Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer Company OverviewThe Finance Group provides fractional strategic, operational and compliance finance and accounting services to organizations across multiple industries in Canada and the U.S. With a team of 40+ experts serving 300+ clients, we deliver financial clarity, operational support, and growth strategy. Guided by integrity and collaboration, we act as trusted partners helping businesses make confident decisions and achieve lasting success.As we grow, we are seeking a proven Integrator / COO to drive execution, operational discipline, and organizational alignment. This is a high-impact leadership role, ideally working closely with our Visionary leadership to translate vision into results.Role SummaryThe COO / Integrator will be the executive leader responsible for the day-to-day operations, scaling our service delivery, optimizing internal processes, and ensuring the leadership team is aligned and accountable.This person will also directly project manage large client engagements and oversight work about 40% of their time, ensuring strategic financial outcomes and operational excellence for those clients.They will partner with the CEO / Visionary / President to refine and deliver on the strategic plan, while ensuring that internal operations are robust, scalable, and efficient. The ideal candidate comes from a mid-to-large consulting or professional services firm, brings a CPA or MBA designation, and has a proven record of both strategic leadership and hands-on financial execution.Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Leadership & ExecutionTranslate the strategic vision into an annual plan, quarterly Rocks, and operational priorities.Lead execution of initiatives, ensuring alignment and timely delivery.Drive operational excellence across all client service functions.Monitor and optimize utilization, margins, delivery quality, and scalability of service offerings.Client Delivery & Project Management Directly project manage large and complex client relationships, ensuring on-time, high-quality delivery of financial and operational outcomes.Establish executive-level relationships with client leadership teams, driving trust and long-term value creation.Leadership Team ManagementLead and coach functional leaders.Facilitate weekly leadership team meetings with rigor, ensuring accountability and issue resolution.Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations; align leadership team around goals.Resolve cross-functional issues, ensure communication, and maintain organizational alignment.Process & Systems ImprovementDesign, document, and refine scalable internal processes, workflows, and SOPs.Implement best practices in project management, quality assurance, and risk mitigation.Oversee technology infrastructure, integrations, and system adoption to improve efficiency.Monitor KPI dashboards and ensure that leadership decisions are data-driven.Financial & Operational Metrics OwnershipCollaborate with finance leadership to monitor P&L performance, cash flow, and budgeting.Own operational performance metrics (utilization rates, delivery profitability, client satisfaction, growth metrics).Identify opportunities for cost optimization, process automation, and margin improvement.Culture, People & Talent DevelopmentPromote and uphold the company’s core values, ensuring they are embedded in hiring, performance management, and behaviors.Lead talent development: hiring, onboarding, coaching, succession planning.Create accountability mechanisms for performance, including regular reviews and feedback systems.Strategic Partnership with CEO / Visionary / PresidentAct as the filter and decision–maker on day-to-day operational issues, allowing the CEO and President to focus on growth, relationships, and vision.Serve as the tie-breaker for leadership decisions that require cross-functional judgment.Hold periodic alignment meetings with the CEO / President to surface tensions, strategize, and maintain full alignment.Required Skills & Experience10+ years of leadership/operations experience in professional services, finance, or consulting firms.Proven track record of project managing large clients. Experience leading cross-functional teams and executing growth strategies.Strong financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting). CPA or MBA required. Deep process orientation and comfort building structure where none exists.Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.Collaborative, high-accountability mindset and ability to manage conflict constructively.Technical proficiency in operational tools, systems, dashboards, and automation.Alignment with The Finance Group’s mission, values, and service ethos.