Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

High-Growth Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Company

Location: Columbia, MO | Industry: Aerospace, Defense, and Advanced Thermal Systems | Reports to: CEO

Lead Financial Strategy at an Innovation-Driven Company

Our client, a leader in advanced thermal management solutions, is expanding to meet increasing demand from aerospace, defense, and high-tech industries. With a strong demand pipeline, the company is scaling its people, processes, and systems to position itself for long-term success. We seek a strategic and hands-on CFO to drive financial growth, secure funding for expansion, and build scalable financial infrastructure. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in high-growth, innovative-driven environments and wants to shape the future of an industry at the cutting edge of technology.

Why This Opportunity?

• Growth & Impact – Play a key role in scaling financial operations to meet demand for product.
• Innovation-Driven Culture – Work alongside top engineers, scientists, and business leaders on cutting-edge aerospace and defense technology.
• High-Level Leadership – Lead financial strategy, capital investment, and operational scale-up in a company that values leadership, agility, and smart decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & Capital Planning

• Develop and implement a financial strategy that aligns with long-term expansion goals.
• Secure working capital solutions to finance growth ahead of revenue realization, including government contract financing, grants, and strategic investment.
• Build a robust financial forecasting model to support decision-making and risk management.

Scaling Operations & Financial Infrastructure

• Oversee the implementation of financial systems, processes, and internal controls to support large-scale contract fulfillment.
• Ensure DCAA-compliant financial reporting for government contracts and improve cost accounting and operational efficiency.
• Optimize ERP systems and financial reporting tools to support real-time decision-making.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a finance and accounting team that can support rapid growth.
• Develop compensation strategies to attract and retain top engineering, technical, and operational talent.
• Establish key financial metrics and performance indicators to guide leadership decisions.

Government & Commercial Market Expansion

• Work closely with leadership to navigate government contract financing and defense industry compliance.
• Develop financial models to support commercial expansion, leveraging aerospace-grade technology into high-growth markets.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (CMMC, ITAR, FAR/DFARS) while maximizing financial performance.

Who We Are Looking For

• A growth-oriented CFO with experience scaling financial operations in a high-tech, advanced manufacturing, or government contracting environment.
• Strong understanding of government contracts, defense industry regulations, and cost accounting.
• A hands-on executive who can build teams, implement systems, and drive financial results.
• A strategic thinker who can balance capital investment with operational execution.

Preferred Experience:

• 10 plus or more years in finance leadership roles (CFO, VP Finance, or Director-level).
• Expertise in government contract financing, compliance, and financial operations.
• Proven success in securing capital and scaling financial infrastructure for a high-growth company.

Compensation & Benefits

• Highly competitive executive compensation with performance-based incentives.
• Equity or profit-sharing opportunities tied to company success.
• A leadership opportunity in a fast-moving, high-impact industry.