Technology and Internet – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Canada

Our client is focused on the disciplined acquisition of companies in the technology, internet and related sectors. Our client’s emphasis is on seeking out acquisition opportunities at reasonable valuations that provide a foundation for recurring revenues, predictable cash flows and margins, profitable growth, intimate customer relationships and dedicated management teams.

Our client is well established, stable, publicly traded, Canadian headquartered and growing rapidly. As the company continues to align its executive leadership capabilities with its successful strategy of aggressive organic growth, it is now seeking to hire a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Scope of Position

Reporting to the CEO, the CFO will be responsible for overseeing all financial reporting and results of the company.

More specifically, the CFO will be accountable for the administrative, financial, IT and risk management operations of the company, including the continuing refinement of its financial and operational strategy, metrics tied to that strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems designed to preserve company assets and report accurate financial results.

The CFO will also serve as the chief financial spokesperson for the organization.

This is an outstanding opportunity that features:

• Strong industry and company growth
• Committed and well-funded founders and financial backers
• Highly entrepreneurial culture
• An opportunity to make a real difference.

Functional Tasks

• Act as a key business partner to the CEO and the operating teams providing financial guidance and counsel on all matters relating to the finance function including strategic business planning, budgeting and forecasting, business analysis, and corporate growth strategies. Take ownership for results along with the management team.
• Provide hands-on leadership, guidance, mentorship and performance management to the finance staff in the organization. Oversee and manage the accounting, tax, insurance, budget, credit and treasury and capital structure functions ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders are served.
• Review and direct capital allocation
• Leverage a detailed understanding of ‘what’s driving the numbers’ to act as a key strategic and operational contributor to the overall growth of the business.
• Ensure appropriate internal controls are in place for the benefit of all stakeholders.
• Manage relationship with audit firm for annual audit/income tax activities and all related matters.
• Oversee the management and coordination of all fiscal reporting activities for the organization including: organizational revenue/expense and balance sheet reports.
• Serve as a champion for enterprise excellence and the maximizing of value creation.
• Ensure that finance organization is structured and sized so as to be optimally aligned to the needs of the business.
• Oversee all purchasing and payroll activity for staff and participants.
• Manage investor relations with a view to accurately yet positively representing the company in the public and financial marketplaces. Ensure that communication remains a top priority throughout.
• Manage banking and other stakeholder relationships.
• Manage financial relationships/contracts with investors, suppliers, customers and partners along with the CEO and other team members.
• Ensure compliance to statutory and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Effectively manage the company’s cash and securities positions and drive any supplementary initiatives deemed necessary by the company.
• Remain informed about the business, put measurements and reporting dashboards into place enabling real time assessment of performance and ‘what’s over the horizon’.
• Ensure that IT is not only aligned to the needs of the business but enables its growth.
• Attend Board and Subcommittee meetings; including being the lead staff on the Audit/Finance Committee.
• Ensure adequate cash flow to meet the organization’s needs.

Key Performance Deliverables

In light of the identified responsibilities, the following are specific deliverables that the position is designed to achieve.

• Specific performance measures will be discussed and agreed upon with the successful candidate.

Competency Profile

The following competencies listed below define the role of CFO at our Client:

Strategic Approach
Develops a strategic plan to realize the vision. Revises strategy in light of changing circumstances. Takes a long-term view of organizational success. Works to clarify long term organizational goals. Able to stand back from immediate problems in order to focus on more far reaching ideas.

Role Expertise
Demonstrates critical technical or professional knowledge/skills related to the role. Has thorough knowledge of relevant products, services and methods. Expands technical knowledge/skills and keeps up-to-date in own area of expertise.

Commercial Acumen
Applies appropriate commercial and financial principles. Understands situations in terms of costs, profits, added-value and return on investment. Appreciates the commercial impact of own work on the organization’s total expenses and revenues.

Results Orientation
Focuses strongly on achieving agreed upon outcomes and ensures that key objectives are met. Conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure. Aims to improve upon past performance. Establishes aggressive personal targets and strives to achieve them.

People Management
Establishes and communicates clear priorities and sense of direction. Clarifies roles and responsibilities. Adapts management style to achieve optimum results.

Integrity & Sincerity
Inspires trust and supports others through own authenticity and following up on commitments. Maintains high ethical standards both personally and professionally. Shows consistency among principles.

Information Seeking
Consults widely for business or technical advice, probes for facts and obtains information from a wide variety of sources. Differentiates the critical from the irrelevant or trivial.

Team Skills
Helps to create a sense of team spirit and harmonious relations through cooperation and support. Balances personal goals with those of the team. Fosters collaboration among team members.

Preferred Experience / Education

The following indicates specific industry, academic and functional experience/qualifications that are important to the successful achievement of the identified responsibilities and performance deliverables.

• A minimum of 10 years of senior financial management experience preferably in a technology related company
• M&A experience working in a highly acquisitive firm
• Numeracy and fluency with numbers and their relationships. Attention to detail critical.
• The ability to lead, to communicate clearly and articulately, to monitor and express strategy to both inside and outside constituencies
• Proactive, high energy mindset in identifying means by which to drive excellence in a highly entrepreneurial firm
• The ability to put value creation into perspective and know what makes the business tick – a strong business understanding
• Experience within mid-sized software company concerns ($150mm ++) dealing with issues of scaling and growth.
• Someone better aligned to a ‘scrappy’, roll-up sleeves environment than corporate
• Highly competitive compensation package for the successful candidate.