Chief Financial Officer

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Sr Officials & Mgmt American Crane & Equipment Corporation & Shop, Douglassville, PA, US

5 days ago Requisition ID: 1282

NOW HIRING: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports To: CEO

Location: On-site only | 531 Old Swede Road, Douglassville, PA 19518 (No remote work available)

Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8:00AM–4:30PM | Full-time

Compensation: Competitive executive compensation based on experience, technical depth, strategic finance leadership, industry background, and market data

Build Your Career with ACECO

We are seeking a Chief Financial Officer to provide strategic and operational financial leadership as our organization continues to grow, mature, and invest in our future.

This role reports directly to our CEO and will also collaborate closely with our President.

We are looking for a finance executive who can see beyond historical reporting and help the organization make better decisions about profitability, cash flow, investment, risk, growth, capital needs, and long-term direction.

The right person will spend time understanding how ACECO actually works, how jobs move through Engineering, Manufacturing, Service, Sales, Purchasing, Quality, and Operations, and then translate that understanding into clearer financial strategy, better forecasting, stronger accountability, and better business decisions.

You won’t get lost here. Your perspective will matter, your judgment will be relied upon, and your impact will be visible across the organization.

What This Role Really Is

This is a hands-on executive finance leadership role responsible for helping ACECO strengthen the way it plans, measures, forecasts, and makes decisions.

The CFO will provide overall financial leadership while partnering closely with the Controller, who remains the primary technical accounting owner.

The CFO’s focus is broader: financial strategy, forecasting, long-range planning, job-level profitability, cash flow, working capital, risk, ERP transformation, executive decision support, and cross-functional financial leadership.

Success requires someone who can move comfortably between strategic conversations with our CEO, ownership, and leadership team and detailed discussions about job performance, balance sheet accounts, inventory, working capital, ERP processes, and operational cost drivers.

Who Thrives Here — and Who Does Not

You’ll do well here if you:

• Think strategically but are still willing to get into the details
• Understand how operational decisions translate into financial outcomes
• Can challenge assumptions without damaging relationships
• Enjoy working directly with business owners and executive leadership
• Build credibility with non-financial leaders by making finance understandable
• Are comfortable leading through change and ambiguity
• Value strong accounting fundamentals but think beyond traditional accounting
• See technology, automation, dashboards, analytics, and AI as tools to improve decision-making
• Take ownership of outcomes rather than simply presenting reports

This role is likely not a fit if you:

• Prefer remaining removed from day-to-day business operations
• Want a purely technical accounting role
• Have only public accounting experience without meaningful operating-company finance leadership
• Prefer reporting what happened over influencing what happens next
• Avoid difficult conversations about profitability, performance, risk, or accountability
• Are uncomfortable working full-time on-site in a manufacturing environment
• Prefer maintaining legacy processes rather than helping redesign them

What Success Looks Like in the First Year

First 90 Days

• Build strong relationships with our CEO, ownership, Leadership Team, Accounting team, department leaders, and external financial advisors
• Develop a complete understanding of balance sheet accounts and financial reporting
• Build familiarity with active jobs, project-level financial performance, revenue recognition, and profitability drivers
• Learn our current ERP and existing reporting capabilities
• Participate in the annual budget process
• Build working knowledge of the planned ERP conversion and begin providing financial input
• Transition day-to-day executive finance responsibilities from the interim CFO

Second Quarter

• Review and finalize the annual budget
• Provide leadership through the annual audit
• Deepen involvement in ERP conversion planning
• Begin developing a 5–10 year financial outlook
• Build strong working relationships with Accounting and department leaders across ACECO
• Provide regular CFO-level financial support to NorLink Solutions

Third Quarter

• Identify and begin implementing process, profitability, reporting, and financial-control improvements
• Complete the annual audit
• Further develop ACECO’s 5–10 year financial outlook
• Help advance ERP conversion planning across Accounting and Purchasing
• Identify financial priorities for future quarters and present recommendations to executive leadership

Fourth Quarter

• Continue implementing improvements in profitability, controls, financial processes, and reporting
• Support ERP transition readiness, including training, cross-training, documentation, and future-state process development
• Help create greater financial clarity, organization, and confidence across departments
• Establish a stronger long-term financial planning foundation for ACECO’s continued growth

Why Join ACECO?

Executive-Level Impact

This role will directly influence growth strategy, capital planning, profitability, risk, technology investments, and long-range business decisions.

Hands-On Business Partnership

The CFO will work closely with leaders across Engineering, Manufacturing, Service, Sales, Purchasing, Quality, HR, and other functions.

A Business in Growth Mode

ACECO is continuing to invest in people, technology, systems, capabilities, and operational scale.

ERP Transformation

The CFO will be a key executive leader through a significant ERP conversion and will help shape future financial processes, controls, reporting, and workflows.

Long-Term Financial Strategy

This is an opportunity to build stronger forecasting, scenario planning, and 5–10 year financial visibility.

Direct Access to Leadership

You’ll work closely with our CEO, President, Leadership Team, Controller, and external advisors.

What You’ll Do

Executive Financial Leadership & Business Strategy

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to our CEO, President, and Leadership Team
• Help develop, evaluate, and implement strategic business plans
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations related to growth, investments, financing, expansion, and organizational priorities
• Evaluate tradeoffs, risks, and financial implications of major decisions
• Connect financial strategy to the operational realities of the business

Accounting Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage, develop, and provide executive oversight to the Accounting and Finance function
• Provide direct leadership and coaching to the Controller and other assigned team members
• Maintain appropriate separation between Controller ownership of day-to-day technical accounting and CFO ownership of strategic financial leadership
• Strengthen technical capability, process discipline, succession readiness, and cross-training
• Build a collaborative, solutions-focused Accounting function that supports company growth

Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Provide executive oversight of the annual budgeting process
• Ensure annual budgets are completed before the start of each fiscal year
• Update forecasts quarterly in collaboration with department leaders and executive leadership
• Develop a comprehensive 5–10 year financial outlook
• Model growth, expansion, capital expenditures, financing, staffing, cash needs, and strategic initiatives
• Improve financial visibility and accountability across departments

Financial Analysis & Performance Management

• Review monthly financial results for accuracy, trends, risks, and business outcomes
• Prepare meaningful commentary and present results to executive leadership
• Analyze actual results against budget, forecast, historical performance, and strategic goals
• Develop dashboards, KPIs, and financial summaries
• Analyze job-level and project-level profitability, cost coverage, and operational performance
• Translate complex financial data into clear business implications and recommendations

Cash Flow, Working Capital & Capital Planning

• Lead cash-flow planning, liquidity management, and capital requirement analysis
• Evaluate financing needs and long-term capital strategy
• Support decisions related to growth, expansion, investment, and organizational capacity
• Anticipate future working-capital and cash requirements

Enterprise Risk Management

• Identify and evaluate financial and operational risks
• Work with Legal, Safety, Production, Insurance, Accounting, and other functions to reduce financial exposure
• Support insurance-renewal decision-making
• Oversee customer credit risk
• Monitor risks related to liquidity, customer concentration, contractual obligations, inventory, financing, and other material exposures

Inventory & Working Capital Oversight

• Provide executive financial oversight of inventory and related controls
• Support annual physical inventory and cycle-count processes
• Partner with Accounting, Purchasing, and Manufacturing to improve inventory accuracy
• Evaluate inventory levels, financial exposure, and working-capital implications

ERP & Financial Systems Leadership

• Serve as a key executive leader in ACECO’s planned ERP conversion
• Represent Finance and Accounting requirements during planning, configuration, testing, implementation, and stabilization
• Help shape future-state financial processes, controls, workflows, reporting, and data quality
• Support training, cross-training, process documentation, and change management
• Explore opportunities to improve finance through automation, analytics, dashboards, and responsible AI use

External Financial Relationships

• Maintain strong relationships with bankers, bond brokers, CPAs, auditors, tax advisors, insurance brokers, and other professional partners
• Represent ACECO in significant financial and professional discussions
• Participate in regular meetings regarding company performance, financing, audit, tax, and future needs

NorLink Solutions Financial Leadership

• Provide CFO-level financial guidance to NorLink Solutions
• Review monthly financial performance
• Provide perspective on pricing, marketing strategy, hiring, investment, cash requirements, and other business decisions
• Support NorLink’s growth while aligning financial guidance with ACECO’s broader strategy

What We’re Looking For

This role requires full-time, on-site availability Monday–Friday, 8:00AM–4:30PM.

Candidates should be located within a reasonable daily commuting distance of:

531 Old Swede Road
Douglassville, PA 19518

If relocation is required, the selected candidate must relocate prior to starting. American Crane & Equipment Corporation does not provide relocation assistance.

Ideal Candidates Should Be Able to Demonstrate the Following:

• Strategic financial leadership within an operating business
• Strong technical accounting foundation
• Executive-level judgment and decision-making
• Hands-on budgeting, forecasting, modeling, and cash-flow planning
• Experience connecting operational activity to financial results
• Strong business partnership with owners, CEOs, and senior leaders
• Experience leading and developing Accounting or Finance teams
• Ability to improve financial accountability across departments
• Strong communication with non-financial leaders
• Comfort challenging assumptions constructively
• Change leadership and ERP implementation capability
• High integrity, discretion, and confidentiality
• Strong curiosity regarding technology, automation, analytics, and AI

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field strongly preferred
• CPA designation preferred
• MBA or other advanced degree preferred
• Equivalent executive-level financial leadership experience may be considered when supported by a strong technical accounting background

Experience

• Significant progressive experience within Accounting and Finance in an operating business
• Demonstrated experience working directly with business owners, Presidents, CEOs, or other C-suite leaders
• Experience leading and developing an Accounting or Finance team
• Experience in project-based, engineer-to-order, manufacturing, construction, distribution, service, or inventory-intensive environments strongly preferred
• Experience with project-based revenue recognition and percentage-of-completion accounting strongly preferred
• Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, cash-flow planning, and long-range planning
• Experience analyzing job-level or project-level financial performance
• Experience with inventory oversight and working capital
• Experience with multiple ERP systems
• ERP implementation or conversion experience strongly preferred
• Experience with external CPAs, auditors, bankers, insurance brokers, bond brokers, tax advisors, and other professional partners
• Public accounting experience may be valuable, but meaningful operating-company experience is required
• Prior CFO title is not required; highly experienced VP Finance, Finance Director, Corporate Controller, or similar leaders may be considered

Technical & Financial Skills

• GAAP and financial reporting
• Balance sheet management
• Financial statement analysis
• Project-based revenue recognition
• Percentage-of-completion accounting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial modeling
• Long-range planning
• Cash-flow and liquidity management
• Working capital
• Capital planning
• Inventory accounting
• Job-level profitability analysis
• Customer credit risk
• ERP systems
• Financial dashboards and KPIs
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Financial automation, analytics, and emerging technology

Requirements

• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
• Ability to verify identity and employment authorization through Form I-9
• Eligibility to access information or technology governed by applicable U.S. export-control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810, EAR, and/or ITAR, where applicable
• Willingness to undergo a background check in accordance with applicable laws
• Willingness to undergo a pre-employment drug screen and randomized drug testing during employment
• Ability to work full-time on-site at ACECO Plant 1 in Douglassville PA
• Ability to meet the posted work schedule and work additional hours when executive responsibilities require
• Ability to maintain reliable attendance and punctuality
• Ability to protect highly confidential financial, employee, ownership, customer, and strategic information
• Willingness to follow all company safety policies and procedures
• Willingness to wear required PPE when entering manufacturing areas
• Willingness to complete required safety, compliance, leadership, and role-specific training
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to maintain professional conduct aligned with executive leadership expectations

This is primarily a professional, on-site office role with frequent interaction with executive leadership, ownership, Accounting, department leaders, employees, external advisors, and business partners.

The CFO will also interact regularly with Manufacturing and Operations and may enter active shop areas to better understand the business. Appropriate PPE and safety procedures are required in designated manufacturing areas.

Occasional business travel may be required.

What’s In It for You?

At ACECO, this role offers the opportunity to shape the financial direction of a growing, privately held, custom-engineered manufacturing organization.

• Competitive executive compensation based on experience and capability
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off and paid company holidays
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Direct partnership with our CEO, President, and Leadership Team
• Significant influence over long-term growth, profitability, capital planning, and business strategy
• Opportunity to lead financial modernization and ERP transformation
• Broad cross-functional exposure across the entire business
• Visible impact on organizational performance and long-term value creation

What to Expect From Our Hiring Process

Every application is reviewed by our internal Talent Acquisition team. We do not rely on automated screening tools.

We encourage applicants to tailor their resume to accurately reflect their financial leadership experience, operating-company experience, team leadership, ERP involvement, strategic planning responsibilities, and measurable business impact.

We focus on candidates who demonstrate ownership, judgment, reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail throughout the application process.

Qualified candidates typically hear from us within a few business days depending on applicant volume.

During the interview process, candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples involving financial strategy, forecasting, cash-flow planning, job-level profitability, ERP transformation, risk management, team leadership, and executive decision-making. We will ask follow-up questions to better understand your individual role, judgment, decision-making process, and business impact.

Build your career with ACECO.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screen, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

American Crane & Equipment Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The company maintains and observes employment policies that do not discriminate against any person because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, age, ancestry and any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. This applies to recruiting, hiring, training, compensation, overtime, job classifications, work assignments, promotions, demotions, layoffs, terminations, transfers, and all other conditions of employment.

This position requires:

• Valid proof of identity and authorization to work in the U.S. (Form I-9)
• Eligibility to access information or technology governed by U.S. export control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810. If government authorization is required for access to controlled technology, employment or start date may be delayed or withdrawn in accordance with applicable law
• Certain positions and projects may require the ability to obtain and maintain unescorted access to nuclear facilities in compliance with NRC regulations (10 C.F.R. Parts 26 & 73)

The pay for this position is dependent on circumstances including an applicant’s skills and qualifications, certain degrees and certifications, prior job experience, market data, and other relevant factors.

American Crane & Equipment Corporation offers a wide array of comprehensive benefit programs and services including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts to our benefits-eligible employees. Additional benefits include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid time off, paid holidays, and disability coverage. Some benefits offerings are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works.

NOTE: American Crane & Equipment Corporation is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for employment opportunities, unless they have a written agreement for the position they are contacting us about. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at American Crane & Equipment Corporation without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of American Crane & Equipment Corporation, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by American Crane & Equipment Corporation as a result of the referral or through other means.