Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

W S DARLEY & CO•Itasca, IL

12d•$300,000 - $500,000

About The Position

W.S. Darley & Co. is seeking a seasoned Chief Financial Officer to provide financial leadership, capital discipline, and strategic insight as the company enters its next phase of growth. The CFO will partner closely with the President/CEO and Board of Directors to ensure Darley consistently makes sound, well-timed decisions around capital deployment, liquidity, and enterprise risk. This role is designed for a judgment-oriented CFO who excels at decision framing, governance, and leadership—not a transactional or back-office operator. The CFO will be responsible for the company’s financial integrity, credibility, and performance narrative, ensuring leaders and directors receive clear, decision-ready insights rather than backward-looking explanations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting required
10+ years of senior finance leadership experience (CFO, Divisional CFO, or equivalent)
Deep expertise in liquidity management, capital allocation, and financial reporting.
Experience working closely with Boards of Directors and senior executives.
Strong judgment, communication skills, and business acumen.
Proven ability to lead through influence rather than control

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Finance or Accounting strongly preferred
Registered or Licensed CPA preferred
Government contracting or Defense and Aerospace experience

Responsibilities

Owns liquidity management and capital allocation across the enterprise, including cash forecasting, credit facilities, covenant compliance, capital expenditures, M&A activity, and supplier prepayments.
Evaluates trade-offs using cash flow, return on invested capital, and risk exposure rather than relying solely on margin or accounting metrics.
Anticipates risks and preserves strategic and financial flexibility.
Leads the company’s planning and forecasting discipline, including rolling forecasts and scenario analysis.
Sets the financial structure and narrative for Quarterly Business Reviews.
Provides pressure-testing, insight, and accountability to business leaders regarding their financial commitments, risks, and opportunities.
Prepares concise, decision-oriented materials for the Board and supports governance discussions focused on trade-offs, capital decisions, and long-term value creation.
Serves as the primary executive interface with banking partners, insurance carriers, auditors, tax advisors, and valuation firms, maintaining proactive relationships.
Provides independent, fact-based perspectives on pricing strategy, market and geographic exposure, major customer and supplier decisions, and merger and acquisition opportunities, including valuation logic, deal structure, diligence, and integration risks.
Responsible for building and leading a high-performing finance organization, setting expectations for accuracy, timeliness, and true business partnership.
Partners with IT and operations to ensure reliable financial systems, clean data, and analytics that improve decision speed and quality.
Brings elevated financial reporting capabilities.