Director of Finance

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% ESOP

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Travel Assistance

Employee Assistance Program

401(k)/Profit Sharing

Job summary

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc. is seeking a Director of Finance to lead company-wide financial governance and strategic execution. You will partner with the CFO to align financial strategy with ESOP ownership and long-term growth.

The role requires a ten-plus years in finance leadership, strong FP&A, cash flow modeling, and expertise in budgeting, reporting, and capital strategy. Expect executive-level collaboration and autonomy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required.
• CPA, CMA, MBA or equivalent preferred, or pursuing credentials.
• Minimum ten years of progressive finance leadership experience.
• Experience in ESOP governance and corporate finance is a plus.
• Proven ability to build models and provide executive insight.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy and governance aligned with company objectives.
• Oversee annual budgeting, forecasting and multi-year projections.
• Improve monthly close processes with accounting and operations.
• Develop cash flow models based on project pipelines and backlog.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to executive leadership.
• Support M&A activities and capital investments.
• Manage treasury relations and covenant compliance.

Skills

Financial leadership

FP&A

Cash flow modeling

Budgeting & forecasting

Data-driven reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

CPA / MBA preferred

Tools

Excel modeling

ERP systems

BI/Analytics tools

Job description

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Position Summary

Partner with and support the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in providing company-wide financial leadership and governance for Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, supporting and gradually expanding responsibility across key finance disciplines. Bring industry best-practice perspective gained outside the organization, complementing WM’s strong accounting foundation with capabilities in FP&A, cash flow modeling, capital strategy, treasury policy, investment governance, and data-driven executive reporting. Drive financial integrity, disciplined decision-making, and long-term sustainability by aligning financial strategy with Company objectives and Employee Owner interests.

This is a senior leadership role with broad accountability, working in close alignment with the CFO to support company-wide financial performance, governance and strategic execution. The Director of Finance plays a primary leadership role in ensuring company-wide financial performance and governance and is expected to personally ensure commitments are met, applying whatever time and effort are required by operational, regulatory, and stakeholder demands. This role is expected to strengthen the depth and continuity of the Company’s financial leadership over time. The Director of Finance operates with significant responsibility and independence while recognizing the CFO’s ultimate accountability for financial strategy, reporting, and governance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following responsibilities are essential to the satisfactory performance of this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made as needed. Non-essential functions may be included under “other related duties as assigned.”

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute a Company financial strategy in alignment with CFO direction and company objectives
• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting processes, including development of multi-year projections aligned with operational and strategic plans
• Drive continuous improvement of the monthly close process in partnership with Accounting and Operations, balancing accuracy and materiality to achieve faster, more predictable close timelines that support timely financial insight and executive decision-making
• Develop financial models grounded in key operational drivers—such as utilization, backlog, project mix, and resource capacity to project revenue, margin, and cash flow. Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts with scenario planning tied to project pipelines and workforce capacity
• Provide financial insight and perspective to executive leadership on strategic initiatives and investments, supporting informed decision-making through disciplined analysis and data-driven evaluation

Acquisitions & Strategic Investments

• Support merger, acquisition, and strategic investment activities including financial due diligence, valuation, and deal structuring
• Coordinate with executive leadership, legal counsel, banking partners, and external advisors
• Support post-acquisition financial integration and performance tracking
• Build business cases and ROI analyses for capital investments, hiring plans, and strategic initiatives

Cash Flow, Treasury & Banking

• Develop detailed cash flow models incorporating project billing cycles, AR collections, and working capital dynamics to support forecasting accuracy
• Lead company-wide cash flow forecasting, liquidity analysis, and scenario modeling
• Support management of banking relationships, credit facilities, treasury services, and covenant compliance in coordination with the CFO
• Evaluate financing strategies to support growth, acquisitions, and capital needs

Investments – Short-Term & Long-Term

• Advise on corporate investment strategies aligned with Company objectives, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance, informed by industry best practices
• Evaluate periodically the Company’s corporate investment policy, including asset allocation guidelines, risk parameters, and alignment with long-term strategic and ESOP considerations, in alignment with CFO guidance
• Review and assess the performance and suitability of investment advisors engaged by the company, providing recommendations to executive leadership as appropriate
• Monitor investment performance, liquidity requirements, and diversification, and offer suggestions, as appropriate, to improve risk-adjusted returns and overall portfolio resilience

401(k), Profit Sharing & ESOP Governance

• Support and coordinate administration and fiduciary governance of the Company’s 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, in coordination with Human Resources and external advisors
• Participate as an advisory team member alongside executive leadership on the Company’s 401(k) Investment Committee, working collaboratively with the Company’s investment advisory firm to support prudent plan governance, investment lineup evaluation, and participant outcomes
• Serve as primary financial liaison with the ESOP valuation firm and ESOP trustee, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent financial information
• Coordinate all financial due diligence required to complete the annual ESOP valuation and share price determination, supporting trustee review and regulatory requirements

Sales Compensation Oversight

• Partner with sales leadership to analyze pipeline, conversion, and commission structures to drive revenue growth and alignment with financial targets
• Oversee quarterly Sales Manager commission calculations and payouts
• Ensure commission calculations align with approved compensation plans and applicable revenue recognition practices

Business Process Team Partnership

• Provide financial insight and support to the Business Process and Operations teams in developing tools and reports related to financial information, productivity, utilization, and project management
• Collaborate with the Business Process Director on evaluating and improving financial systems and reporting tools
• Participate in compensation planning, benefits evaluation, workforce strategy, project prioritization, and succession initiatives

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required
• CPA, CMA, MBA or equivalent advanced credential preferred, or demonstrated interest and commitment to pursuing advanced professional credentials as part of ongoing career development and continuous improvement
• Minimum ten years of progressive experience across Accounting and Finance roles, including financial leadership positions, within complex organizations; experience may span multiple industries, operating models, or business units
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth, expanding responsibilities, and longterm contribution to the Company’s financial leadership and continuity
• Brings a forward-looking mindset, including interest in evolving financial technology, data analytics, and modern finance practices, with the ability to continuously improve systems, processes, and executive decision support as the Company grows
• Advanced, hands‑on capability in financial data analysis and reporting, including expert Excel modeling. This role requires fluency in the underlying data, not reliance on others to interpret it

Core Competencies

• Translates operational drivers and synthesizes complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights for executive decision-making
• Demonstrates sound financial judgment, integrity, and stewardship as an Employee Owner
• Communicates effectively with executive and cross‑functional leadership
• Brings an entrepreneurial and intellectually curious mindset, constructively challenging assumptions and evaluating business performance
• Partners with leadership to develop corrective actions and strategic plans grounded in data and financial discipline
• Contributes to multi‑year strategic planning through forward‑looking analysis and long‑range financial perspective
• Engages constructively and confidently with executive leadership, offering well‑reasoned, data‑driven perspectives
• Applies creative problem‑solving and sound judgment to explore alternative solutions beyond traditional finance approaches
• Demonstrates adaptability and continuous learning, integrating external best practices while aligning with WM’s culture and operating model
• Operates with a high degree of accountability while aligning decisions and recommendations with established financial leadership and governance structure

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director of Finance provides direct leadership and oversight of the Company’s finance function and serves as a strategic partner to Accounting and Business Process leadership, operating in alignment with CFO direction to ensure consistency across financial reporting, operational metrics, and decision support outputs.

Work Conditions

The physical demands and work‑environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit or stand for long periods while working at a computer or attending meetings
• Manual dexterity sufficient for typing and using standard office tools
• Visual acuity for reading technical drawings, documents, and computer screens

Working Environment

• Regular use of computers, phones and standard office equipment
• May involve extended periods of sitting or attending meetings

Our People

• Empowered Employee-Owners – As owners of Wunderlich-Malec, we are invested in its success. We hire top talent and empower them to take initiative, drive innovation, and deliver impactful solutions
• Motivated & Rewarded – We invest in continuing education and offer world‑class benefits, ensuring our employee-owners stay motivated, fulfilled, and future‑ready
• Positive & Committed – Our experts bring long‑term dedication and a positive, can‑do attitude to every project
• Industry‑Smart – Recognized leaders in their fields, our employee-owners stay sharp through ongoing training and deep knowledge of evolving industry trends
• Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full‑time employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Short Term Disability
• Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Account
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Referral Bonus Program
• 401(k)/Profit Sharing
• 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Will Preparation Resources
• Worldwide Travel Assistance

The expected salary range is $150,000 - $220,000 per year depending on qualifications plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.