Chief Financial Officer

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a premier environmental consulting firm leading the industry in environmental science, planning and design, environmental program management and regulatory compliance, community and resilience planning, and restoration. We are a 100% employee-owned firm committed to responsive client service, technical excellence, the growth of our employee-owners, a culture grounded on the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and thoughtful, sustained growth and strong financial performance. ESA’s mission is to partner with our clients and communities to drive sustainable, resilient, and equitable solutions that shape a better world.

We are a growing team of over 700 highly motivated, energetic, and remarkable employee-owners across nearly two dozen offices in the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Southeast US. We are seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our Executive Management Team (EMT) to share in driving ESA’s sustained financial strength and strategic growth. The CFO will optimize financial operations, drive sustainable, responsible, strategic financial strategies, and create scalable solutions for profitability and growth to ensure ESA’s success as a thriving employee-driven consulting firm. This position reports directly to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

What This Leadership Role Entails

The overall responsibility of the CFO is to shape and implement financial and risk management strategies that align with ESA’s values, strategic vision, and short- and long-term goals to ensure sustainable growth and profitable financial performance, as defined in the Five-year Strategic Plan and annual Business Plans. As a key member of our EMT, the firm’s CFO will be a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, ensuring ESA’s financial health and long-term success.

Responsibilities include:

• Shaping strategy, policy, and execution for financial operations and compliance, payroll functions, reinvestment in the firm, compensation programs, ESOP financial management, and supporting M&A opportunities.
• Collaborating with ESA’s executive team to set the firm’s strategic direction.
• Partnering in the execution of key growth plan initiatives.
• Overseeing legal and risk management, ensuring the integrity of all company financials.
• Streamlining corporate policies, enhancing compliance frameworks, and supporting risk management and internal controls.

What Success Looks Like

The CFO will be responsible for the following core priorities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a multi-year financial strategy aligned with ESA’s strategic goals to inform and drive financial performance expectations.
• Governance, Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure financial integrity and compliance with all GAAP, SEC, FAR, and multi-state regulatory requirements.
• Financial Excellence & Innovation: Oversee corporate accounting, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), payroll, project accounting, and treasury functions.
• Culture, Collaboration & People-first Finance: Mentor and develop a high-performing finance and accounting team, build a culture of financial transparency and empowerment, and champion ESA’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

What We Need You to Bring to This Role

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration with CPA and/or MBA credentials.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible financial management experience within a professional service or consulting-related environment, including at least 5 years at an executive management level.
• Proven success as a CFO in a mid-to-large organization, with a track record of driving financial strategy, profitability, and business growth.
• Background in engineering, environmental, or professional services industries.
• Proven experience overseeing financial operations and strategic planning for an organization with an annual budget of $250M-$500M.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a demonstrated record of business success and growth.
• Expert knowledge of accounting principles (GAAP), regulatory compliance (FAR), and audit procedures.
• Strong organizational management skills and ability to direct and synthesize detailed tasks and projects.
• Experience in government contracting, both state and federal.
• Experience leading M&A transactions, including financial modeling, valuation, and negotiations.
• Experience with operating businesses in multiple states such as CA, WA, OR, and FL.
• Experience in building and leveraging technologies to enhance and modernize financial systems and processes.
• Demonstrated experience in creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce with the ability to achieve equitable outcomes in all areas of the employee experience.

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)