Chief Financial Officer

Flying Horse Capital; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Flying Horse Capital, a Dallas-based permanent capital firm, is seeking its first full-time CFO for a Charlotte-based portfolio company. You will own finance, build the department, lead IT, and share HR oversight with the CEO.

The role is builder-focused, with an interim CFO having stabilized close/reporting; you will design and hire the permanent finance team and lead IT and HR oversight as a true second-in-command to grow with the owner.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including 3+ years as CFO/VP Finance/Controller in a lower-middle-market company.
• Proven track record of building a finance team from the ground up and leading staff development.
• Experience in a private equity or sponsor-backed environment with post-acquisition integration.
• Oversight of IT and HR functions, including ERP selection or implementation.
• Strong technical accounting (GAAP), FP&A, cash management, and lender reporting skills.
• Hands-on operator able to lead at the executive level while managing details.
• CPA preferred; Big 4 or regional public accounting background a plus.
• Founder- or family-owned company experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own all finance and accounting: close, reporting, treasury, tax, audit, and compliance.
• Deliver timely monthly reporting to the CEO and Flying Horse Capital.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and FP&A; build KPIs and dashboards for operating decisions.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, banking relationships, and lender reporting and covenants.
• Strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures for a growing, sponsor-backed company.
• Partner with the CEO on pricing, margin improvement, capital allocation, and acquisitions.
• Assess current function and design the target organization; recruit permanent finance team.
• Lead IT and oversee HR in partnership with the CEO; ensure scalable systems and payroll
• Transition from interim resources to full-time staff with minimal disruption.
• Build a high-accountability team culture aligned with company values.

Skills

Finance leadership

People leadership

Private equity experience

IT/HR oversight

GAAP

FP&A

Cash management

Lender reporting

Hands-on leadership

CPA preferred

Public accounting

Founder-owned experience

Education

CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Flying Horse Capital is hiring the first full-time CFO for a recently acquired portfolio company in the Charlotte metro. The role owns finance, builds the department, leads IT, and shares HR oversight with the CEO.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer, with close partnership with Flying Horse Capital

Direct reports: Finance & accounting team (to be built), IT; shared HR oversight with CEO

Compensation: Base + annual bonus + equity + co-invest rights

Flying Horse Capital is a Dallas-based permanent capital firm that acquires and holds founder- and family-owned businesses in the lower middle market. We buy to own — there is no exit timeline. We invest in the people who run our companies, support them with operating resources across the portfolio, and build for the next generation, not the next sale.

Our philosophy traces to two family businesses: a Connecticut auto repair garage and a Rhode Island donut shop that grew into a regional chain. Both were built by veterans who believed in hard work, community, and doing right by their people. We hold our companies to that standard.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The company is a founder-built business headquartered in the Charlotte metro and recently acquired by Flying Horse Capital. Under long-term ownership, we are investing in the people, systems, and infrastructure to support its next stage of growth.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is the company's first full-time CFO — a builder role, not a maintenance role. An interim CFO has led finance for the past three months, stabilizing the close, reporting, and post‑acquisition integration. Interim resources currently cover controllership and other key finance functions.

The new CFO will take the seat from that foundation and build the permanent team: assess the current function, design the target organization, and hire the people who will run it. Beyond finance, the role leads IT and shares HR oversight with the CEO, making it a true second‑in‑command seat for an operator who wants to grow with a long‑term owner.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance & Accounting Leadership

• Own all finance and accounting: close, reporting, treasury, tax, audit, and compliance
• Deliver timely, accurate monthly reporting to the CEO and Flying Horse Capital
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and FP&A; build KPIs and dashboards that drive operating decisions
• Manage cash flow, working capital, banking relationships, and lender reporting and covenants
• Strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures appropriate for a growing, sponsor‑backed company
• Partner with the CEO on pricing, margin improvement, capital allocation, and strategic initiatives, including add‑on acquisitions

Department Build‑Out & Talent

• Assess the current finance function and interim coverage; design the target organization
• Recruit, hire, and develop the permanent finance team, including Controller and supporting roles
• Lead a disciplined transition from interim resources to full‑time staff without disruption to the close or reporting
• Build a high‑accountability team culture aligned with the company's values

Information Technology

• Lead the IT function and outsourced IT providers
• Own the systems roadmap — ERP, reporting tools, infrastructure, and cybersecurity
• Ensure systems scale with the business and support accurate, timely data
• Coordinate with Flying Horse Capital on portfolio‑wide IT standards and shared services

Human Resources (shared with CEO)

• Share HR oversight with the CEO across payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR policies
• Own HR administration, payroll, and benefits cost management; partner with the CEO on hiring, compensation, and organizational design
• Ensure employment compliance and sound HR infrastructure as headcount grows

FIRST 12 MONTHS

• Days 1–90: Transition from the interim CFO; assess people, processes, and systems; deliver a finance org plan and IT roadmap to the CEO and Flying Horse Capital
• Months 4–6: Hire key finance roles and begin transitioning off interim resources; tighten the monthly close and management reporting
• Months 7–12: Fully staffed permanent team in place; annual budget and forecasting process running; systems upgrades underway; finance operating as a strategic partner to the business

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including 3+ years as a CFO, VP of Finance, or Controller in a lower‑middle‑market company
• Proven record of building a finance team from the ground up — hiring, developing, and leading staff
• Experience in a private equity or sponsor‑backed environment; post‑acquisition integration experience strongly preferred
• Oversight of IT and/or HR functions, including ERP selection or implementation
• Strong technical accounting (GAAP), FP&A, cash management, and lender reporting skills
• Hands‑on operator comfortable working in the details while leading at the executive level
• CPA preferred; Big 4 or regional public accounting background a plus
• Founder‑ or family‑owned company experience a plus
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Charlotte metro