Role Overview for Chief Financial Officer – PE-Backed Manufacturing Company | Fort Lauderdale, FL
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained to lead the search for a results-driven and strategically-minded Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a high-growth, private equity-backed manufacturing company based in the vibrant Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. This is a pivotal executive leadership role, serving as a key business partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board of Directors, and the private equity sponsors. The successful candidate will be instrumental in driving the company’s financial strategy, scaling its operations, and maximizing enterprise value through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Our client is a market leader in its niche manufacturing sector, renowned for its innovation, quality, and customer-centric approach. With a recent infusion of capital from a prestigious private equity firm, the company is poised for an aggressive expansion phase. The CFO will be at the forefront of this transformation, tasked with building a world-class finance and accounting function that can support rapid growth and provide the sophisticated financial insights necessary for strategic decision-making. This role requires a unique blend of hands-on leadership and high-level strategic thinking. You will be expected to ‘roll up your sleeves’ and dive into the details of the business while simultaneously contributing to long-term value creation initiatives, including M&A due diligence and post-acquisition integration. This is a career-defining opportunity for a finance executive who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced, and ownership-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer – PE-Backed Manufacturing Company | Fort Lauderdale, FL
The CFO will have a broad range of responsibilities, overseeing all aspects of the company’s financial health and strategy. Key duties include:
Strategic Financial Leadership & Partnership
Act as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive team, providing financial guidance and data-driven insights to inform business strategy. Lead the development of the company’s long-range financial plans, annual operating budgets, and rolling forecasts. Prepare comprehensive financial models to support strategic initiatives, capital allocation decisions, and potential M&A activities.
Private Equity & Board Relations
Manage all financial reporting and communication with the private equity sponsors and Board of Directors. Prepare detailed monthly and quarterly reporting packages, board presentations, and performance dashboards that clearly articulate financial results, variance analysis, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Ensure compliance with all lender covenants and reporting requirements.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Play a leading role in the company’s acquisition strategy. Lead financial due diligence on potential targets, develop valuation models, and assess synergies. Oversee the financial integration of acquired companies, ensuring a seamless transition of systems, processes, and personnel to maximize value creation.
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
Build and lead a robust FP&A function that provides actionable insights into business performance. Drive a culture of accountability by analyzing financial and operational results to better understand company performance. Develop sophisticated models to track profitability by product line, customer, and facility.
Accounting, Control, and Reporting
Oversee all accounting operations, including General Ledger, A/P, A/R, Cost Accounting, and Revenue Recognition. Ensure the timely and accurate closing of the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Design, implement, and maintain a rigorous internal control environment to safeguard company assets and ensure data integrity. Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.
Treasury & Cash Management
Direct all treasury functions, including cash flow forecasting, working capital management, and debt management. Optimize the company’s capital structure and maintain strong relationships with banking partners and lenders. Implement strategies to improve the cash conversion cycle and maximize liquidity.
Operations Finance Partnership
Collaborate closely with the operations team to drive profitability and efficiency. Provide financial oversight for inventory management, standard costing, and capital expenditure analysis. Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives and process improvements across the manufacturing and supply chain functions.
Team Leadership & Development
Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performance finance and accounting team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional growth. Set clear goals and expectations for the team and provide regular feedback and coaching.
Systems & Process Enhancement
Evaluate and enhance the company’s financial systems (ERP) and business intelligence tools to support scalability and provide more robust reporting and analytics. Lead initiatives to automate processes and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the finance function.
Requirements for the Chief Financial Officer – PE-Backed Manufacturing Company | Fort Lauderdale, FL
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned finance executive with a proven track record of success in a private equity-backed manufacturing environment. Specific qualifications include:
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required. A CPA designation and/or an MBA is highly preferred.
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, with at least 5-7 years in a senior leadership role (e.g., CFO, VP of Finance, or Corporate Controller) for a company of comparable size and complexity.
Private Equity Environment
Demonstrable and significant experience working within a private equity-backed portfolio company is a firm requirement. Must possess a deep understanding of the reporting cadence, value creation strategies, and sense of urgency inherent in a PE-owned business.
Manufacturing Industry Expertise
Extensive experience in a manufacturing environment is essential. Must have a strong grasp of cost accounting, inventory valuation, supply chain finance, and standard costing principles.
M&A Proficiency
Proven, hands-on experience in all stages of the M&A lifecycle, from due diligence and financial modeling to post-close integration.
Technical Acumen
Expert-level knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial modeling, and data analysis. High proficiency with sophisticated ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle) and Microsoft Excel is required.
Leadership and Communication
Exceptional leadership and team-building skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a team. Must be a superb communicator with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and concisely to financial and non-financial audiences, including executives, board members, and investors.
Personal Attributes
A strategic thinker with a hands-on, ‘roll-up-the-sleeves’ work ethic. High level of integrity, intellectual curiosity, and a strong sense of ownership. Data-driven and results-oriented with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and demanding environment.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier talent and offers a highly competitive and comprehensive compensation package, which includes:
- A competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
- A significant annual performance-based bonus tied to individual and company performance.
- A meaningful equity participation opportunity, providing a direct stake in the value created.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents.
- A 401(k) retirement savings plan with a generous company match.
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy and paid company holidays.
- Opportunities for ongoing professional development and executive coaching.
- Relocation assistance may be available for an exceptional candidate.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is the exclusive search firm for this confidential Chief Financial Officer position. If you are a qualified and interested candidate who meets the above criteria, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and qualifications for this role. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the strictest confidence.
To learn more about how JRG Partners connects exceptional talent with leading private equity firms, please visit our dedicated CFO Executive Search practice area. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing this exciting opportunity with you.
Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
