Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Navy DoD (Charleston)
Overview Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer Lead with purpose. Own the outcome. Do the right thing the right way. If you’re someone who values ownership, purpose, and people , we’d love to welcome you to the Life Cycle Engineering way. We are an employee-owned, mission-aligned federal government contractor in search of an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors. This is a rare opportunity for a CFO who values ownership, legacy, and people-first leadership as much as technical excellence and regulatory rigor. As an ESOP company, our success is directly tied to the success of our employee-owners. You’ll play a central role in stewarding this ownership culture—ensuring financial strength, ESOP sustainability, and transparency—while helping guide the organization through growth, recompetes, and strategic evolution. Why This Role Is Different Real Strategic Influence This is not a back-office CFO role. You’ll have a seat at the table shaping strategy—supporting growth initiatives, optimizing contract profitability, advising on risk, and helping the business scale in a highly regulated environment. Hands-On Leadership with Impact You’ll lead within a Corporate Services Group (CSG) combining strategic vision with a practical, sleeves-rolled-up approach. Employee Ownership with Meaning You won’t just manage an ESOP—you’ll help protect and grow it. As ESOP steward, you’ll partner closely with the external trustee, oversee valuations and repurchase planning, and ensure ERISA compliance. High-Trust, Family-Oriented Culture We operate with a strong sense of accountability, mutual respect, and care for one another. This is an environment where executives are trusted, supported, and expected to lead with integrity and empathy. The Role Details As a key member of the ELT and partner to the CEO, the CFO is responsible for leading the financial strategy, compliance, and fiscal management of a diversified business comprised primarily of Department of Defense (DoD)/Government Contracting (GovCon) business but also industrial private sector consulting. This role ensures full compliance with federal contracting regulations while supporting sustainable growth, contract profitability, and operational excellence. The CFO will play a leadership role with other executives in strategic and corporate planning and risk management. The CFO is responsible for the following functions of the CSG: Accounting; Contracts; IT & Business Optimization; Purchasing; and Security. Additionally, the CFO serves as ESOP steward, coordinating with the external trustee, managing annual valuations, repurchase obligation planning, and ensuring ERISA compliance. The CFO must be able to adapt to continually evolving demands and thrive in an autonomous and deadline-oriented environment. Key Responsibility Areas Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership Develop and execute financial strategies to support the growth and success of our business, including ESOP sustainability and repurchase obligation funding Advise the CEO, ELT, and Board on financial performance, risk, and growth initiatives Ensure alignment of financial planning with S-Corporation tax implications and pass-through entity compliance Support strategic planning for recompetes, contract extensions, and new contract pursuits including forward rate analysis and potential pool rate or structure changes Lead financial due diligence for potential mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures Establish and sponsor from the executive level a series of optimization or lean projects that increase the productivity of the LCE team and optimize revenue and profit opportunities Team Leadership Provide strategic and operational leadership to the LCE/CSG organization Provide effective leadership development within the CSG organization Ensure credibility of the CSG by promoting timely and accurate support services to all operational groups Lead change effectively by building commitment in a collaborative team environment Utilize a hands-on approach to address accounting issues and problem solving (ability to conduct, teach, and coach the accounting team on various accounting functions, policies, and procedures) Establish and provide organizational accountability to ensure deliverables and performance levels meet internal client needs and expectations within the context of the LCE values and strategic goals Government Contract Compliance Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and agency-specific regulations Oversee indirect rate structures, cost accounting standards, and cost allocations Identify and understand the treatment of unallowable costs as defined in FAR 31.201 Manage DCAA, DCMA, and other government audits and reviews Ensure proper revenue recognition under cost-plus, T&M, and fixed-price contracts Oversee contract security requirements Financial Budgeting, Reporting & Controls Oversee annual organizational budgeting process Establish annual target overhead rates Oversee monthly and annual financial reporting Monitor overhead rate performance and rate variances Ensure timely invoicing and collections in compliance with contract terms Maintain strong internal controls and audit-ready financial systems Establish policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance and efficiency Ensure compliance with GAAP and government accounting requirements Oversee the Costpoint accounting system and other management information systems Pricing & Contract Support Oversee proposal pricing, cost volumes, and competitive rate development Support contract negotiations, rate approvals, and contract modifications Ensure accurate contract budgeting, forecasting, and burn rate analysis Monitor contract profitability, funding ceilings, and contract closeouts Risk Management & Compliance Oversight Identify and mitigate financial, compliance, and contract performance risks Oversee tax compliance, including federal, state, and local requirements, with emphasis on S-Corp regulations Ensure compliance with ERISA and ESOP fiduciary standards Oversee annual ESOP valuation process and communication to employee-owners Manage relationships with auditors, bankers, investors, insurance brokers, and government agencies Negotiate and oversee lease agreements and legal contracts Oversee custody of LCE fixed assets, including facilities, renovations, furniture and equipment, software and licenses, leased assets, and government owned inventory. Oversee facility security requirements Serve as an internal advisor for the LCE 401(k) savings plan and member of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Core Team External Partnerships Act as primary financial liaison to the Board of Directors and external ESOP trustee Leverage existing relationships within industry and professional networks to grow business within federal contracting and industrial client base Regularly attend and participate in industry events and community engagements to build your personal and LCE network Professional Qualifications & Experience CPA with BS in Finance, Accounting, or related field 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience in government contracting, preferably in privately held ESOP owned companies Extensive knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, DCAA/DCMA requirements Experience with cost-plus, T&M, and fixed-price government contracts Proven experience supporting audits, proposals, and contract negotiations Experience with ESOP administration Key Skills & Competencies Expert knowledge of government contracting finance and compliance Hands-on accounting system experience, preferably with Costpoint Strong analytical, pricing, and financial modeling skills Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to employee-owners and board members Strong collaboration and troubleshooting skills High ethical standards and attention to regulatory detail Ability to operate in a highly regulated, audit-intensive environment Citizenship & Clearance U.S. citizenship required Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance This position description represents a summary of the major components and requirements of the outlined job. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned or required as business needs dictate. Questions regarding this description should immediately be addressed to the department manager or to Human Resources. LIFE CYCLE ENGINEERING Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) is a privately held, employee-owned company with an emphasis on doing the right thing the right way”, which applies to the way we treat our customers and employees. We are proud to have been recognized as a Best Place to Work” in Engineering and in many states and local communities in which we work! Learn more below and at www.lce.com. Mission Our mission is to enable people and organizations to achieve their full potential. A
