Chief Financial Officer (Wichita)

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the executive leadership team and serves as the principal financial advisor to the Chief Operating Officer, General Manager and ownership. The CFO is responsible for the financial health of the company by providing strategic leadership while maintaining direct oversight of accounting, finance, treasury, tax, banking and risk management.

As a privately owned aircraft parts manufacturer, the CFO plays an active role in day-to-day business operations, partnering with Operations, Engineering, Sales, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve profitability, strengthen cash flow, manage risk, and support sustainable long-term growth. The CFO provides timely financial information that enables ownership to make informed business decisions while maintaining a strong system of financial controls and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and contractual obligations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted business advisor to company leadership and ownership.
• Evaluate business opportunities and capital investments and new product initiatives
• Provide financial insight for pricing, contract negotiations, capital expenditures, and customer proposals.
• Support long-term business continuity.
• Direct all accounting and financial operations.
• Prepare accurate monthly and annual financial statements.
• Develop annual budgets and rolling financial forecasts.
• Monitor company profitability, liquidity, and financial performance.
• Analyze operating results and recommend corrective actions.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Maintain daily visibility into company cash position.
• Develop short- and long-term cash flow forecasts.
• Manage banking relationships and negotiate lines of credit and other financing arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with all loan agreements and financial covenants.
• Optimize working capital through effective management of receivables, payables, and inventory.
• Recommend financing strategies for equipment purchases and facility expansion.

Manufacturing Finance

• Oversee standard costing and manufacturing cost accounting.
• Monitor labor efficiency, material usage, overhead absorption, and production variances.
• Partner with Operations to improve manufacturing efficiency and profitability.
• Evaluate customer and product profitability.
• Review capital equipment purchases and manufacturing investments.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation and physical inventory controls.

Strategic Business Partner

• Provide financial analysis supporting strategic decisions.
• Evaluate opportunities for automation and operational improvements.

Accounting & Internal Controls

• Oversee:
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Payroll
• Fixed Assets
• Cost Accounting
• Maintain effective internal controls to safeguard company assets.
• Ensure timely month-end and year-end close processes.
• Develop accounting policies and procedures that support operational efficiency.

Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee federal, state, and local tax compliance.
• Coordinate with outside CPA firms regarding income tax planning and preparation.
• Manage sales and use tax compliance.
• Oversee property tax reporting and business licensing.
• Monitor available manufacturing tax incentives and credits.
• Ensure compliance with lender reporting requirements.
• Administer company insurance programs including:
• Property
• General Liability
• Product Liability
• Aviation Liability
• Workers' Compensation
• Cyber Insurance
• Directors & Officers Insurance
• Protect company assets through strong internal controls.

Banking & External Relationships

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with:

• Banks
• CPA firms
• Insurance brokers
• Legal counsel
• Key customers
• Equipment financing companies
• Economic development organizations

Represent the company professionally in all financial matters.

Leadership & Culture

• Lead the Finance and Accounting department.
• Develop employees through coaching and mentoring.
• Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, continuous improvement, and servant leadership.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration throughout the organization.
• Promote operational excellence and data-driven decision making.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required.
• CPA preferred.

Experience

• Ten or more years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Five or more years leading accounting and finance functions.
• Manufacturing experience required.
• Aerospace manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong experience with cost accounting and ERP systems.
• Infor Syteline experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing cash flow in a manufacturing environment.

Knowledge & Skills

• Manufacturing cost accounting
• Financial planning and analysis
• Cash flow forecasting
• Banking and treasury management
• Commercial lending
• Tax planning
• Strategic planning
• ERP systems
• Microsoft Excel, financial modeling & data analysis
• Leadership and team development
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Unquestioned integrity and professionalism
• Sound judgment and discretion
• Strategic thinking balanced with operational execution
• Strong business acumen
• A collaborative leadership style
• A commitment to continuous improvement
• A willingness to be hands-on when needed
• A commitment to developing accounting & finance personnel

Success in This Role

Success as CFO means being more than the company's financial expert. The CFO serves as a trusted business partner who helps ownership make informed decisions, protects the financial strength of the organization, improves profitability, develops people, and builds the financial foundation necessary for long-term growth while supporting the company's mission of delivering high-quality aircraft components to customers with excellence, integrity, and accountability.