Chief Financial Officer

Cerius, Inc.; Ohio; On-site; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Cerius, Inc. is seeking a Strategic CFO for its North American operations. The role partners with regional and operational leadership to drive profitable growth, financial performance, commercial excellence, and compliance.

You will lead finance, controlling, commercial project management, and related functions for a regional team of about 40 people. A key member of the regional leadership team supports strategy, risk management, and transformation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in finance, controlling, and commercial/project management in an international industrial or project-based environment.
• Strong expertise in project finance, contract management, risk management, and operational controlling.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional and multicultural teams in a matrix organization.
• Experience with transformation, digitalization, and process improvement initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder influence, communication, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional finance and controlling activities, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and performance analysis.
• Partner with regional leadership on growth strategies, cost optimization, and process improvement.
• Drive strong operating cash flow through disciplined contract management, project execution, and working capital optimization.
• Oversee commercial project management from bid through execution and closeout, including costing, risk assessment, revenue recognition, and major claim/change-order negotiations.
• Serve as regional Compliance Officer; ensure adherence to governance, ethics, financial, operational, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Support transformation, digitalization, and change initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and build a high-performance team focused on accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic finance

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

Master's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

CPA or MBA preferred

Job description

Strategic CFO for the North American operations of a global industrial technology company. Partners with regional and operational leadership to drive profitable growth, financial performance, commercial excellence, and compliance. Leads finance, controlling, commercial project management, and related functions for a regional team of approximately 40 people. Key member of the regional leadership team supporting strategy, execution, risk management, and transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead regional finance and controlling activities, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and performance analysis
• Partner with regional leadership on growth strategies, cost optimization, and process improvement
• Drive strong operating cash flow through disciplined contract management, project execution, and working capital optimization
• Oversee commercial project management from bid through execution and closeout, including costing, risk assessment, revenue recognition, and major claim/change-order negotiations
• Serve as regional Compliance Officer; ensure adherence to governance, ethics, financial, operational, and cybersecurity requirements (including sensitive customer/government-related work)
• Support transformation, digitalization, and change initiatives
• Lead, develop, and build a high-performance team focused on accountability and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred
• Significant senior leadership experience in finance, controlling, and commercial/project management in an international industrial or project-based environment
• Strong expertise in project finance, contract management, risk management, and operational controlling
• Proven experience leading cross-functional and multicultural teams in a matrix organization
• Experience with transformation, digitalization, and process improvement initiatives
• Excellent stakeholder influence, communication, and negotiation skills

Location: Mid-Atlantic region (US)

Compensation: Competitive total compensation package (base + short-term incentive)