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Chief Financial Officer

Location:

Kansas City, MO


Company Description:

Our client is a real estate private equity firm headquartered in Kansas City, MO. They are backed by one of the world’s largest investment managers with close to $1 trillion in assets under management. Since 2012, the company has invested in factory-built housing communities across the United States, specifically focused on detached single family homes in manufactured housing and build to rent communities.

Manufactured Housing

The company acquired its first manufactured housing community (MHC) in 2012 and has assembled a portfolio of approximately 5,000 home sites across seven states.   The strategy is market driven to acquire and/or develop MHC assets and deliver steady returns through core-plus, value-add and opportunistic approaches utilizing efficient management and targeted capital expenditures.

Development

The development practice begins with a thorough, analytical-based approach focusing on home price, wage, and population trends. The process is designed to provide superior risk adjusted returns for clients. The firm’s development approach creates value by responsibly undertaking real estate projects that enhance their relationship with clients, customers, communities, and partners.

Full Service Real Estate Company

In order to fully integrate its businesses, our client launched a property management company in 2020, which now has approximately 80 employees, allowing for better operational transparency in a dedicated team, as well as accounting and HR resources to scale the portfolio. The focus is on providing steady and strong returns through stable cashflows.


Position Description:

SUMMARY: Our client is looking for a seasoned financial executive with strong experience in finance, accounting, legal, tax, risk management, corporate governance, strategic planning, and value creation. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and the desire to work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment. This position represents a key leadership role within the company’s executive team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will report to the President. This individual will be a proven executive and a strategic business thinker who can help drive the organization to the next level.  He/She will play a critical role in all facets of the organization.

He/She will be tasked with growing the accounting, finance, and compliance teams, either as direct reports or through third party vendors. The CFO will serve on the executive team, recommending strategy based upon company capital, goals, and cash flow. The CFO will have direct responsibility for financial reporting, treasury, transactional accounting, asset management, tax, risk management, and financial modeling while ensuring the completion of timely financial, tax and statistical reports for management and investor use. Establishing processes and systems to facilitate the organization’s growth plan will be critical.

PRIMARY DUTIES

  • Effectively integrate into the company and its culture.
  • Assess and enhance existing processes and procedures associated with investor reporting and communications.
  • Evaluate and enhance the current business model and metrics that measure the company’s performance.
  • Oversee the organization’s day-to-day financial operations and accounting processes. Lead the development and ongoing improvement of the organization’s financial forecast and budgets while monitoring progress towards the attainment of financial objectives. Preside over the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and related consolidations.
  • Supply timely, accurate, and sophisticated analyses while evaluating the impact of long-range strategic planning efforts and the introduction of new initiatives. Provide strategic financial input plus negotiation support associated with the evaluation of potential property acquisitions, alliances, and investments.
  • Maintain a lead position in negotiations with third parties and vendors that would include: partner relationships, insurance, employee benefits/retirement plans, etc. In addition, the CFO will coordinate and control legal expenditures including outside legal counsel, contract reviews and management, and other risk management activities.
  • Enhance the timeliness and accuracy of the organization’s cash flow and management of the billing, receivables, and payables process. Optimize the handling of bank and deposit relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to assure a prudent cash position.
  • Develop, implement, and enforce fiscal policies and procedures of the organization by way of systems that will improve overall financial management and operational efficiencies.
  • Interact with ownership, limited partners, the external auditor(s) and business operations leaders to design, implement and execute effective internal control systems.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or finance is required. A CPA designation is strongly preferred.
  • Experience in commercial real estate investment, development, and/or construction industries.
  • Strong operational financial experience, preferably within a growth environment and with scale.
  • Demonstrated track record of structuring and implementing processes and controls in the finance functions to ensure highly reliable and predictable outcomes.
  • Early career experience in public accounting will be advantageous.
  • A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience leading and managing financial activities in an organization of similar size and scope.
  • Preferred candidates will have experience working with large institutional limited partners (“LPs”).

 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • A strategic advisor and a practical “doer.’
  • A personal value system that encompasses high integrity, commitment to quality, a sense of mission, and similar qualities of the highest caliber in order to effectively match up with the values and culture of the company and its ownership.
  • A team player who demonstrates a partnering attitude and capability to work with other associates throughout the organization in a positive and collaborative manner.
  • Excellent negotiation and presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the organization.
  • Strong work ethic combined with natural, self-starter tendencies. Quality strategic business judgment with the knack to quickly assimilate information.
  • Solid business acumen with a results-first mindset; the ability to deliver outcomes rather than just output.
  • A high level of intelligence; analytical/conceptual problem solving, critical thinking, planning and organizational skills (i.e., good at setting and prioritizing goals).
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish and develop instant credibility and respect.

To learn more about this position, contact: Margie Arcangelo | (239) 362-1335 | margie@crownsearch.com

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