Accounting and Finance Consulting Managing Director - Interim CFO

RSM US LLP•Boston, MA

About The Position

RSM's Financial Consulting practice is seeking an experienced finance executive to serve as an Interim CFO for middle-market clients navigating ownership transitions, sale preparation, restructuring, or periods of rapid growth. Our clients are typically closely held or family-owned businesses where the finance function needs senior leadership on a defined-term basis. The right candidate brings the credibility to earn the trust of founders and ownership groups quickly, and the operational depth to make an immediate impact. Candidates should have a strong background as a CFO or senior finance leader, ideally across multiple companies or sectors. Experience in operationally intensive industries such as retail, distribution, food service, or consumer products is particularly relevant. We are looking for executives who have led finance through meaningful events, including M&A transactions and integration, debt refinancing or lender negotiations, enterprise data and analytics transformation, and business turnarounds. The ability to both set strategic direction and roll up your sleeves on execution is essential. This is not a traditional placement. You will be backed by RSM's full delivery infrastructure, including back-office support, FP&A resources, and technology capabilities, so you can focus your time where it matters most. Engagements are structured and scoped in advance, which means cleaner expectations and a faster start than most interim arrangements. Executives who thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and are comfortable representing RSM directly with client leadership will find this a strong fit. If you are a seasoned finance executive open to project-based work and interested in building an ongoing relationship with RSM's interim staffing platform, we welcome a conversation.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience serving as a CFO or senior finance leader within middle-market organizations.
Demonstrated track record of leading finance strategy, operational performance, and business decision support in complex, growth-oriented environments.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant executive finance leadership experience.
Proven experience leading organizations through meaningful and strategic business events, such as rapid growth, business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, restructuring, systems modernization, organizational redesign, or other inflection-point initiatives.
Strong foundation in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting, cash flow management, and strategic resource allocation.
Ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for executive, board, and investor-level audiences.
Excellent executive presence, communication skills, and business judgment, with the ability to influence across functions and lead through ambiguity and change.

Nice To Haves

CPA, MBA, or other relevant professional credential preferred, such as CMA or comparable executive finance certification.
Experience supporting private equity-backed, founder-led, or sponsor-backed middle-market businesses.
Background leading finance organizations through enterprise transformation initiatives, including technology implementation, process optimization, or operating model redesign.
Prior experience presenting to boards, investors, lenders, or other external stakeholders on business performance, strategy, and financial outlook.
Demonstrated success in helping organizations scale through periods of accelerated growth, market expansion, or increased operational complexity.
Experience balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

Serve as an Interim CFO for middle-market clients.
Lead finance through meaningful events such as M&A transactions and integration, debt refinancing or lender negotiations, enterprise data and analytics transformation, and business turnarounds.
Set strategic direction and execute on operational tasks.
Represent RSM directly with client leadership.
Build and develop high-performing finance teams.
Establish scalable processes, controls, and decision-making frameworks.
Translate complex financial data into actionable insights for executive, board, and investor-level audiences.
Partner with executive leadership and key stakeholders to align financial strategy with broader business objectives.
Lead finance organizations through enterprise transformation initiatives, including technology implementation, process optimization, or operating model redesign.
Present to boards, investors, lenders, or other external stakeholders on business performance, strategy, and financial outlook.
Help organizations scale through periods of accelerated growth, market expansion, or increased operational complexity.
Balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution in dynamic, fast-paced environments.