Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

San Francisco, CA

SCOPE OF THE JOB

Our client seeks a visionary and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to shape the financial future of the company. This key leader will oversee all facets of financial management, including financial planning, analysis, accounting, treasury management, investor relations, and risk mitigation. As part of the executive team, the CFO will collaborate to design and implement the company's financial strategy, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with the broader business objectives.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Our client has been a leader in fresh produce for decades. Known for innovation, they introduced pre-packaged options, organic products, and sustainable practices. Their goal is to be the best-integrated company in North America, delivering value to both customers and communities. They foster a collaborative culture and invest in technology to develop new, sustainable products. Partnering with a sustainability-focused investor, they prioritize responsible practices with a positive impact.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Develop and execute the company's financial strategy aligned with overall goals.
• Provide financial recommendations and solutions to the CEO and Board on various matters.
• Lead and mentor the finance organization, fostering a collaborative culture.
• Oversee financial processes like budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial data for strategic decision-making.
• Manage cash flow to ensure sufficient liquidity for operations and future plans.
• Implement cash flow projection and reporting with minimum cash thresholds.
• Oversee all fiscal reporting, analysis, and commentary (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly).
• Drive working capital improvement, cash flow, and profit growth.
• Lead the financial planning process for both short and long terms.
• Partner across the organization to develop strong internal controls and mitigate risks.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders (Board, financial institutions, auditors).
• Prepare clear and transparent financial presentations for senior leadership.
• Manage banking, liquidity, and lender relationships to optimize cash positions.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks facing the company.
• Implement robust risk management policies and procedures.
• Establish clear business objectives and KPIs to drive performance management.
• Lead the organization to leverage data and analytics for informed decisions.
• Develop standardized data sets for business measurement and reporting.
• Oversee financial statement preparation, regulatory filings, and compliance reports.
• Ensure transparency, accuracy, and integrity in financial reporting.
• Manage contract approvals, resources, and financial IT systems.
• Develop a strategy to optimize cash flow and working capital.
• Develop tax strategies to minimize tax liabilities while ensuring compliance.
• Establish and maintain effective internal control systems for asset protection.
• Lead enterprise-level transactional accounting processes (GAAP compliant).

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or related field. MBA or advanced degree a plus.
• CPA or CFA preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with leveraged finance and driving initiatives to improve shareholder value, including liquidity events; private equity financial leadership experience strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of significant finance experience, demonstrating progression in roles and seniority across all disciplines of the finance function, effectively, and efficiently managing all key finance/accounting processes while delivering high value-added business insights through rigorous FP&A and operational finance capability. 
• Industry experience in multi-site manufacturing or CPG industry with an understanding and appreciation for vertically integrated operations. Agriculture experience is preferred but not required.
• Extensive experience with cash and liquidity management including debt covenants, lenders and rigorous management of cash flow forecasting to improve cash and working capital.
• Deep understanding of financial principles, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and regulatory accounting and reporting regulations, GAAP, cost management techniques, financial analysis, and budgets required.
• Exceptional strategic and analytical skills, solution-oriented, including financial planning, modeling, forecasting, and data analysis.
• Proven record in building high-performing finance and accounting teams and being a catalyst agent for change for the organization.
• Able to balance being strategic and a “roll up your sleeves” mentality.
• Demonstrated capability of directing the resolution of overly complex or challenging business problems while applying advanced, analytical thought, and unbiased judgment.
• Proven track record of implementing new systems and processes that leverage data and analytics to improve business insights, decision-making, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to tell the story of the Company’s strategy, goals, plans, and results in a compelling term to investors.
• Willingness to travel to company facilities in California, Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Mexico.

We do not discriminate in the acceptance or referral of candidates on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.