The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will be responsible for working with the leadership team to (1) build STR into an enduring institution that remains financially independent while (2) simultaneously achieving the company’s long-term strategic vision and objectives.
The position requires strong leadership and communication skills as well as the ability to translate strategic objectives into financial forecasts, metrics, and actionable plans. This includes gaining a fundamental understanding of our culture, capabilities, business model, key business pursuits, key program execution activities, and financial processing systems.
A successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and innovative business partner, who provides a broad big picture perspective while bringing a passion for using financial forecasting models to make data-driven decisions.
Strategy, Planning and Management
- Act as a strategic partner to the executive leadership team and participate in the strategic decision-making process. Conduct financial modeling and analysis to guide decisions using a data-driven methodology. Understand the company business model and articulate that model to employees and customers. Work with leadership to understand their long-term goals and then build financial strategies to achieve those goals. Align STR’s incentive compensation plans with the company’s strategic, operational, and financial objectives.
- Assess and evaluate financial performance of the company and its organizations. Develop budgets and guide strategic investments. Track progress against long-term operational goals, budgets, and forecasts. Understand key programs / contracts / customers and how they relate to the overall strategic vision as well as how changes in the customer landscape impact long-term financial goals.
- Provide insight and recommendations on both short-term and long-term growth plans. Design multi-year financial models to enable decisions on capital allocation, strategic investments and required financing. Communicate, engage, and interact with Board of Directors, CEO, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), and Executive Leadership Team. Build indirect (overhead, general, and administrative) models, assess competitiveness of our rates, and build a long-term forecast of those rates.
- Identify, acquire, and implement systems and software to provide financial and operational key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics and other information (both critical and non-critical). Automate processes to increase productivity and efficiency. Implement finance policies, processes, and procedures. Provide feedback on the finance team’s work products.
- Monitor and assess business risks. Proactively manage these risks.
- Recruit, interview, hire, and grow the Finance team. This includes mentoring and promoting staff, helping them to build their career paths, and reinforcing our teamwork value. Build a thriving financial organization that is both efficient and effective.
Financial Analysis, Budgeting and Forecasting
- Oversee the preparation and presentation of monthly financial budgeting reports by division including monthly profit and loss by organization, forecast vs. budget, and end-of-year prediction against the budget. Review and analyze monthly division and company-level financial results and provide feedback to senior leadership and the financial team
- Identify, develop, and execute analyses of business initiatives (e.g., internal research and development, proposal costs, and/or investments in new business areas). Develop recommendations on financing key strategic initiatives
- Oversee the financial planning and analysis department. Oversee the creation of reports, software implementation, and tools for budgeting and forecasting that meets the needs of P&L managers
- Develop analytics to manage STR’s capital structure, liquidity, and financing requirements, including cash flow planning, and ensuring funding for current and future strategic investments. Use models and analytics to provide financial insight into the organization’s plans and operating budgets
- Explore new investment opportunities and provide recommendations on potential returns and risks, including facilities investments, acquisitions, and other capital expenditures
- Oversee the finance department to ensure the proper functioning of all systems, databases, and financial software. Oversee regular maintenance and backup of all accounting systems and supervise company financial staff.
Business Risk, Compliance, and Internal Controls
- Remain current on audit best practices as well as state, federal, and local laws regarding company operations. Oversee financial audits
- Manage STR’s business risk through comprehensive insurance programs
- Lead government compliance and build relationships with DCAA and DCMA
- Oversee preparation of state and federal income tax filings and payments
- Maintain banking relationship and ensure compliance with financial covenants
- Oversee accounting for equity transactions and company valuations
- Oversee internal controls over financial reporting and testing to ensure controls are effective
- Interact with other functional organizations at STR
- Work with Human Resources to ensure appropriate legal compliance. Collaborate to ensure benefits and compensation are paid in a timely manner
- Work with Contracts to ensure timely program startup, invoicing, deliverables, and closeout
Requirements
Ability to obtain a TOP SECRET (TS//SCI) U.S. Government security clearance
15+ years total accounting and finance experience with relevant business degree
Demonstrated organizational leadership capabilities
Demonstrated business leadership capabilities
Demonstrated ability to translate strategic vision into actionable financial plans and forecasts
Demonstrated analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated mentorship and people leadership abilities
Demonstrated commitment to valuing differences among individuals and inclusive leadership
Motivated collaborator and effective communicator
Hands on experience with a variety of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Significant experience working with external auditors, internal controls, and compliance-related issues especially as those relate to Federal Government contracting
Benefits
STR is a rapidly growing technology company with locations north of Boston, MA, Arlington, VA and near Dayton, OH. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security, trying to understand how to protect our society: from stopping malicious botnet attacks, to understanding cyber vulnerabilities, providing next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare to developing artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.
STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, but you go home at night knowing that you pushed the forefront of technology and made the world a little safer. We recognize that the world is changing, that it is becoming more connected than ever before, making things change faster than before, and reshaping society in the process. We all want to understand this changing world and leave it better for our work.
STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.
STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at appassist@str.us and provide your contact info.
Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.
