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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.

1. Please describe why you are interested in the Chief Financial Officer role at HELIX Environmental Planning and what specifically about our mission, employee owned structure, or growth stage resonates with you.2. Based on HELIX's publicly available information, describe how your leadership philosophy aligns with our culture. Please include a brief example of how this philosophy has guided your leadership in practice.3. Describe your experience working in or with an employee owned (ESOP or similar) organization, including your direct involvement with ESOP valuation, governance, and repurchase obligation planning. Please include the size of the organization(s) and your level of decision making responsibility.

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