EMERGING BLUE Looking for VP of Finance at Boston, MA Full Time

At the turn of the century, innovative tire manufacturers discovered a new use for their vulcanized rubber and canvas techniques: casual footwear. One such pioneer was BF Goodrich, who manufactured several lines of vulcanized athletic shoes, oxfords, heels and boots. In 1933, Goodrich patented the Posture Foundation insole. This early innovation in comfort forever changed the sneaker landscape and quickly became immensely popular. In 1937, Goodrich brought several of their footwear lines under the brand name “P-F.”

The PF brand grew throughout the ’50s and ’60s, becoming one of the most popular brands in America “for work, relaxation and play.” Women could buy outfits designed to match their PFs, basketball’s first superstar, Bob Cousy, wore PF, and PF was standard issue in the US Army.

BF Goodrich posted an impressive $29 million in shoe sales in 1971, but they soon decided to quit the shoe business altogether and sold PF to Converse’s parent company. For a handful of years, PF shoes by Converse were produced; however, the merger was ruled a monopoly and PF was sold once again, trading hands several times. The brand slowly drifted into obscurity, but it was far from forgotten. PF gained a permanent place in American mythology, appearing heroically in movies such as the 1993 classic film, “The Sandlot.”

In 2001, New Balance purchased PF Flyers, viewing it as a great match to their high-performance American brand. With pride in the heritage of PF and a determination not to rely solely on past success, PF designers modernized Posture Foundation and New Balance re-launched the PF brand in 2003. The brand has been regaining momentum since then and remains true to its original mission of creating premium, classic sneakers rooted in authentic American style. In 2021 the brand was purchased by Kassia Davis, New Balance heiress, who aims to restore the company to new heights building on its classic style, American heritage, and comfort innovation.

We are looking for a VP of Finance to join our client’s growing team in Boston, MA. This is an exciting opportunity for a driven individual, with experience or a deep interest in footwear, fashion, e-commerce, and DTC start-ups, to play a key role in the next phase of PF Flyers’ growth.

The VP of Finance will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and the entire leadership team to help set, drive, and execute PF Flyers’ growth and value creation plans. He or she will assume overall responsibility for developing and scaling the finance function with a continuous focus on driving growth, improving profitability, managing costs, creating efficiencies, and mitigating risk for the company.

Responsibilities

• Planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related processes, systems, and activities. This includes direct responsibility for financial planning and analysis, accounting, investor, treasury, cash flow forecasting, credit, deal analysis, and Board communications and management.
• Evolving the financial and operating infrastructure needed to support growth of a multi-channel consumer business.
• Providing overall leadership to the management reporting, financial planning and budgeting processes. Leading the efforts to drive analytical rigor so that business decisions throughout the organization are informed by analytical insight while improving the organization’s ability to leverage and manage data. Develop standardized data sets for business measurement, business planning, performance management and reporting. Actively engages peers and business leaders to understand the key metrics of the business while also strengthening their financial acumen.
• Coordinating the development and implementation of the strategic plan, the annual budget, and monthly forecasts. Develop and review ad-hoc analysis as needed, including economic indicators, capital spending, and other analyses.
• Providing exemplary people leadership by building, leading, and mentoring a high performing team. Maintains a culture that emphasizes responsiveness, a bias for action, accountability, and transparency.
• Optimizing the financial structure and balance sheet.
• Managing banking and financial advisor relationships.
• Continuing focus on improving financial systems and processes using business process improvement methodology.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate/first-level degree (e.g., Bachelor’s degree) preferred.
• Proven success at Director level or above of a high-growth consumer business.
• 10-15 years in progressively responsible financial leadership roles, ideally as a Chief Financial Officer or senior finance executive of a high growth consumer business.
• Experience scaling a high growth company.
• Experience implementing enterprise performance measures, managing rigorous financial controls and financial management systems.
• Exceptional leader who can set strategy and drive execution with a scrappy “roll up the sleeves” approach.
• Ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary project working groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Possesses progressive mindset and approach and is passionate about developing and evolving an iconic brand.
• This role is based in Boston, MA so we are seeking candidates in the area. Role starts with a mix of remote and onsite in our Boston offices.