Job Description

Planned retirement of the Chief Financial Officer creates an opportunity for a key strategic leadership role at Red Wing Shoe Company.  The company has built transition time into the succession plan to bridge critical resources that will position the new CFO to be successful, and a dynamic, progressive leadership team is committed to the successor’s seamless integration into the group. 

Critical to the success of the position is the ability for the candidate to continue the momentum of financial transformation that continues to position the financial teams as strategic business partners to the organization.    

Red Wing Shoe Company offers unique challenges that come from manufacturing multiple brands in a vertically integrated supply chain and complex distribution including company-owned retail stores, dealer stores, small retailers, big box stores, distributors, agents and independent reps around the world. 

The Chief Financial Officer directs the financial management aspects of Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and strong corporate governance.  The CFO is responsible for providing leadership and direction for all financial planning, domestic and international financial operations, controllership, tax, treasury and reporting functions.  This includes creating vision and delivering a roadmap that achieves long-term goals of revenue and profitability for the organization. Executive Management anticipates reliance upon the individual’s leadership strengths to be an ally and champion of the leadership team as well as a constructive challenger. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The CFO reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and has 6 direct reports: Corporate Controller, Treasurer, Director of International Finance, Director of Corporate Tax, Director of Internal Audit, Corporate Pilot, with a total staff of approximately 70. In addition, the General Manager of the St. James Hotel, a Red Wing Shoe Company owned, boutique hotel in Red Wing, MN, reports to the CFO. The St. James Hotel has approximately 125 team members.

Other key relationships:

The CFO works closely with the Board of Directors, Shareholders and the leadership team consisting of: Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel & Secretary, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, President Outdoor, President North America Work, President Outfitters, President Heritage, Vice President Business Services, Sr. Director Strategy & Planning, and other key relationships to be developed and maintained by the CFO include: auditors, bankers, attorneys, dealership owners, suppliers and vendors.

The CFO will provide both operational and strategic support to the organization and partner directly with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to budget management, cost benefit analysis and forecasting needs.  Additionally, the CFO is expected to play a pivotal role in strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions. This position works closely with General Counsel on establishment and management of global, legal entities. In addition, the CFO oversees and drives the annual valuation of the company with an external valuation firm.

The executive in this role is expected to provide the operational leadership needed to realize the company’s goal of creating a performance-driven environment as well as actively contribute to the overall Company strategies and daily business decisions. This position is considered a key management position with respect to involvement in setting corporate direction and its implementation.   

Red Wing Shoe Company has a strong commitment to community involvement.  As such, this executive is expected serve as an active member of the local community. 

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will be a current sitting and seasoned CFO or strong number two at the corporate level. Experience in consumer goods manufacturing is essential as is experience with complex, global and retail distribution, multiple brands and complicated value chain. Early career experience in public accounting preferred. 

• Experience leading large division or corporate finance and accounting at the highest level in complex, multinational organizations with demonstrated business contributions at a senior executive level.  

• Proven record of improvement through formal process improvement methodologies which result in organizational efficiencies.  

• The ability to understand the business model and customers to effectively drive high performance, predictable, and consistent business results.  Proven ability to synthesize complex information into practical or pragmatic recommendations. 

• Experience in developing simple, highly strategic financial planning and analysis, budgeting, financial metrics/dashboards and reporting mechanisms that allow business units to easily assess where they stand, where potential problems lie, illuminate cash flow, return on investment, and other critical business elements. 

• Strong understanding and demonstrated experience with various retirement plans including defined benefit and defined contribution.

• Experience building high performing teams, an inspiring and motivating leader capable of developing the team for succession.  Proven leadership skills: player/coach leadership style that creates an environment of accountability and supports/illustrates a commitment to teamwork and delegation.  A team builder who takes a non-hierarchical approach to organization and who is willing to empower staff to get the job done while providing the support they need. Ability to inspire and create an environment that motivates staff to perform at peak performance.  Is perceived as a strong role model and mentor to his/her team. 

• Strong leader who is passionate, self-motivated, and able to work independently and with others in a team environment with the ability to determine workflow, priorities, and constraints to achieve results through others.  The ability to team with peers who have diverse backgrounds each adding unique perspectives.  

• An intellectually bright, out of the box thinker and problem solver with the ability to assist the CEO, COO and business/functional leaders in charting a course for current and future operations. 

• Experienced in managing an organization through change using a solutions-oriented approach.   

• Strong influential management skills.  The ability to influence and motivate others to affect change.  An executive who understands the importance of collaboration and building networks within the organization in order to facilitate desired outcomes.  Can effectively manage up, down, and across the organization and drive to solutions. 

• Proven record of collaborating, building trust, open communication, promotion of diverse perspectives, mutual support and empowerment.   

• Superb oral, written and presentation skills.  High influencing and persuasion capabilities.  Active listening skills are equally important. 

• Comfortable in presenting and building enduring relationships with members of the company’s Board of Directors.

• Ability to build strong relationships with bankers, insurance, actuarial and retirement investment firms.

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance or business preferred

• CPA designation preferred

We are also looking for:

• High impact player, low ego manner; brings to the organization an intensely and infectious results-driven demeanor capable of imprinting the Company culture. 
• Possesses a high degree of intellectual flexibility with the ability to embrace new paradigms and opportunities. 
• The ability to participate on equal footing with a team of smart, highly accomplished and passionate executives who value winning and believe deeply in the Company’s purpose, vision and guiding behaviors.  
• An individual of unquestioned integrity, moral character, and ethical values; one whom the organization can trust without reservation.  Capable of perceiving situations as they really are; politically astute, but not political. 
• Seasoned international traveler with acuity for norms and customs. 
• An Ambassador of a better way.  An ability to respect existing cultures while recognizing the organization’s need to change and be innovative. Possesses a style that fosters teamwork and collaboration, and a can-do attitude. 
• Fits well into an environment filled with enthusiasm, humility and a touch of humor. 
• A continuous learner.

Additional Information

RED WING SHOE COMPANY WILL NOT BE USING RECRUITMENT AGENCIES OR FIRMS TO FILL THIS POSITION AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED RESUMES OR CANDIDATE INFORMATION. NO AGENCY CALLS OR EMAILS PLEASE. Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. is a drug-free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP at https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)