Associate Director of Financial Operations

Kwest Associate Director of Finance

Position: Associate Director of Finance
Report to: President – Integrator

Job Description Overview

The Associate Director of Finance is the senior finance leader for the operating company and a strategic partner to executive leadership. This role owns operating-company financial performance, forecasting discipline, working capital management, portfolio risk visibility, and compliance with corporate governance requirements. The Associate Director leads executive reporting, supports bonding/surety needs, develops the finance team, and strengthens procurement and commercial governance to protect margin, liquidity, and long-term financial health.

Regular travel may be required for meetings across Kwest offices, project sites, and external stakeholder engagements.

Starting Salary: $120,000

Responsibilities

• Own operating company net income and overall financial results, drive performance accountability across market sectors and project portfolios
• Lead development of the annual operating budget and rolling forecast; monitor overhead/G&A absorption and margin trends
• Provide financial modeling and decision support for growth initiatives, staffing plans, market expansion, and resource deployment
• Evaluate bid strategy, contract structure, and financial exposure on major pursuits; analyze backlog composition, margin sustainability, and risk concentration
• Forecast operating cash flow and liquidity needs; drive AR performance and collection discipline; monitor AP cycle efficiency and vendor payment strategy
• Optimize working capital in alignment with corporate treasury and bonding policies; reinforce a proactive “no surprise” cash culture
• Monitor margin fade/gain and identify at-risk projects early; review project forecasts and ECAC assumptions with the Controller; recommend corrective actions
• Support change order strategy, claims posture, and key commercial terms; ensure disciplined revenue recognition and WIP integrity per corporate policy
• Develop capital deployment recommendations (equipment, facilities, mats) for Corporate CFO approval; analyze utilization, lifecycle cost, ROI, and replacement timing
• Lead monthly financial review meetings with the President; present operating results to the Corporate CFO; maintain dashboards tied to margin, cash, backlog, and risk drivers
• Support bonding and surety discussions as needed; maintain compliance with bonding, banking, and reporting requirements
• Ensure adherence to corporate accounting policies, internal controls, and financial authority matrix; promote forecasting cadence and transparency
• Lead and develop the operating company finance team; ensure cross-training, continuity, and succession planning
• Mentor the Controller – Operations to prepare for future Director of Finance responsibilities
• Represent the operating company financially in external-facing settings when requested; after transition, attend designated industry and public policy meetings in coordination with the President and Corporate CFO
• Establish financial governance standards for procurement; ensure disciplined execution of subcontractor/vendor agreements aligned with budgets and authority thresholds
• Partner with Operations and Estimating on vendor selection, pricing strategy, and commercial risk; review major subcontracts/supplier agreements/material commitments prior to execution
• Ensure purchase commitments align with cash flow forecasts and margin expectations; promote competitive bidding, benchmarking, and value analysis
• Monitor vendor concentration risk and strategic supplier relationships; support resolution of commercial disputes from a financial risk standpoint

Qualifications and Requirements

• Demonstrated senior-level finance leadership experience in an operating company environment; construction/project-based industry strongly preferred
• Proven capability in budgeting, forecasting, P&L leadership, and financial performance management
• Strong working capital management experience (cash flow, AR/AP discipline, liquidity planning)
• Knowledge of revenue recognition/WIP, project forecasting, ECAC practices, and margin analysis
• Experience supporting bonding/surety, banking, and external reporting requirements
• Ability to lead and develop a finance team; strong executive communication and decision-support skills
• Strong commercial and procurement governance capabilities (contracting, risk review, approval discipline)
• This position is based on a 45–55-hour workweek.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required.

About Kwest Group

At Kwest Group, we are driven by a clear mission: to lead the civil construction industry through an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and customer service. As a 100% employee-owned company (ESOP), we empower our team members to take ownership of every project, fostering innovation and excellence from concept to completion. Central to our mission is a steadfast commitment to ensuring zero harm to every team member on every project. This commitment to zero harm is complemented by a comprehensive focus on total human health.

Founded in 2003, Kwest Group has grown from its roots in Port Clinton, Ohio, to become a trusted partner across the United States and the Caribbean. Our journey is defined by building strong, lasting relationships with our clients, grounded in mutual trust, integrity, and a deep understanding of their unique needs.

Core Values

Our core values—Safety, Quality, and Customer Service—are the pillars that support everything we do. These values guide our decisions, shape our culture, and ensure that every project meets the highest standards.

Core Focus

Our core focus is to enrich the lives of our team members by fostering strategic growth and profitability, ensuring a safe, thriving, and values-driven company. We believe that by investing in our people, we create a foundation for long-term success that benefits our clients, team members, and communities

Our Niche

Kwest Group excels in performing complex civil construction projects safely. Our expertise enables us to tackle the most demanding projects with confidence, delivering exceptional results that our clients can rely on.

Target Market

Our target market includes energy, industrial, public, federal, and rail clients across the United States, with particular emphasis on the Midwest, Appalachia, and Southeast regions. We remain open to engaging with like-minded partners from any location when the right opportunity arises. We seek clients who exhibit financial stability, align with our core values, foster collaborative relationships, and share a forward-thinking perspective.

Four Uniques

Kwest Group stands out in the industry with our four uniques:

• Safety Priority: Safety is ingrained in our culture and is our foremost commitment on every project.
• Agile Team: Our adaptable and responsive team is capable of quickly adjusting to the evolving needs of our clients and projects.
• Collaborative Construction Services: We foster strategic partnerships and interconnected relationships to deliver superior outcomes.
• Team Integrity Focus: Integrity guides our team’s actions, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout our organization.

Our dedication to safety and excellence has been recognized industry-wide. Kwest Group was honored as the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 2024 Contractor of the Year and has received national safety recognition awards from prestigious organizations like ABC and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

At Kwest Group, we are also dedicated to making a positive impact beyond our project sites. Our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives reflect our commitment to responsible business practices, from reducing our carbon footprint to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the team member for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

EEO

Kwest Group maintains a non-discrimination policy for all team members and applicants in every facet of the company’s operations. In compliance with federal and state laws, Kwest Group recruits, hires, trains, and promotes all qualified team members, in all job titles, without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, citizenship, national origin, disability, veteran status or genetic information.