Client-Facing Chief Financial Officer - Manufacturing Focus (Remote)

Overview

This role is for an experienced finance leader who can partner with manufacturing and production-based clients and help guide complex financial decisions with confidence. The position is fully remote and involves owning client relationships, analyzing financial performance, and delivering actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end client relationship, providing strategic guidance in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, M&A, and capital investment decisions.
• Build and maintain cost accounting structures (standard, job, or process costing; bills of material; labor and overhead absorption) and lead variance analysis to deliver clear margin insights by product, line, and customer.
• Oversee inventory accounting across raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, including physical counts, costing methods, and obsolescence reserves; drive improvements in inventory turns and accuracy.
• Translate plant and operational data (capacity utilization, throughput, scrap and yield, cost per unit) into financial decisions and KPI dashboards that connect the plant floor to the P&L.
• Lead capital expenditure and equipment ROI analysis, support make-vs-buy decisions, and manage working capital strategy.
• Manage lender relationships, borrowing base reporting, and covenant compliance.
• Build pricing and quoting models that account for raw material and commodity costs, tariffs, supplier terms, and demand shifts.
• Help clients get the most from their ERP/MRP systems so costing, inventory, and production data flows accurately into financial reporting.
• Lead structured, impactful client QBRs and deliver service that earns strong client satisfaction.
• Proactively manage client scope and margin, and support firm growth by bringing manufacturing credibility to proposals and prospect conversations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop client teams of Controllers and accountants; share manufacturing know-how to strengthen team capability.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial advisory, strategic accounting, or CFO services, including 5+ years in a senior finance leadership role within a manufacturing or production-based company.
• Hands-on expertise in manufacturing cost accounting, including implementing and maintaining various costing methods, inventory valuation, variance analysis, and product/customer profitability.
• Experience working within manufacturing ERP/MRP systems and partnering with operations leaders on capacity, pricing, and capital equipment decisions.
• Proven leadership guiding mid-market businesses through financial planning, capital strategy, lender relationships, and operational efficiency.
• Strong background in accounting principles, GAAP (including inventory accounting), and forecasting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor in complex business scenarios including M&A, restructuring, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to simplify complex information and build trust with executives, operators, and team members.
• Uncompromising integrity and ethics, plus a passion for mentoring others and fostering a value-aligned culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• None specified.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $175,000 - $185,000.
• Full benefits including health, dental, vision, accident, and pet insurance.
• Flexible vacation; office closes at the end of the year.
• 401k plan with company match.
• No busy season.
• “Work Wherever” philosophy—independence, freedom, and flexibility by working from your home office.

Location

• Fully remote.

Employment Information

• W2, full-time, 40-hour/week position.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
• The recruiting process includes two short assessments and a live accounting test via Teams Screen Share to confirm accounting skills. Passing the test is a mandatory requirement for this position.