Finance Director

Knollwood Investment Advisory•Cockeysville, MD

About The Position

The Director of Finance reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer and serves as a key senior leader within the Finance function. This high-impact role owns financial planning, capital and liquidity strategy, and operational excellence in support of investment and business objectives. The Director will optimize capital structures, develop sophisticated financial models, champion scalable processes, and enable the firm's strategic expansion of its platform—all while upholding rigorous internal controls. Initially hands-on as a subject matter expert, the role will leverage cross-functional peers, existing resources, and external support (e.g., outsourcing partners) to drive execution, with the opportunity to build a small dedicated finance team over time as the firm grows.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
10+ years of progressive finance experience, with 5+ years in a senior/leadership capacity within a family office, registered investment adviser (RIA), or wealth management firm.
Strong knowledge of SEC regulations and compliance requirements for registered investment advisers.
Expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, capital structure optimization, and liquidity management.
Strong familiarity with complex investment vehicles (e.g., private equity, real estate, alternatives, co-investments, fund structures).
Proficiency with financial software and platforms (e.g., Bloomberg); experience with system implementations a plus.
Exceptional analytical and modeling skills to translate complex data into actionable strategic insights.
Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and leadership abilities to engage with clients and key stakeholders, investment teams, and cross-functional partners.
Comfortable in a hands-on, building role with the vision and capability to scale functions over time.
Unwavering integrity, discretion, and professionalism in managing sensitive financial and confidential information.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CFA, or equivalent advanced credential strongly preferred.
Proven experience in hybrid family office environments serving a broad client base and investment vehicles strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with the CFO to develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the firm's objectives, including wealth preservation and expansion into new relationships and investment opportunities.
Own comprehensive financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting and scenario analysis across the platform.
Oversee cash flow management, liquidity planning and capital allocation to maximize returns, support investment commitments, and ensure operational agility.
Deliver strategic insights and recommendations on capital structure optimization, financing options, and liquidity management to inform senior decision-making.
Maintain and enhance robust internal controls over financial planning and cash/liquidity management processes.
Lead efforts to optimize the firm’s overall capital structure, including evaluation of debt, equity, and hybrid financing solutions.
Drive liquidity forecasting, stress testing, and strategic resource allocation to support drawdowns, commitments, and growth initiatives in a dynamic environment.
Design, implement, and monitor fee structures, vehicle economics, and profitability analytics in coordination with relevant teams.
Support onboarding and account setup from a finance perspective, including fee setup, billing arrangements, and initial capital allocation.
Ensure financial operations and processes comply with SEC regulations and other applicable requirements for registered investment advisers serving clients.
Identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks related to liquidity, capital structure, and vehicle economics; stay current on regulatory developments affecting financial planning and operations.
Partner with legal, compliance, and external advisers on financial aspects of audits, filings, governance, and risk frameworks.
Evaluate, select, and oversee implementation of finance-specific systems and tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and data integration.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives across finance operations to support the firm’s pivotal growth phase, building foundational capabilities from the ground up.
Serve as the primary finance subject matter expert, driving strategic initiatives through hands-on execution and strong influence across the organization.
Effectively collaborate with and leverage peers, cross-functional staff, outsourcing partners, and other resources to accomplish objectives without initial direct reports.
Position the finance function for future growth by identifying needs and opportunities to build a small dedicated team over time as the organization scales.