Executive Search Brief

Chief Financial Officer

Reports to: CEO & Executive Director

Direct Reports: Controller, Accounts Specialist

Organization Overview

Lafayette Industries is a mission-driven organization committed to creating meaningful  employment opportunities and community engagement for individuals with intellectual  and developmental disabilities. The organization operates within a complex financial  ecosystem that includes government and private grants, service contracts, and a sizable  earned-revenue business. Sustained mission impact depends on strong financial  stewardship, disciplined operational management, and thoughtful long-term planning.

Financial leadership at Lafayette Industries is both strategic and deeply operational. The  organization’s financial model requires balancing mission priorities with business realities,  compliance requirements, and risk management across multiple funding streams.

Contract Packaging & Light Manufacturing Operations

Approximately 50% of Lafayette Industries’ revenue is generated through a contract  packaging and light manufacturing business that serves external customers. This operation  functions in a manufacturing-like environment characterized by:

• Variable production volumes and customer demand

• Customer-specific pricing models and contractual terms

• Tight margins and sensitivity to labor and material costs

• Inventory management and working capital demands

• Labor-intensive workflows aligned with mission-based employment goals

Financial leadership for this business requires a high level of integration between finance  and operations. The CFO must ensure accurate cost accounting, disciplined pricing and  margin analysis, informed capacity planning, and cash-flow stability, while supporting a  workforce model that prioritizes mission employment outcomes.

Role Overview

The CFO is a key member of the executive leadership team and serves as the organization’s  senior financial strategist. The CFO is responsible for ensuring long-term financial sustainability, providing strategic counsel to the CEO and Board of Directors, and  overseeing all financial operations, compliance, and controls, capital budget development oversight and management.  Procurement oversight focused on recurring contracts and supply chain continuity.  Overseeing accounts receivable and ensuring timely collection of contract, grant, and fee-for service billings.

This role blends executive-level strategic leadership with hands-on operational  oversight. The CFO must be equally comfortable advising the Board on long-range  financial strategy and engaging directly with day-to-day financial and operational  realities—particularly within the contract packaging business.

Strategic Impact & Priorities

The CFO is expected to:

• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO and Board, particularly the Finance  Committee.

• Lead long-range financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modeling to support  sustainability, growth, and risk mitigation.

• Ensure financial decision-making is fully aligned with mission priorities and  operational realities.

• Strengthen financial infrastructure, internal controls, and reporting practices to  support organizational resilience and transparency.

Contract Packaging & Earned Revenue Leadership

• Oversee financial strategy for a labor-intensive, earned-revenue business with  fluctuating volumes and narrow margins.

• Develop and refine cost-accounting methodologies to accurately allocate labor,  overhead, and materials.

• Partner closely with operations leadership to evaluate pricing, profitability, capacity  utilization, and contract performance.

• Monitor and analyze key operational performance indicators such as cost per unit,  labor efficiency, contribution margin, and inventory turnover.

• Translate operational and financial data into actionable insights that inform  strategic and operational decisions.

Core Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and oversee multi-year financial forecasts, annual budgets, and financial  models.

• Advise executive leadership and the Board on the financial implications of strategic  initiatives, operational changes, and growth opportunities.

• Evaluate cost structures, production efficiency, and resource allocation to optimize  financial performance across programs and business lines.

Financial Operations & Oversight

• Oversee all accounting and finance functions, including general ledger, accounts  payable and receivable, payroll, and grant accounting.

• Ensure timely, accurate financial reporting on a monthly, quarterly, and annual  basis.

• Manage cash flow, liquidity, banking relationships, and treasury activities, with  particular attention to working capital needs tied to production, inventory, and grant cycles.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, IRS regulations, grant requirements, and internal  financial policies.

• Lead the annual external audit and manage auditor relationships.

• Oversee regulatory filings, tax submissions, and financial risk management  processes.

• Maintain and continuously improve internal controls and financial governance  practices.

The CFO plays a critical role in balancing mission impact with the operational and financial  risks inherent in the contract packaging business, including:

• Revenue concentration and customer dependency

• Margin pressure caused by labor variability and input costs

• Working capital demands linked to inventory levels and customer payment terms

• Compliance considerations when integrating earned-revenue operations within a  nonprofit structure

This role requires disciplined financial judgment and the ability to guide leadership through  complex tradeoffs that affect both mission delivery and financial sustainability.

Cross-Functional Partnership

The CFO will work collaboratively across the organization to:

• Partner with program and development leaders on grant budgeting, financial  reporting, and funder compliance.

• Collaborate closely with operations leadership to align production planning, staffing  models, and financial forecasts.

• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for  non-financial leaders.

• Support organizational leaders in using financial data to drive informed,  mission-aligned decision-making.

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team, fostering technical excellence and  professional growth.

• Establish a culture of accountability, transparency, service, and continuous  improvement within the finance function.

• Serve as a visible, trusted leader across the organization.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Experience & Background

• Minimum of 10+ years of financial management experience.

• At least 5 years in a nonprofit or mission-aligned organization, or a comparable  sector with complex compliance requirements.

• Demonstrated experience working with:

o Boards of Directors and Finance/Audit Committees

o External auditors and regulatory agencies

o Grant- and contract-based funding environments

• Experience overseeing or partnering with earned-revenue, manufacturing, or  operationally complex business units (e.g., contract packaging, production,  logistics, or fee-for-service models) strongly preferred.

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related  field required.

• Master’s degree strongly preferred.

• CPA strongly desired but not required.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinker with strong financial judgment.

• Proven ability to balance big-picture strategy with operational detail.

• Clear, confident communicator who can translate financial complexity into  actionable guidance.

• Mission-aligned leader who values collaboration, integrity, and accountability. Why This Role Is Compelling

• High-impact executive role with direct Board visibility and influence.

• Opportunity to shape long-term sustainability in a mission-driven organization  with a significant earned-revenue operation.

• Unique blend of nonprofit finance, operational leadership, and strategic influence.

• Trusted advisor role to the CEO during a critical period of organizational planning  and growth.

Please submit a resume to HR@lafayetteindustries.com.