Chief Financial Officer

About the role

Alta Planning + Design is a sustainable transportation company dedicated to creating active, healthy communities through planning, landscape architecture, engineering, and education/encouragement programs. Founded in 1996, Alta pioneered the field of active transportation and has grown into a global practice with 180 staff and 22 offices, dedicated to connecting people to places while addressing social justice, safety, and environmental resilience.

Compensation

$200,000 – $230,000 / year (base salary; final compensation determined by experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location).

Responsibilities

• Strategic Business Partnership:
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the President and leadership team.
  • Drive financial and operational decision-making that supports revenue growth, profitability improvement, and long-term value creation.
  • Provide meaningful financial insights and recommendations to support strategic planning and business initiatives.
  • Translate complex financial information into actionable insights for operational and technical leaders.
  • Support annual planning, forecasting, and long-range business planning processes.
  • Develop and monitor key financial and operational performance indicators that drive accountability and business performance.
  • Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, resource utilization, project performance, and overall profitability.
• Operational Finance & Performance Management:
  • Drive visibility into project profitability, utilization, backlog, staffing levels, labor efficiency, and resource allocation.
  • Support pricing strategies, investment decisions, and resource planning through financial analysis and business insight.
  • Challenge assumptions, identify risks, and recommend actions that improve financial and operational outcomes.
  • Establish a finance function that serves as a proactive business partner to the organization.
• Growth & Acquisition Integration:
  • Partner with Trilon finance and M&A leadership to support acquisition integration activities.
  • Lead the financial onboarding and integration of acquired businesses, including reporting alignment, process standardization, KPI implementation, and performance monitoring.
  • Identify operational risks, integration challenges, and opportunities for improvement throughout the integration process.
  • Support the successful adoption of company financial processes, controls, systems, and reporting standards across acquired organizations.
  • Work collaboratively with Trilon leadership to leverage systems, resources, and best practices while preserving business continuity and performance.
• Financial Leadership & Stewardship:
  • Maintain executive responsibility for the financial operations and performance of the business, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, working capital, capital expenditures, financial reporting, and oversight of the accounting function.
  • Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting and analysis.
  • Establish and maintain effective financial controls, policies, procedures, and governance practices.
  • Monitor and manage cash flow, liquidity, and working capital to support business objectives.
  • Analyze current and future business operations and strategic plans to ensure financial effectiveness and sustainability.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax requirements, company policies, and regulatory obligations.
  • Partner with the accounting team to maintain a strong balance sheet and high-quality financial reporting.
  • Work closely with Trilon finance leadership to align reporting requirements, financial processes, and best practices.
• Leadership & Team Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Build organizational capabilities that support growth, scalability, and operational excellence.
  • Develop succession plans and create professional development opportunities for team members.
  • Promote strong cross-functional relationships throughout the organization.
• Collaboration Within Trilon Family:
  • Partner closely with Trilon finance leadership and the financial leaders of other partner firms to support enterprise-wide objectives.
  • Contribute to a collaborative and holistic approach to financial reporting, audit support, compliance activities, and best-practice sharing across the Trilon platform.
  • Leverage corporate resources and subject matter expertise when appropriate while maintaining ownership and accountability for the financial leadership of Alta Planning and Design.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience.
• Experience within engineering, consulting, professional services, construction services, or other project-based businesses.
• Demonstrated success partnering with operational leaders to improve business performance and profitability.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and business analysis capabilities.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and financial controls.
• Excellent communication, leadership, influencing, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred

• Experience within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
• Experience integrating acquired businesses and supporting organizational growth initiatives.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant professional designation.
• Experience working within a multi-entity, private equity-backed, or platform-based organization.
• Experience with Deltek, ADP, PowerBI.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate will be commercially minded and business focused, a strategic thinker with strong operational instincts, comfortable influencing highly technical and operationally focused leaders, hands-on when necessary while maintaining a leadership perspective, independent and accountable in decision-making, collaborative and skilled at leveraging resources across a broader organization, and focused on continuous improvement, growth, and long-term value creation.

Benefits

• Medical: PPO or HSA plans; Alta pays 75% of the cost.
• Dental/Vision: PPO; Alta pays 90% of the cost.
• Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to base compensation.
• 401(k): Safe harbor match up to 4%.
• PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start.
• Holidays: 11 total company-paid holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually; Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually; 5-year travel award; professional development opportunities.