CFO

Razorjack Recruiting • Lake Forest, IL

1d

About The Position

A confidential search is underway for a Chief Financial Officer to join a growing, private equity-backed manufacturing business in the greater Chicagoland area. This hands-on executive leadership role partners with the CEO and leadership team to drive profitability, strengthen financial infrastructure, and support the company’s next phase of growth. The CFO connects financial performance with operational execution across a multi-site manufacturing and distribution platform and travels regularly to additional U.S. operating locations as needed.

The CFO leads financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, long-range planning, and performance management; oversees accounting and financial controls; and partners with plant and operations leaders to improve cost visibility, working capital, and accountability. The role also supports growth initiatives, including new product introductions, capital allocation, and potential acquisitions, and builds a finance and accounting organization equipped to support continued growth.

Requirements

• 12–15+ years of progressive finance experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Prior experience as a CFO, VP of Finance, or equivalent senior finance leader within a private equity-backed business.
• Demonstrated experience in plant controllership, manufacturing finance, or a similar operational finance role.
• Strong technical expertise in cost accounting, manufacturing economics, FP&A, inventory management, and ERP-driven financial reporting.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations and presenting financial results to boards, investors, or private equity sponsors.
• Track record of improving profitability, strengthening financial processes, and supporting organizational growth.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

Nice To Haves

• CPA and/or MBA.
• Experience in manufacturing, aftermarket, metal fabrication, performance components, or other high-mix manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with new product introductions and scaling operations across multiple facilities.
• Hands-on, commercially minded leadership; ability to move between strategic financial planning and detailed plant-level analysis; a sense of urgency, continuous improvement mindset, and ability to build credibility with executive leadership, finance teams, and operational personnel.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, long-range planning, and performance management in partnership with the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Apply manufacturing finance expertise—including cost accounting, standard costing, inventory valuation, product costing, and variance analysis—to improve margins, productivity, and operating efficiency.
• Prepare board reporting and financial presentations, communicate with private equity sponsors, and provide insights for strategic and investment decisions.
• Oversee financial reporting, monthly close, audit, tax, treasury, cash management, and internal controls; build scalable processes and systems.
• Partner with plant and operations leaders to establish KPIs, improve cost visibility, optimize working capital, and drive accountability across multiple facilities.
• Support organic growth, new product introductions, capital allocation, and potential acquisitions, including financial evaluation and integration planning.
• Build and develop a high-performing finance and accounting organization to support continued business growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive