Director of Finance

Wunderlich-Malec Careers•Eden Prairie, MN

16d•Onsite

About The Position

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is: 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm Rated as a top System Integrator Giant. This is a senior leadership role with broad accountability, working in close alignment with the CFO to support company-wide financial performance, governance, and strategic execution. The Director of Finance plays a primary leadership role in ensuring company-wide financial performance and governance and is expected to personally ensure commitments are met, applying whatever time and effort are required by operational, regulatory, and stakeholder demands. This role is expected to strengthen the depth and continuity of the Company’s financial leadership over time. The Director of Finance operates with significant responsibility and independence while recognizing the CFO’s ultimate accountability for financial strategy, reporting, and governance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required
Minimum ten years of progressive experience across Accounting and Finance roles, including financial leadership positions, within complex organizations; experience may span multiple industries, operating models, or business units
Demonstrates commitment to professional growth, expanding responsibilities, and longterm contribution to the Company’s financial leadership and continuity
Brings a forward-looking mindset, including interest in evolving financial technology, data analytics, and modern finance practices, with the ability to continuously improve systems, processes, and executive decision support as the Company grows
Advanced, hands-on capability in financial data analysis and reporting, including expert Excel modeling. This role requires fluency in the underlying data, not reliance on others to interpret it
Translates operational drivers and synthesizes complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights for executive decision-making
Demonstrates sound financial judgment, integrity, and stewardship as an Employee Owner
Communicates effectively with executive and cross-functional leadership
Brings an entrepreneurial and intellectually curious mindset, constructively challenging assumptions and evaluating business performance
Partners with leadership to develop corrective actions and strategic plans grounded in data and financial discipline
Contributes to multi-year strategic planning through forward-looking analysis and long-range financial perspective
Engages constructively and confidently with executive leadership, offering well-reasoned, data-driven perspectives
Applies creative problem-solving and sound judgment to explore alternative solutions beyond traditional finance approaches
Demonstrates adaptability and continuous learning, integrating external best practices while aligning with WM’s culture and operating model
Operates with a high degree of accountability while aligning decisions and recommendations with established financial leadership and governance structure

Nice To Haves

CPA, CMA, MBA or equivalent advanced credential preferred, or demonstrated interest and commitment to pursuing advanced professional credentials as part of ongoing career development and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a Company financial strategy in alignment with CFO direction and company objectives
Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes, including development of multi-year projections aligned with operational and strategic plans
Drive continuous improvement of the monthly close process in partnership with Accounting and Operations, balancing accuracy and materiality to achieve faster, more predictable close timelines that support timely financial insight and executive decision-making
Develop financial models grounded in key operational drivers—such as utilization, backlog, project mix, and resource capacity—to project revenue, margin, and cash flow.
Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts with scenario planning tied to project pipelines and workforce capacity
Provide financial insight and perspective to executive leadership on strategic initiatives and investments, supporting informed decision-making through disciplined analysis and data-driven evaluation
Support merger, acquisition, and strategic investment activities including financial due diligence, valuation, and deal structuring
Coordinate with executive leadership, legal counsel, banking partners, and external advisors
Support post-acquisition financial integration and performance tracking
Build business cases and ROI analyses for capital investments, hiring plans, and strategic initiatives
Develop detailed cash flow models incorporating project billing cycles, AR collections, and working capital dynamics to support forecasting accuracy
Lead company-wide cash flow forecasting, liquidity analysis, and scenario modeling
Support management of banking relationships, credit facilities, treasury services, and covenant compliance in coordination with the CFO
Evaluate financing strategies to support growth, acquisitions, and capital needs
Advise on corporate investment strategies aligned with Company objectives, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance, informed by industry best practices
Evaluate periodically the Company’s corporate investment policy, including asset allocation guidelines, risk parameters, and alignment with long-term strategic and ESOP considerations, in alignment with CFO guidance
Review and assess the performance and suitability of investment advisors engaged by the company, providing recommendations to executive leadership as appropriate
Monitor investment performance, liquidity requirements, and diversification, and offer suggestions, as appropriate, to improve risk-adjusted returns and overall portfolio resilience
Support and coordinate administration and fiduciary governance of the Company’s 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, in coordination with Human Resources and external advisors
Participate as an advisory team member alongside executive leadership on the Company’s 401(k) Investment Committee, working collaboratively with the Company’s investment advisory firm to support prudent plan governance, investment lineup evaluation, and participant outcomes
Serve as primary financial liaison with the ESOP valuation firm and ESOP trustee, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent financial information
Coordinate all financial due diligence required to complete the annual ESOP valuation and share price determination, supporting trustee review and regulatory requirements
Partner with sales leadership to analyze pipeline, conversion, and commission structures to drive revenue growth and alignment with financial targets
Oversee quarterly Sales Manager commission calculations and payouts
Ensure commission calculations align with approved compensation plans and applicable revenue recognition practices
Provide financial insight and support to the Business Process and Operations teams in developing tools and reports related to financial information, productivity, utilization, and project management
Collaborate with the Business Process Director on evaluating and improving financial systems and reporting tools
Participate in compensation planning, benefits evaluation, workforce strategy, project prioritization, and succession initiatives
The Director of Finance provides direct leadership and oversight of the Company’s finance function and serves as a strategic partner to Accounting and Business Process leadership, operating in alignment with CFO direction to ensure consistency across financial reporting, operational metrics, and decision support outputs.