Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Talence Group LLC

Location: Position can be remote with travel to headquarters in Portland, OR and other locations as needed

WHO OUR CLIENT IS AND WHAT THEY NEED:

Our client, Greenbrier Companies, $4B publicly traded company, is a leading international supplier of equipment and services to global freight transportation markets. Their continued industry success and market leadership stems from a focus on innovation and excellence in building freight railcars and delivering a range of leasing and fleet management services that have kept global economies moving at scale for more than a century. As they chart the course of continued success, they are seeking a strategic Chief Financial Officer to partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to inform their strategic direction in alignment with the company's mission.

As the steward of the financial health of the organization, the CFO will drive the success of short-term objectives while holding a long term vision of the organization. This leader will develop an in-depth understanding of the industry, financial levers, customers, business strategy, and the Greenbrier organization to catalyze financial performance and meet key financial metrics. The CFO will continuously evaluate and manage risks to safeguard the organization's assets and its people.

The CFO will enhance the ability of the finance, accounting, and information technology teams to add value as strategic business partners across the broader business operations. As a leader and a mentor, they will develop the teams’ capabilities, increasing the ability of the finance partnership to deliver efficient systems and solutions across the span of the global organization.

The CFO will be a highly collaborative business partner leading high performance accounting, finance, and information technology teams.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop strong relationships with the Leadership Team and Board Members, ensuring they are provided with accurate reporting of the company's financial status, critical financial information, and recommendations to drive the strategic plan.
• Draw on business acumen and a wide lens of perspective to infuse financial analysis and market comprehension into strategic conversations.
• Partner with the CEO, the Board of Directors, and key leaders on strategic corporate transactions, including due diligence, divestment, joint-ventures, and post-deal integration.
• Promote ethical and responsible decision making, appropriate management, and best practices in corporate governance.
• Lead the synthesis of business intelligence, including real-time performance insights and analysis of the market, to effectively prepare the executive leadership team and other internal stakeholders for investor interactions.

• As a key external face of the company, manage relationships with investors, successfully communicate complex insights on the company’s financial health and business strategy to build understanding and confidence. 

Finance Leadership 

• Foster best-in-class finance and accounting team through strong leadership; attract, motivate, mentor, develop, and retain high performing accounting and finance talent at all levels.
• Drive a continuous improvement philosophy throughout the organization to make measurable strides toward excellence in financial performance.
• Orient the financial function to the broader strategic priorities and unify efforts and priorities. 

Operational Performance/ Financial Planning and Analysis

• Provide forward-looking strategic management and oversight of the company's financial position through forecasting, modeling, benchmarking, and budgeting to ensure successful business outcomes to drive revenue growth; enhance gross margins; manage expenses; and improve profitability, ROIC and EPS. 
• Provide timely and accurate monthly and yearly financial reporting, translating financial insights into initiatives that foster innovation, operational efficiency, and a competitive advantage for the company.

• Oversee financial policies, procedures, and systems to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the company’s financial statements, financial reports, and public reporting. Work closely with the finance team to support accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with GAAP, SEC and SOX regulations.

Organizational Transformation/Change

• Bring a modern change management approach to unify the organization, drive the Finance Transformation strategic initiative, and optimize alignment between operating groups and the corporate function.  
• Oversee information technology strategy and infrastructure, guiding the IT team in the management of a multi-year technology systems roadmap - beginning with assessment of the current tech stack and suite of tools with an eye towards maximizing business value, enhancing efficiency, clarity, and accuracy. 
• Champion processes to integrate systems, advancing the case for transformation to drive clarity, provide a clear dashboard of performance to inform business decisions. 

Requirements

Must Have:

• Minimum 15 years of demonstrated accomplishments in progressive senior financial roles, including a recent CFO position
• Demonstrated experience with organizational transformation/change management from a senior leadership seat
• Past oversight of Finance Transformation projects to improve the technology, efficiency, and effectiveness of the organization at a significant scale

• Strong communication skills, both external and internal

• Broad experience in operational/divisional accounting, finance (planning, modeling, financial analysis, and forecasting), treasury, capital projects, and financial reporting including internal control processes, SEC reporting and SOX compliance
• Modern leadership approach building, developing, and retaining diverse teams
• Experience in M&A transactions including operational integration
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or business administration
  

Preferred:

• Manufacturing expertise, preferably heavy equipment manufacturing or similar
• Multi-site and multinational operations
• Substantial track record in investor relations function
• Experience in leasing industry 
• Work experience in high-responsibility financial roles in a publicly traded company
• Past IT function oversight
• MBA, advanced degree, or finance/accounting certifications

Benefits

Outstanding compensation package and benefits