Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO)

The Sutherland Group | British Columbia

Location: West Kelowna, BC | Nelson, BC | Castlegar, BC | Salmo, BC

Travel: Regular travel to operating sites and project locations

REPORTING TO: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

TEAM LEADERSHIP: Leads the finance team (approx. 15 team members)

About The Role

The Sutherland Group is a privately owned, growth-oriented, BC-based provider of integrated service solutions for heavy industry—supporting customers across forestry, civil, municipal/government, utilities, mining, and transportation. Built over 30 years from a two-truck logging operation into a 16-business-line enterprise, we operate with over 225 team members across Sutco Transportation, BC Eco Industrial Solutions, Summit Truck & Equipment Repair, and our First Nations joint venture, Skemxist Solutions Limited Partnership.

We are hiring a Chief Financial Officer to lead the financial strategy and execution across the Group—supporting disciplined growth, operational decision-making, capital allocation, and performance accountability.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role for a seasoned leader who thrives in complex, multi-entity environments and builds strong partnerships with operators. You'll bring financial clarity, strong reporting rhythms, and practical decision support—while serving as a trusted thought partner to the CEO and operating leaders as we scale.

Responsibilities

As CFO, you will lead the finance function and serve as a key partner to the CEO, leadership team, and operating leaders. Core accountabilities include:

Performance Reporting & Operating Cadence

Build and lead the monthly operating cadence (close, reviews, variance analysis, and actionable insights by business line)
Deliver clear KPI reporting and decision support that improves profitability and execution
Ensure accurate, timely, and credible financial statements and management reporting
Planning, Forecasting & Business Insight
Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasting across divisions
Improve forecast accuracy and establish "one version of the truth" for performance reporting
Develop dashboards that connect operations to financial outcomes (production, utilization, downtime, margin, working capital)
Cash, Working Capital & Capital Allocation
Own cash forecasting, liquidity planning, and working capital discipline (AR/AP, inventory, WIP, capex timing)
Lead capital planning and ROI analysis for equipment purchases and rebuild/replace decisions
Manage lender and financing relationships, covenant compliance, and capital structure optimization
Capital Providers & Stakeholder Communications
Serve as a trusted communicator with lenders, equity partners, and other capital providers
Prepare and present performance updates and strategic narratives with consistent, credible reporting
Risk, Compliance & Governance
Oversee external accounting, tax, audit, internal controls, and statutory compliance
Lead enterprise risk management (including insurance strategy), commercial risk support, and policies/controls
Coordinate with legal counsel on corporate matters, contracts, and entity structuring
Strategy, Growth & M&A Support
Support growth strategy including geographic expansion, new service lines, innovation investments, and M&A evaluation/integration
Build transaction models, due diligence frameworks, and integration scorecards
Contribute to long-range planning and advise the CEO on capital allocation and growth priorities
Team Leadership & Finance Systems
Lead and develop the finance team (approx. 15 team members) and build a high-performance culture
Improve systems, processes, and data quality to increase speed, clarity, and accountability
Partner cross-functionally in a way that aligns with the Group's values and operating culture

KEY MEASURABLES

You will be expected to translate strategy into measurable outcomes, including:

Timeliness and accuracy of monthly reporting and close process
Forecast accuracy (revenue, margin, EBITDA, and cash)
Working capital performance (DSO/collections effectiveness, AP discipline, inventory/WIP controls)
Margin improvement through pricing discipline, job costing, and operational insight
Capex and ROI discipline (clear business cases, post-investment reviews, improved returns on capital)
Risk and compliance strength (audit readiness, control effectiveness, covenant compliance)
Finance team capability and operating rhythm (clarity, accountability, responsiveness to operations)

Qualifications

CPA designation (or equivalent senior finance credential); strong technical accounting foundation
10+ years of progressive finance leadership, including senior responsibility in multi-site, operationally complex businesses
Track record of building financial discipline in asset-heavy and/or project/service environments (transportation, construction, industrial services, forestry, etc.)
Strong commercial judgment: understands how operational decisions impact margin, cash, and risk
Comfortable in the field and in the details—builds trust with operators and leaders through practical, grounded support
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, improve systems, and create clear and useful management reporting
Experience implementing a new ERP (or leading a major ERP upgrade) in a multi-entity environment is a strong asset
Experience with capital markets, lender relationships, and investor communications
Exposure to M&A, due diligence, or corporate development is a meaningful asset
High integrity, steady under pressure, and aligned with a values-driven culture
Experience using AI-enabled and digital tools to streamline budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and transactional workflows, with a focus on real-world business value, accuracy, and risk management.

What We Offer

Competitive executive compensation package (base salary + performance bonus), commensurate with experience
Pension Program with Sutherland Group matching contributions
Extended health benefits through a cost-shared benefits plan
Confidential Employee & Family Assistance Program
A seat at the table in a high-growth company with a clear and active M&A and expansion agenda
A values-driven culture that is collaborative, grounded, and genuinely committed to its people and communities
The opportunity to build—systems, team, processes, and infrastructure—in a company that is ready for that investment
Flexible base location: West Kelowna, Nelson, Castlegar, or Salmo, BC, with regular travel to operating sites

How To Apply

If you believe you're the right fit for this role, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and what draws you to The Sutherland Group.

We review applications on a rolling basis and will be in touch with candidates whose background aligns with our needs. We thank all applicants for their interest.

Learn more about us at TheSutherland.Group

The Sutherland Group is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, and are committed to building an inclusive workplace.