Chief Financial Officer

Responsibilities

Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, advising on financial, operational, and technology-driven strategies that support company goals and accelerate growth toward and beyond $100 million in revenue.

Aligns financial planning and technology investment with business growth, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.

Provides executive oversight for major system integrations, digital transformation initiatives, and long-term financial planning.

• Oversees all accounting and financial operations through direct management of the Controller and Financial Analyst.
• Evaluates financial performance, identifies trends, and advises leadership on opportunities to strengthen margins, efficiency, and cash flow.
• Led the annual budgeting and forecasting process across departments; monitors variances and recommends corrective actions.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP, tax regulations, internal policies, and external audit requirements, including federal, state, and local tax obligations across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.
• Guides risk management initiatives, including financial controls, asset protection, and insurance considerations.
• Develops and oversees the company’s overall tax strategy, working in close coordination with external tax advisors to minimize tax liability, optimize the company’s tax position, and ensure full compliance across federal, state, and local jurisdictions in Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, and any future operating locations.
• Evaluates tax implications of business decisions, including entity structure, capital expenditures, compensation strategies, and acquisition structuring (asset vs. stock deals, purchase price allocation, and step-up elections), ensuring tax efficiency is a key input in every major financial decision.
• Manages all tax filings, reporting deadlines, and responses to audits and inquiries from federal, state, and local tax agencies.
• Proactively monitors changes in federal and state tax law and regulations, assessing business impact and adjusting the company’s tax strategy accordingly; advises ownership on pass-through entity considerations and distributions as applicable to the LLC structure.

Financial Management & Analytics

• Oversees banking relationships, cash management, and long-term capital planning.
• Partners with Operations, Sales, Service, Production, and HR to support data accuracy, financial transparency, and technology-driven improvements.
• Strengthens company-wide adoption of financial systems, reporting tools, and technology standards.
• Oversees inventory control practices and supports the improvement of receivables timing, payables timing, and workflow automation.

Technology Strategy & Oversight

• Oversees the Vice President of Technology and ensures alignment of the company’s technology roadmap with financial and operational priorities.
• Provides strategic leadership for major technology investments, ERP enhancements, business intelligence tools, and system integrations.
• Ensures cybersecurity, data integrity, and compliance standards meet corporate risk expectations.
• Supports the development and implementation of emerging technologies—such as AI, automation, and advanced analytics—to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making.
• Ensures IT infrastructure and systems are reliable, secure, scalable, and supportive of both current and future business needs.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Growth Strategy

• Leads and manages the full acquisition lifecycle from target identification and preliminary screening through financial due diligence, deal structuring, closing, and post-acquisition integration.
• Develops and maintains financial models to evaluate acquisition targets, including valuation analysis, return on investment projections, synergy assessments, and accretion/dilution analysis.
• Conducts comprehensive financial due diligence on acquisition targets, including review of historical financial statements, working capital analysis, quality of earnings assessments, debt and liability identification, and assessment of accounting policies and practices.
• Partners with outside legal counsel, investment bankers, and other advisors to structure transactions, negotiate terms, and manage closing processes.
• Oversees post-acquisition financial integration, including chart of accounts alignment, system consolidation, reporting standardization, and cultural assimilation of financial processes and controls.
• Secures and manages acquisition financing, including maintaining relationships with lenders, evaluating debt structures, and ensuring appropriate capitalization of the company as it scales.
• Supports the President and executive team in identifying and evaluating organic growth opportunities, new market expansion (including additional geographic locations and product/service lines), and strategic partnerships consistent with the marine engine and equipment distribution business.

Team Development

• Manages the Controller, Financial Analyst(s), and Vice President of Technology; provides coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Builds high-performing teams with a focus on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promotes a positive, service-oriented mindset consistent with company values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field required.
• 15+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including executive-level responsibility.
• Master’s degree or MBA, preferred.
• CPA or CFA is preferred but not required.
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record.

Skills

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence across departments.
• Results-oriented leader with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Deep understanding of financial systems, ERPs, data reporting tools, and technology infrastructure best practices.
• Collaborative management style and commitment to team development.
• Demonstrated experience with mergers and acquisitions, including financial due diligence, quality of earnings analysis, purchase price negotiation support, and post-close integration management.
• Working knowledge of federal and multi-state tax compliance, planning strategies, and the tax implications of business transactions; experience managing outside tax advisors and coordinating tax strategy in a multi-location, growth-oriented business.
• Strong financial modeling skills, including the ability to build and stress-test complex valuation models, discounted cash flow analysis, and scenario-based forecasting tools.
• Familiarity with capital markets, lender relationships, and debt financing structures used in middle-market acquisitions; ability to present effectively to lenders, investors, and boards.
• Understanding of distribution and/or marine industry economics, including inventory costing, dealer network structures, parts and service margins, and manufacturer partner relationships, is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate effectively in a privately held, owner-led business environment; comfortable working with ambiguity and building processes and infrastructure to support a scaling organization.