and operational decisions.

• Partner closely with Operations, Sales, Engineering, and other leaders to improve profitability and performance.

• Oversee manufacturing cost accounting, product costing, inventory, margins, and production variances.

• Develop and monitor financial and operational KPIs.

• Lead the annual budgeting process and ongoing forecasting.

• Provide accurate, timely, and actionable financial reporting to senior leadership and ownership/Board.

• Manage cash flow, working capital, banking relationships, and capital planning.

• Evaluate capital expenditures and provide ROI analysis for major investments.

• Strengthening financial systems, processes, controls, and reporting capabilities.

• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency, working capital, and overall financial performance.

• Lead, develop, and mentor the finance and accounting team.

• Support strategic initiatives including growth, acquisitions, investments, and other major business decisions as appropriate.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who is also willing to roll up their sleeves. We are looking for someone who understands that strong financial performance is closely connected to what happens throughout the operation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.

• 10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience.

• Prior experience as a CFO, VP of Finance, Controller, or similar senior financial leadership role.

• Manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.

• Experience with a company of approximately 300–750 employees, with experience up to approximately 1,000 employees considered.

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, inventory, job/product costing, and operational finance.

• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and cash-flow management.

• Experience partnering with Operations and other functional leaders.

• Strong ERP and financial systems experience.

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other advanced credentials are a plus but not required.

• Experience in a privately held, family-owned, or entrepreneurial organization is highly desirable.

Leadership Profile

We are looking for a CFO who is:

• Hands-on and operationally minded

• Strategic without being removed from the details

• Experience serving on the senior leadership team reporting to the President/CEO and works effectively with the CEO, the executive leadership team, the accounting/finance team and cross-functionally across the organization

• A strong communicator who can translate financial information into business decisions

• Analytical, decisive, and solutions-oriented

• Comfortable challenging assumptions while building strong relationships

• A team builder and mentor

• Able to operate effectively in a growing, entrepreneurial environment

• Committed to accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement