Vice President of Finance (Tempe)

Compensation: $180,000 - $220,000 / year

Department: Corporate/Administrative

Location: Tempe, AZ

Description

Wilson Engineers is an Arizona-based engineering firm with more than 200 professionals specializing in water and wastewater engineering and construction management services. We are dedicated to delivering ethical, reliable, and high-quality solutions to our clients through innovation, technical excellence, and exceptional service while fostering a challenging and rewarding environment for our greatest asset, our employees.

As a growing and highly profitable organization, Wilson Engineers is entering an exciting phase of expansion through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. As part of the Trilon platform, the company benefits from access to broader corporate resources and expertise while maintaining local leadership, accountability, and decision-making authority.

We are seeking a commercially minded Vice President of Finance to join our leadership team and help drive the next chapter of growth. This individual will serve as the senior financial leader for the business, partnering closely with operational leaders to improve performance, support strategic initiatives, ensure financial discipline, and successfully integrate future acquisitions. The successful candidate will be expected to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of financial leadership while leveraging corporate resources and subject matter expertise when appropriate.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Finance is responsible for the overall financial leadership of Wilson Engineers and serves as a key strategic partner to the President and leadership team.

This role is accountable for the integrity of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial controls, and team leadership. Beyond traditional financial stewardship, the Vice President of Finance will play a critical role in driving business performance, improving operational and project-level profitability, supporting strategic growth initiatives, and helping leaders make informed business decisions.

The ideal candidate combines strong financial acumen with a commercial mindset and has the ability to influence, challenge, and support operational leaders in a collaborative manner. This individual will be comfortable operating at both a strategic and tactical level and will help position the organization for continued growth and success.

Key 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 Wilson Engineers.

Qualifications

Required

• 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 preferred but not required.
• Experience working within a multi‑entity, private equity‑backed, or platform‑based organization.
• Experience with Deltek, ADP, PowerBI

Leadership Profile

• 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, accountable, and confident in decision‑making.
• Collaborative and skilled at leveraging resources across a broader organization.
• Focused on continuous improvement, growth, and long‑term value creation.

Why Join Wilson Engineers

This is an opportunity to play a critical leadership role within one of Arizona's leading engineering firms during an exciting period of growth. The Vice President of Finance will have direct influence on business strategy, operational performance, organizational growth, and acquisition integration while partnering with a strong leadership team and the broader resources of the Trilon platform.

Benefits

The comprehensive benefits plan offered by Wilson Engineers exceeds industry standards, and is aimed at meeting each employee's personal and professional expectations. Benefits include personal time off, paid holidays, medical, dental and vision coverage; plus a flexible spending plan and short and long‑term disability. Wilson Engineers also helps in securing your financial future by offering 401k plans with employer matching.

• Medical Plan
• Vision Plan
• Dental Plan
• Group Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Personal Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• 401(K) Retirement Plan
• Sect]]>