General Summary
As a strategic partner to the President and Chief Executive Officer and a key member of the Executive Management Team, the CFO will work closely with management and members of the Board of Directors to provide the vision and financial leadership necessary to successfully guide the growth of the company. Responsible for developing and utilizing forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization's operations and business plans to shape and oversee the financial performance and execution of the Company's growth strategy. The CFO will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the company, which include overall responsibility for financial reporting, analysis, forecasting, accounting, treasury, tax, forecasting, strategic planning, and financing. In addition to providing oversight of financial operations, the CFO will also lend a strategic perspective to business development, licensing and philanthropic efforts.
Key Responsibilities
- The CFO will serve as a strategic partner and financial advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, and members of the senior management team.
- Work closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, Controller, and General Counsel in the preparation, review, and coordination of all company filings, documents, and required reports, and be primary liaison with external audit and investment groups.
- Ensure credibility of corporate finances by providing timely and accurate reports on revenues, expenses, earnings, financial trends, and forecasts.
- Provide leadership for the continuous evaluation of short and long-term strategic financial objectives. This position will be responsible for providing analysis and forecasting, including multi-year outlooks based on alternative scenarios to guide business development, financing, and strategic planning.
- Advise executive management on the financial implications of business activities and recommend improvements to drive financial performance.
- Evaluate and make recommendations on capital structure of the company. Participate in the evaluation and acquisition of additional assets.
- Along with the Chief Executive Officer and in coordination with the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, establish and maintain overall planning, budgeting, and operational processes to ensure proactive planning and control processes.
- Evaluate, recommend, implement and monitor all banking and investment activities, including but not limited to managing the relationships with financial institutions, liquidity, day-to-day treasury operations, and cash management.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with reporting and debt covenant compliance provisions. Maintain positive banking and payment processor relationships as well as credit rating agency relationships. Assist with developing new commercial bank/other creditor relationships to ensure the company's long-term access to capital markets.
- Serve as key adviser regarding all transactions including the acquisition or sale of strategic assets, intellectual property, and other revenue generating assets.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior executives in order to identify their needs and seek full range of business solutions.
- Work with donors and other third parties in transactions to raise capital - equity offerings, asset-backed securitizations, or other debt financings.
- Handles reporting for federal and state funders, foundations, and Southern Research's Board of Directors; oversee the preparation and communication of monthly and annual financial statements.
- Remain up to date on nonprofit audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations.
Requirements/Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting. MBA in Finance and/or CPA is highly preferred.
- The successful candidate will be a strategic financial executive, with broad business experience, operationally savvy, and experience as the CFO of a relevant research organization and/or 501(c)(3).
- A seasoned and mature leader with at least 12-15 years of broad finance experience.
- The ideal candidate will have excellent planning and analysis skills with the ability to translate budgets, forecasts, and P&L analysis into action items for the Executive Team and others.
- Primary liaison with external audit and investment groups demonstrating proven experience sourcing, negotiating, and structuring strategic transactions, including but not limited to: debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, licensing agreements, joint ventures, and the acquisition, sale, or licensing of an intellectual property portfolio.
- Proven experience with developing internal talent to deliver improved performance.
- Candidates should have experience attaining multiple forms of private and public financings, bank financing, philanthropic donations, and debt financing.
- Entrepreneurial, self-starter with strong interpersonal and analytical skills, high ethical standards, and proven ability to work effectively with the CEO and others as a strategic partner.
- Strong problem-solving and creative skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
- A strong business orientation combined with unquestionable integrity, dependability, ethics, and financial skills. This person must have a penchant for delivering the highest quality output with a strong sense of urgency and results orientation to a variety of constituencies including the Board of Directors, and company management and colleagues.
- Experience working with information technology staff to manage finance and accounting software packages.
- Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills, plus excellent organization skills
- Experience with government contracts is a plus, but is not required.
- Team player, who leads by example, employs expertise and influence to encourage collaboration across functions, levels, and groups to achieve shared objectives.
- Excellent communication, external networking, interpersonal, managerial, and presentation skills with a strong executive presence. The ability to inspire confidence and influence varied audiences including financial institutions, industry partners, Board of Directors, and company management.
- Existing and strong personal relationships with the financial community.
- Advanced proficiency with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is essential and familiarity with ERP systems.
Core Values
Cultivating human connection - putting people first. We know that every individual makes a difference and that no one can do it alone. We believe the world's most powerful resource is human potential. We are an inclusive and courageous team where innovation and diversity of though go hand in hand. We understand that relationships move at the speed of trust.
Operating with precise execution - measuring what matters and owning results as a team. We leverage data to drive decisions that advance science. We recognize the importance of a stable foundation coupled with an agile mindset. We hold ourselves accountable and take pride in our work. We give and receive candid feedback as a gift that keeps us growing.
Harnessing relentless curiosity - our unstoppable, innovative force. We are driven to ask sharp questions and push the boundaries of knowledge. We use creativity and critical thinking as catalysts for finding solutions that change lives. We learn by doing, consistently striving to improve our relationships, training, methodologies, questions and results.
Stewarding a healthy community - implementing sustainable operations for a safe, engaging environment. We don't compromise on safety and health for our employees, customers or community. We believe a healthy community begins with inclusive economic opportunities. We respect the dignity of the patients we ultimately serve. We are motivated to serve communities that are underserved and markets that are overlooked.
Essential Functions/Organizational Behaviors
Customer Focus - Makes customers and their needs a primary focus; supports development of and sustains productive customer relations.
Team Success - Actively participates as a member of the management team at all levels to enable the organization to achieve its goals.
Trust - Interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in the Finance organization.
Results - Takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; takes action to achieve goals beyond what is required; is proactive.
Regulatory and Safety Compliance - Identifies and corrects conditions that affect areas of compliance including all applicable regulatory and legal agencies or regulations as well as employee safety.
Job Specific Competencies
Strategic Decision Making & Leadership - Obtains information and identifies key issues relevant to achieving a long-range goal or vision; commits to a course of action to accomplish goal or vision after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, constraints & resources.
Operational & Technical Excellence - Ensures that Finance work products enable the organization to meet or exceed our customer's expectations.
Strategic Relationship Building - Uses appropriate interpersonal skills to work effectively with others to meet mutual goals and objectives; understands the role & interrelationships of each organizational function. Possesses skills in managing across functional and organizational lines.
Communications - Expresses thoughts and ideas effectively in individual and group situations; adjusts language to the needs of the audience.
Goal Setting - Establishes stretch goals and manages to focused outcomes. Demands excellence. Demonstrates a strong commitment to organizational success; works to do what is best for all stakeholders.
Change Leadership - Encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; facilitates the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
Team Building - Creates a climate of teamwork to achieve objectives, taking advantage of our diversity; creates a sense of ownership and encourages individuals to stretch beyond their own capabilities.
Coaching and Development - Uses appropriate interpersonal style to guide direct reports to action.
Business Knowledge - Maintains external awareness of business sectors; applies knowledge of Institute's culture, business processes and tools to achieve goals.
Work Environment & Conditions
This position is required to work in an office setting using a computer for extended periods of time. Personal involvement and exposure, including travel, to other locations is required.
Certifications, Licenses, & Registration
CPA is preferred
Southern Research Institute
Jan 18, 2025 