Vice President of Operations & Finance

Role Description

Reporting directly to the Managing Partner, the Vice President of Operations & Finance is Meridian's senior business operations leader, responsible for the financial stewardship and operational scalability of the firm. This executive oversees Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Recruiting, Legal, and operational governance while ensuring the systems, processes, controls, and infrastructure necessary to support continued growth are in place.

• Manage a lean internal team supported by specialized third-party partners.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Managing Partner, providing financial insight, operational discipline, and organizational leadership across the enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Finance, Accounting & Business Performance
  • Lead the monthly financial close process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and executive visibility.
  • Own company-wide financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and operational planning.
  • Oversee profitability, utilization, revenue forecasting, margin analysis, billing performance, cash flow, and working capital.
  • Manage and continuously improve financial systems and operational controls, including QuickBooks Online, Ruddr.ai, and related platforms.
  • Develop executive dashboards covering financial performance, resource utilization, staffing, pipeline health, and business trends.
  • Partner with external accountants, tax advisors, and auditors to ensure compliance and strategic alignment.
• Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness
  • Partner with executive leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, compensation strategy, and employee experience.
  • Oversee HR operations, compliance, benefits administration, and performance management.
  • Build scalable onboarding and employee lifecycle programs that reinforce Meridian's culture and values.
• Information Technology & Security
  • Provide governance and oversight for Meridian's technology ecosystem, including Microsoft 365, security controls, and operational systems.
  • Manage third-party MSPs and technology vendors for service quality, security, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Evaluate and implement technology solutions that improve efficiency, scalability, and business insight.
• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
  • Lead recruiting operations, ATS administration, and external recruiting partnerships.
  • Partner with practice leadership to build pipelines of qualified Workday and SAP professionals.
  • Establish and monitor recruiting KPIs including time-to-fill, candidate quality, and hiring efficiency.
• Legal, Risk & Compliance
  • Coordinate legal matters through outside counsel across contracts, employment, compliance, and risk management.
  • Own contract administration for client agreements, vendor relationships, and subcontractor engagements.
  • Ensure adherence to government contracting and regulatory requirements, and develop controls that mitigate business risk.
• Delivery Enablement & Operational Excellence
  • Partner with delivery leadership to establish consistent project governance, risk management, and operational controls.
  • Maintain a project risk register and escalation framework that surfaces delivery risk before it becomes a financial issue.
  • Standardize subcontractor management practices including statements of work, deliverable acceptance, and financial reconciliation.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase operational maturity, scalability, and profitability.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in finance, operations, or executive management within an IT professional services organization is a MUST.
• Previous experience as a Vice President of Finance and Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Finance, or equivalent executive role.
• Demonstrated ownership of company-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow management, and operational planning.
• Deep expertise in project-based financial management, including utilization, project profitability, revenue forecasting, margin analysis, and working capital management.
• Proven success building and scaling operational infrastructure in high-growth professional services environments.
• Experience managing both internal teams and third-party vendors across multiple business functions.
• Strong business systems acumen across financial, ERP, PSA, and operational platforms.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive decision-making and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• High degree of ownership, accountability, integrity, and execution focus.
• Experience operating successfully within a remote-first or distributed workforce environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in consulting, professional services, enterprise software, Workday, SAP, ERP, or adjacent services.
• Familiarity with public sector clients, government contracting, or regulated service environments.
• Experience within founder-led, owner-operated, or privately held organizations.

Pay Transparency

Compensation for roles at Meridian varies depending on a wide array of factors including, but not limited to, the specific practice, role, skillset, and level of experience. As required by law, Meridian provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired. Base Salary Range is $225,000 - $240,000 plus bonus.

Benefits

• A collaborative, people-first culture rooted in empathy, respect, and shared purpose.
• Generous time off and flexible remote environment that supports resilience and balance.
• 401(k) with company match that immediately vests.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision, caregiver/adoption support, financial coaching, EAP.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• Continuous learning and growth opportunities that fuel innovation and career development.