Chief Financial Officer

Description

At HELIX Environmental Planning, the Chief Financial Officer plays a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s long term success through financial stewardship, strategic partnership, and governance. This Chief Financial Officer opportunity is ideal for a seasoned executive who brings strong judgment, credibility, strategic insight, and hands on leadership to a growing, employee-owned professional services firm.

Why HELIX?

HELIX Environmental Planning is a mission driven, employee owned firm delivering high quality environmental and planning consulting services and habitat restoration services. As Chief Financial Officer, you will join a collaborative leadership team committed to disciplined growth, strong governance, and shared success through our ESOP. This Chief Financial Officer role is hybrid, balancing flexibility with meaningful engagement across the organization. This role is ideally based at our San Diego headquarters, where many of our executive and operational teams are located. That said, we are open to exceptional candidates based in other HELIX office locations, as well as individuals interested in relocating to San Diego over time.

Day in the Life

The Chief Financial Officer partners closely with the CEO, COO, and Board of Directors to guide financial strategy, assess performance, and support enterprise level decision making. On any given day, the Chief Financial Officer may review KPIs, advise on growth initiatives and investment decisions, assess financial risks, oversee financial operations, support Board-level discussions, and ensure systems, controls, and risk management practices align with HELIX’s core values and long term vision.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, COO, leadership team, and Board of Directors

• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cash flow management

• Oversee accounting, billing, payroll, and finance operations in a project based business

• Lead financial support for ESOP valuation, trustee communications, and repurchase obligations

• Support corporate governance and long term financial planning

• Provide early identification and escalation of financial risks

• Present clear financial summaries, projections, and KPIs

• Support contract review and enterprise risk management

Compensation

Salary will be based on qualifications and/or experience, with a robust benefits package. Expected starting pay range of $225,000 to $250,000, performance based annual bonus, ESOP participation, and long term equity opportunity.

Application Questions – Required for Consideration

To help us evaluate alignment for this critical Chief Financial Officer role, we ask all applicants to respond to the following questions as part of the application process. Thoughtful, specific responses are encouraged.

Ready to lead as Chief Financial Officer? If you are a strategic, collaborative executive seeking a meaningful leadership role in a growing, employee-owned company with a great culture, we encourage you to apply.

EEO Statement

HELIX is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and an inclusive work environment. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply regardless of gender, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, disability, age, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service or veteran status. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring, appraisal systems, promotions, training, and career development programs.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including senior leadership roles

• Prior Chief Financial Officer or senior finance leadership experience in AEC industry or professional services

• Demonstrated experience partnering with executive leadership on growth strategy, capital allocation, and financial planning

• Strong FP&A and strategic finance capabilities, including forecasting, scenario modeling, and translating financial insights into executive and Board level decision support

• Experience working in, advising, or supporting an employee owned (ESOP or similar) organization, including familiarity with valuation, governance, or repurchase obligation considerations

• Experience with Deltek (Vantagepoint preferred)

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA and/or CPA

• Experience presenting to, partnering with, or supporting a Board of Directors or Board committees, including preparation of financial materials and discussion of risk, forecasting, or strategic topics

• Experience supporting or evaluating acquisition opportunities, investments, or other strategic growth initiatives, including financial modeling, risk assessment, and integration planning; direct transaction execution experience is a plus but not required