Chief Financial Officer | Capital Markets & Strategic Finance (Los Angeles)

MHW Search has been exclusively engaged by a rapidly growing real estate development and operating company to identify its next Chief Financial Officer.

Our client is entering an exciting stage of growth and is seeking a strategic finance executive to partner directly with the CEO and executive leadership team as the business continues to scale.

This is not a traditional accounting-focused CFO role. While oversight of finance and accounting is certainly important, the successful candidate will play a highly strategic role in capital formation, corporate finance, operational decision-making, and long-term business growth. The ideal individual will be equally comfortable leading conversations with lenders and investors as they are partnering with operational leaders to drive financial performance across the organization.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief Financial Officer will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic financial leadership across a diversified operating business.

This executive will be instrumental in helping finance the company's next phase of growth by leading capital strategy, strengthening relationships within the investment community, optimizing liquidity, and serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO on both financial and strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Capital Formation

• Partner directly with the CEO to develop and execute the company's long-term financial and capital strategy.
• Lead corporate debt financing, operating company capital raises, and strategic financing initiatives that support continued growth.
• Develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships across institutional investors, family offices, RIAs, high-net-worth investors, banks, and other capital providers to broaden the company's access to capital.
• Identify new capital sources and financing opportunities while serving as a key representative of the company within the investment community.
• Evaluate capital structure, liquidity strategies, financing alternatives, and capital allocation decisions to support long-term growth and maximize enterprise value.
• Partner with executive leadership on acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and other corporate initiatives requiring sophisticated financial analysis and capital planning.
• Lead enterprise-wide budgeting, forecasting, FP&A, and cash flow management.
• Develop sophisticated financial models to support executive decision-making and long-term planning.
• Oversee treasury, working capital, debt facilities, and enterprise liquidity.
• Implement KPI reporting and executive dashboards that connect operational performance with financial outcomes.
• Ensure strong financial controls, governance, compliance, and enterprise risk management.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee finance and accounting across multiple business functions.
• Partner closely with executive leadership to improve profitability, resource allocation, and operational efficiency.
• Lead ERP and financial systems optimization initiatives.
• Oversee insurance, bonding, and enterprise risk management.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance organization.
• Foster a commercially focused finance function that partners with the business to drive growth and strategic decision-making.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a CFO or senior finance executive within a real estate owner/operator, developer, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, or similarly complex operating business.
• Demonstrated success leading strategic finance initiatives beyond traditional accounting responsibilities.
• Significant experience raising corporate debt and/or equity capital.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with institutional investors, family offices, lenders, and other capital providers.
• Strong background in FP&A, treasury, liquidity management, capital allocation, and operational finance.
• Experience partnering directly with founders, CEOs, boards, or ownership groups.
• Track record building and leading finance teams through periods of growth and organizational transformation.
• Established network within the institutional investment and capital markets community is highly desirable.
• CPA, CFA and/or MBA preferred.
• Performance Bonus
• Equity Participation