Director of Finance

About the Role

The Director of Finance leads all financial management functions at Smart Vision Lights, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, reporting, and long-range financial planning. Reporting to the President/CEO, this role directs and oversees the finance function — currently a team spanning the Controller, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable — while contributing directly to strategic planning and goal setting alongside senior leadership. The Director of Finance establishes financial policies, procedures, and objectives that have a meaningful impact across the organization, maintains financial stability through profitability modeling and capacity planning, and builds the rolling forecasts, annual budgets, and multi-year operating and capital plans that guide the business. This is a hands-on leadership role with visibility into every financial dimension of the company — well suited to someone who wants to build and shape financial infrastructure rather than simply maintain it.

Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy & Planning
  • Develop and lead financial strategy in support of company goals, including new product innovation, market expansion, and margin improvement
  • Lead annual budgeting, multi-year financial planning, and capital investment decisions
  • Prepare and maintain rolling forecasts and annual and three-year operating and capital budgets
  • Anticipate financial requirements, trends, and variances, and develop action plans to address them
  • Evaluate the company's debt-free capital structure and advise on future capital options
• Financial Operations & Team Leadership
  • Oversee and maintain deep understanding of all financial operations, including the Controller, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable functions, and the outside accounting firm
  • Establish and maintain finance and accounting policies, procedures, and systems of accounts consistent with GAAP
  • Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting, tax planning, and compliance with required filings
  • Manage, develop, and set goals for finance department staff
• Analysis & Business Performance
  • Drive pricing strategy, cost analysis, and make-vs-buy evaluations
  • Develop and monitor operating and financial metrics, and provide budget variance analysis and feedback
  • Identify opportunities to improve organizational financial performance and lead efficiency initiatives
  • Prepare business cases and evaluate return on investment for key initiatives and capital projects
• Risk, Compliance & Governance
  • Participate in commercial affairs, vendor relationships, and contract review, including pricing and terms
  • Advise on the company's employee SEP retirement program, current and future state
  • Protect organizational value by maintaining confidentiality of sensitive financial information
  • Maintain compliance with GAAP and coordinate with external auditors
• Strategic Partnership & Leadership
  • Serve as a strategic financial partner to the President/CEO and senior leadership team
  • Contribute financial insight and analysis to company-wide strategic planning and goal setting
  • Establish departmental policies and practices that support broader company objectives
  • Maintain current knowledge of finance and accounting best practices through ongoing professional development

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required; MBA or CPA a plus, but not required
• 8–10+ years of progressive financial management experience, including direct oversight of accounting operations (Controller, AP, and AR functions)
• Experience in a small-to-medium-sized business or manufacturing environment strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success building, standardizing, or scaling financial processes, systems, and reporting infrastructure within a growing organization
• Experience with financial planning & analysis (FP&A), budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning
• Experience managing relationships with outside accounting/audit firms and financial institutions

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and business-analyst capability — able to translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for operational and strategic decisions
• Proficiency with accounting/ERP systems and advanced Excel or financial modeling skills
• Solid working knowledge of GAAP, tax compliance, and internal financial controls
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial leaders and ownership
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and sound judgment with confidential financial information

Leadership Attributes

• Comfortable operating as both a hands-on contributor and a strategic advisor — this role does not have the layered support staff of a larger finance organization
• Proven people-leadership skills, with experience managing, developing, and mentoring a small team
• Entrepreneurial, builder mindset; motivated to create and improve financial infrastructure rather than maintain existing large-company systems
• Sound business judgment and comfort partnering directly with company ownership and executive leadership