Job Opening

Are you a sleeves-rolled, finance and accounting executive who thrives in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment?

Are you energized by the prospect of joining a highly acquisitive platform company, working alongside the founders and CEO to solve problems, drive growth, and build an exceptional business?

If you’re enticed, we invite you to explore SSA and the VP of Finance role.

Scientific Safety Alliance (SSA) is quickly becoming the preeminent leader in scientific equipment testing, inspection and certification services.  The platform has acquired 6 companies in 3 core service areas and continues to grow organically as well as through M&A.  Founder-led and employee-owned, SSA is based in Plymouth, MN and comprised of talented, dynamic team members working in concert to build and operate an exceptional company. 

We are actively seeking a hands-on, VP of Finance to join SSA’s management team, taking on a key role in leading and directing the accounting and finance functions of the business.  This is a CFO-track role with direct equity exposure from the start.

Overview:

As the VP of Finance, you will report directly to the CEO, have a dotted line to the COO, and be a pivotal, active member of the executive team.  You and your team will work to ensure the financial health of the company by building and improving upon the solid accounting function in place and developing a growth-oriented, data-driven finance function to inform the strategic direction, operational excellence, and continued growth of the business.  You will also assume responsibility for the development, support, and success of your team members.   

The ideal candidate will thrive in entrepreneurial, high-growth environments.  They will constantly aim to improve, automate, and deliver timely, accurate financials and reporting, as well as continuously drive strategic financial initiatives, and maintain transparent and collaborative relationships with SSA’s businesses and customers.

Your key responsibilities will include (but not be limited to):

Leadership:

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team.
• Steward the success of the accounting and finance team.  Act in a hands-on capacity in providing day-to-day direction, professional development and coaching, and support to ensure your team’s success in meeting goals and objectives.
• Recruit, hire, train & lead team members as required.

Accounting:

• Oversee all accounting for the business ensuring GAAP compliance as well as timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual closes, and bank reconciliations, etc.
• Guide the team to improve the monthly financial close process to be fully complete in 10 workdays while maintaining accuracy and traceability of all transactions to underlying support and calculations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain financial consolidation process for current and future acquisitions.
• Track non-GAAP financial metrics, including adjusted EBITDA and other performance metrics.

Reporting:

• Monthly and ad-hoc financials.
• Monthly and ad-hoc operational reports and KPls.
• Covenants and other items required per credit agreements.

Business Analysis:

• Constantly monitor and evaluate business performance at different levels to derive financial and operational improvement insights.
• Formulate and present improvement plans to the CEO and the COO and lead implementation.

Budgeting:

• Develop, implement and maintain annual budgeting process.
• Constantly monitor performance to budget and properly communicate with CEO.

Systems:

• Develop, implement and maintain internal financial controls.
• Ensure the ERP system, databases, and financial software function properly and
• Assist in implementation of new vertical operating software.

Liquidity:

• Manage day-to-day cash liquidity through detailed forecasts.
• Constantly monitor and manage AR/AP to optimize working capital requirements.
• Develop, implement and maintain payment and collection processes.
• Expense tracking including corporate credit card expense.

Tax:

• Interface with tax advisors to ensure strategic tax planning & tax compliance including tax filings.
• Maintain and constantly revisit organizational structure to ensure optimal tax efficiency.

M&A

• Lead and direct post-acquisition integrations and other ad-hoc deal-related workstreams

What you need to be successful:

• Bachelor’s degree required (Accounting or Finance preferred). A MS in Accounting and/or a CPA with early-career audit experience is preferred. An MBA is a plus.
• 5+ years of experience obtained through increasingly responsible positions within the accounting and finance function, with 2+ years as a controller or senior manager at a middle market business.
• Exceptional knowledge of finance, GAAP accounting, and budgeting.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to connect business actions with financial outcomes. The intuitive skill to extract qualitative insights from data and implement changes.
• Proven experience creating and improving accounting policies, procedures, sound systems of internal control, and tax procedures.
• Advanced competencies in financial management and accounting software, such as NetSuite.
• Direct experience with post-acquisition integrations including opening balance sheet and purchase accounting valuation, banking infrastructure set up and vendor transition. High volume roll-up experience is a plus.
• Experience in the creation of metrics (KPIs) as well as setting, measuring, and enforcing financial and operational standards.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.