THE ORGANIZATION
Quest Aircraft Company, located in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a start-up manufacturer of Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft that has been specifically designed for missionary use. The Kodiak was recently granted Type Certification from the FAA, which enables the Kodiak to be further certified for production. A segmented-wing plane with 750 horsepower, it is designed for back-country, bush and aquatic landings and take-offs where space is severely limited, with application to the humanitarian, missionary, small business , charter transport, “extreme” sports and recreation markets. Quest has already received advance deposits on over one hundred Kodiaks from Christian missions’ and humanitarian organizations as well as private individuals and governmental organizations.
The organizational culture is focused on having excellence in all areas, including a supportive and collegial environment, and utilizing the latest in avionic and manufacturing technology. The people at Quest are passionate about the fact that their airplane is going to make a difference in the world.
Currently there are 130 employed at Quest as it builds its first five aircraft, and, as that pace increases to two per week, employment will grow to perhaps a hundred more.
THE LOCALE
Sandpoint, Idaho (http://www.cityofsandpoint.com) is about an hour from Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and is one of the most scenic areas in the Northwest. Forested mountains, lush meadows, and many streams and several large lakes make the scenery awesome. The population in the Sandpoint area is 15,000; there is good healthcare and schools, plus a number of fairly large churches. Like many beautiful yet almost rural areas, the area has more than a few that want to keep it that way (“no growth” and “not-in-my-backyard” types) but most are rather progressive. The residents range from “mountain folk” to the transplanted sophisticated types who want to live in a beautiful, not overbuilt area. Over recent years there has been a tremendous upswing in families relocating to Bonner County causing rapid construction growth. There are numerous excellent restaurants covering a variety of different genre, and even recently built gated-communities with upscale homes. Recreation opportunities abound with fishing, hiking, skiing, hunting, camping, and boating.
Statistically, Sandpoint has a median age of 39 years old, consisting primarily of two-parent families. Average housing cost for a 2000 sq. ft. home is $350,000, with a median income (2005) of $48,000. Sandpoint sees all four seasons with winters averaging in the mid 30’s and summers in the mid 80’s; snow and rainfall average a total of 70 inches per year.
THE POSITION
Due to the tremendous response to the Kodiak, as well as evolving from a research and development company to a sales and manufacturing organization, there is a need for a talented leader to “pull it all together” in terms of the financial and administrative efforts. As certifications are approved, the manufacturing pace will sky rocket, so the need for a “can-do” professional is vital.
The Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer is a new position and will report to the CEO, Paul Schaller, who reports to a progressive ministry/business-minded Board of Directors. Also reporting to the CEO is the CTO, Development Manager, Sales Manager, Customer Service Manager, Director of Engineering, Director of Product Operations, Program Manager, and an “as needed” Organizational Consultant. Direct reports to the CFO/CAO will be a Controller, IT Manager and the HR Manager – all three of whom now report to the CEO. It is expected that under the CFO/CAO full time employees will increase to 12-15 within the first eighteen months of the CFO’s arrival. Within this new role, this successful person will be responsible for the organization, projection and implementation of the Board/CEO vision.
The organizational culture at Quest may be described as:
- Technologically savvy and professional.
- Committed to doing what is right, best and ethical.
- Having an eye on serving the underserved throughout the world. Members of the Board of Trustees are evangelical Christians and the culture exemplifies their values. These values are reflected by the leadership and staff.
- Focused on continuous improvement.
- Committed to serving others with humility, accountability, and professionalism, no matter the level within the organization.
- Team oriented, entrepreneurial and has a strong sense of direction and calling. Quest is not bureaucratic yet values process.
- Having an appreciation for work-life balance. While this is more than a forty hour a week role, excessive work is not valued.
- Moving from an entrepreneurial, start-up organization to a more systemized model while maintaining a mission-focused, “we’re-all-one-family” feel.
The Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer is the executive financial and administrative officer for this business. As such, this person’s primary responsibility is the fiscal well-being of the organization and to ensure conformity with the Board’s objectives, mission and governmental regulations. The CFO/CAO will be responsible to understand the strategic direction of the organization, provide high level, proactive financial expertise and leadership and give direction for short and long term financial, information systems and human resource planning. This individual will oversee treasury, accounting, budget, tax and audit activities of the company as well as lead the administrative functions of HR and IT. There must be strengths in finance, cost accounting and managing cash flow. A knowledge of Lean manufacturing/production systems, and in particular capital equipment (big ticket) manufacturing, is valuable.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Value, oversee, and give guidance to the Accounting, HR and IT managers and their functions.
- Overall responsibility of budgets and financial management, to include recommending budget allocations, training managers in departmental budgeting, preparing budget projections and the creation of budgeting models.
- Collaboratively develop operating policies and procedures and implement improvements to attain organizational objectives.
- Review, design and implement the structure of financial operations and use of financial resources for the organization to achieve greater efficiency.
- Oversee internal and external audits, ensuring comprehensive and effective review and response to management, the board and external auditors.
- Provide oversight for all banking and treasury relationships including cash management, acquisitions, bond financing, capital expenditures, investments and debt obligations of the corporation; analyze financial implications of proposed capital projects/expenditures.
- Prepare all reports and documents as requested by the CEO or the board.
- Report on the financial impact of business activities and policy options to support the decision-making process.
- Develop new or improved business systems with emphasis on interfacing with management information systems to increase productivity and effectiveness.
- Ensure that the organization is appropriately responsive to external changes and trends (i.e., legislative, economic, FAA, etc.) that affect its financial functioning and security, including implementation of appropriate contingency planning.
- Perform fiscal analysis and internal audits towards improving the control systems and recommending new policies and procedures
- Provide support and resource allocation for the manufacturing organization; must understand ERP, MRP, Lean Manufacturing and the accounting systems that support these activities.
- Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in compliance with all city, county, state, federal and any other relevant requirements.
- Ensure the effective and efficient operation of and controls over the procurement systems and contracts as well as the sales order system and contracts.
- Oversee and give guidance to risk management, fiscal record management, and payroll processing.
- Proactively provide business models and analysis supporting new strategic initiatives of the organization.
Additional Non-Tangible Requirements:
- Strong Work Ethic: Quest executives see this as a “calling,” more than a job and are committed to do what it takes to forward the mission, yet maintain home-life balance.
- Expressing an optimistic, “can-do” and enthusiastic manner both internally as well as externally.
- Excellent communicator orally and in writing, keeping all appropriate parties informed.
- Transparent, highly approachable, a good example, easily shares knowledge, not territorial.
- An effective team builder; works easily in a matrix manner and coaches his / her team members to do likewise.
- Typically a macro-manager (when staff is capable) yet can manage closely when needed; readily “roll up his/her sleeves” when needed.
- Understand, embrace and be able to lead change management.
- Is a proponent of Lean Management techniques in all areas of a business and knowledgeable in how to implement these in the functions under his / her control as well as facilitate the implementation of these techniques elsewhere in the organization.
- Ideally, would be gifted in the areas of administration and teaching/mentoring (the ability to “pass it on”).
QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors required with an MBA or equivalent helpful.
- Minimum of ten to fifteen years experience in financial and administrative/operations management, with five years of experience as a chief financial officer as ideal experience, although not required.
- Proven effectiveness as a business partner with the CEO.
- Strong expertise in financial reporting and annual budget development and controls.
- Familiarity with external and internal auditing principles and their effective operational implementation.
- Experience developing annual budgeting processes with the flexibility to test various budgeting options.
- Experience working with policies, regulations and guidelines; having done so in manufacturing and/or aviation fiscal and operational management is particularly pertinent.
- Demonstrated leadership in creating a cohesive, customer-oriented departmental team and being on an executive committee with the same style.
- Experience working effectively with local, state, and federal agencies.
- Ability to organize and present financial data in a user-friendly and effective format for various levels of the organization.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Experience in capital equipment manufacturing or aviation are highly valued, followed by manufacturing, and lastly any industry or sector.
- Ideally, experience in taking a fast-growing, entrepreneurial organization to greater excellence in operations, polices and systems while preserving the culture
- Oversight of an organization with an operating budget of $50+ million.
- Being involved with a startup would be ideal.
- Experience in General Aviation (GA)
Characteristics
This role focuses on the strategic aspects of financial management and planning, however, earlier experience in day-to-day administrative financial management and reporting would be beneficial. Whether the candidate’s earlier experience included controllership or financial analysis, his or her responsibilities will have grown far beyond this to now encompass a “big picture” perspective and ultimate responsibility for a broad scope of functions rather than strictly accounting or financial management.
The candidate must understand how organizations function best, exhibit great people management and team-building skills and demonstrate the ability to lead an organization operationally through sustained growth and improvements. The person must be comfortable operating in an environment where there are “gray areas” that come from visionary and entrepreneurial leadership that values the ability to explore new opportunities doing things they have not yet done. It is possible that the selected candidate may have already experienced great success and now wishes to work for a ministry-oriented organization, but must have a minimum of five to ten years to give.
This must be someone that others want to follow and feel comfortable doing so, someone who inspires confidence and enthusiasm. The management style that best fits the organization is consultative, participative and consensus-building, yet decisive and holds people accountable. The person should be a coach, teacher and able to delegate effectively rather than micromanaging tasks. Proven abilities to lead and manage those who manage others is critical. This person should have a gentle, winsome style, yet be firm when needed. This is a role for a “servant leader;” someone who is committed to serving those he or she leads and views their staff as serving one another, the customers, and community. It is crucial that people be heard and their input considered before making decisions. A demonstrated ability to confront and manage conflict in a healthy manner is needed.
The successful candidate will be a hands-on, high-energy self-starter, although might seem laid-back. Rather than merely reactive, he or she will be proactive in giving financial and operational insights that increase efficiency, customer service or improved decision making.
Organizationally, this person should value process. Systems are needed, or improvements to them, that improve consistency, quality and cost-effectiveness, yet without adding needless bureaucracy or stifling of quick response time and the entrepreneurial spirit. One should respond quickly to new opportunities, yet keeping the mid and long-term goals in focus. The candidate should be capable of establishing direction, motivating and inspiring, both within and outside the department. The person should be a learner, continuously asking the question, “What can I (or we) learn from this?” Taking calculated risks should be encouraged for the sake of finding better ways or for someone’s growth, but at the same time wanting to learn from mistakes.
The candidate must be a person of integrity and have a consistent record of truthfulness, fulfilling commitments, maintaining confidences and handling personal affairs honorably.
The selected individual will be intelligent, articulate and persuasive. Presentation, verbal, and writing skills must be strong. In addition to communicating well internally, he or she will need to communicate effectively with the larger community, especially in terms of clearly relaying financial issues and condition. Good negotiating skills that create win-win outcomes are also needed.
This person will be a solid and supportive team player who will help make things happen. The candidate’s people management and relational skills should be excellent. Being dictatorial, condescending, or insensitive would not be acceptable characteristics. Rather, while this person may have high expectations of his or her staff, the candidate should be fair, understanding, trustworthy and a good listener, mentor and team builder. While this person may understand “politics,” someone who prefers personal influence over doing what is right or best would not do well in this environment. The selected candidate should be good at developing relationships based on trust and candor.
While the position will usually be more than a forty hours a week, it is expected that the person will place family needs first. The right person will demonstrate the ability to balance the needs of the job and one’s personal life.
OPPORTUNITY
This opportunity will be attractive first of all because the person is drawn to the mission of the organization. Additionally the person will want to make a major difference as a key contributor to a fast-growing, dynamic, organization with a positive management style. While a candidate may have been earning a higher salary elsewhere, Quest is offering a strong salary and appropriate benefits that is coupled with a mission that has an altruistic value and an incredibly beautiful place to live. Assistance with the cost of relocation is available.
Quest’s vision, financial position, excellent leadership and desirable location make this an outstanding opportunity. |
