Director of Finance

SCB; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SCB, a nationally recognized design firm, seeks a Director of Finance in Chicago to lead the finance and accounting function from our headquarters. You will partner with the COO, CEO, and Principals to translate financial data into actionable insight, oversee day-to-day operations, and guide budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

The role demands hands-on leadership, a deep GAAP background, and excellence in managing a small but capable team.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive finance, accounting, and controllership experience.
• Experience leading teams in a professional services environment preferred.
• Strong command of GAAP and financial integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the finance team, oversee day-to-day operations.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting.
• Provide insights on performance, trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership.
• Maintain systems, controls, and processes across GL, AR, AP, payroll and cash flow.

Skills

Leadership

GAAP

Forecasting

Budgeting

Financial reporting

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

CPA or MBA preferred

Tools

Deltek Vantagepoint

ADP

Job description

Unique opportunity to lead the finance function of an award-winning national design firm, serving as a trusted partner to executive leadership while leading and developing an experienced finance team.

As a key partner to the COO, CEO, Principals, and firm leaders, the Director of Finance will bring together financial rigor, business insight, and strong leadership to ensure strong financial operations and provide leaders with the information and insight needed to effectively manage the business.

We’re looking for someone who knows the numbers and knows how to translate them into action. The right leader will be equally comfortable ensuring the integrity of our financial operations, leading and developing a strong finance team, overseeing the day-to-day work of the function, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, and advising senior leaders on the financial performance of the business.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Finance will lead SCB’s finance and accounting function from our Chicago headquarters, serving as a trusted advisor to the COO, CEO, Principals, and senior leaders across the firm.

You will lead an experienced team responsible for the day-to-day financial operations of the business, overseeing everything from financial reporting and forecasting to billing, collections, and budgeting. Beyond ensuring strong financial operations, you will provide leadership with clear visibility into firm performance, trends, risks, and opportunities to support sound business decisions.

What You’ll Do

Partner with the business. Work closely with the COO, CEO, Principals, Studio Leaders, and Department Heads to translate financial information into meaningful insights, recommendations, and actions.

Lead financial performance and reporting. Own the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting, including month-end close, management reporting, forecasting, variance analysis, and year-end activities.

Turn data into insight. Analyze financial and operational performance across the firm, including project and studio profitability, backlog, utilization, staffing trends, and other key business indicators. Identify trends and translate them into actionable insights that help leadership make informed business decisions.

Lead and develop the finance team. Provide hands‑on, effective leadership to a small accounting team, establishing clear priorities, managing workload, developing talent, and maintaining a culture of accountability and excellence.

Oversee core finance and accounting operations. Manage the day‑to‑day work of the function, including general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow, billings and collections, payroll, fixed assets, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Maintain effective systems and processes. Oversee financial systems, workflows, controls, policies, and reporting tools, identifying opportunities for improvement where appropriate to support efficiency, accuracy, and strong financial operations.

Lead planning and forecasting. Lead ongoing forecasting and support the annual budgeting process, providing leaders with clear visibility into performance, trends, risks, and opportunities.

Support ownership and governance. Oversee shareholder‑related financial activities, including distributions, income tax projections, K‑1s, and equity transactions, while supporting the Finance Committee and related subcommittees.

Manage key financial relationships. Maintain productive relationships with banking, payroll, benefits, investment, audit, and tax partners.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for a finance leader who combines technical depth with business judgment, strong people leadership, and a hands‑on approach to execution.

You’ll be successful in this role if you bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field; CPA and/or MBA preferred
• 15+ years of progressive finance, accounting, and controllership experience, including significant people leadership experience. Experience within a professional services environment is strongly preferred, with architecture, engineering, construction, or another project‑based business highly desirable.
• Deep command of accounting principles and GAAP, coupled with exceptional attention to accuracy and financial integrity
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, management reporting, and analytical capabilities
• Experience with payroll management, 401(k) administration, and defined benefit plans
• Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint or a comparable project‑based ERP system is highly desirable; experience with ADP and advanced financial reporting and analysis tools preferred.
• A track record of effectively leading finance teams and maintaining strong processes, systems, and controls
• The ability to move seamlessly between leadership and hands‑on execution
• Strong executive presence, judgment, communication skills, and emotional intelligence
• The ability to build credibility and trusted relationships across all levels of an organization

Above all, you are a hands‑on, thoughtful, and ethical finance leader who takes pride in operational excellence, develops strong teams, and understands the importance of getting the fundamentals right.

Why SCB?

This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the business of a nationally recognized design firm with nearly a century of history.

As Director of Finance, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Lead and develop an experienced finance and accounting team
• Serve as a trusted financial partner to the COO, CEO, Board, and other senior leaders
• Provide leaders with clear, reliable financial information and insight to support sound business decisions
• Help strengthen how SCB uses financial and operational information to plan, make decisions, and identify opportunities
• Own a broad range of finance and accounting responsibilities while ensuring the function operates with accuracy, consistency, and excellence
• Join an award‑winning, nationally recognized design firm and an exciting future ahead

SCB is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity (EEO) in every term, condition, and privilege of employment. SCB does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, uniformed service member status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. SCB complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we operate.