Head of Finance

OLIVE NATION

Head of Finance

Avon, MA Hybrid (2–3 days in office) Part-time or Full-time

About the Role

Olive Nation, a privately held specialty food company based in Avon, MA, is seeking a senior finance leader to take ownership of the company's financial strategy and partner with the owner during the next chapter of the business. The owner is transitioning to part-time involvement, and is looking for a peer — not a subordinate — to help steer the organization.

This is a hands-on, strategic role at a company of fewer than 30 people. The right person will combine the judgment of a seasoned finance executive with a willingness to roll up their sleeves and operate well outside the strict lines of a traditional finance job description.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Transaction Readiness

• Prepare the company and its financials for an eventual sale — including cleaning up books and records, building a defensible financial story, and supporting buyer diligence.
• Lead or support M&A processes end-to-end: positioning, working with advisors and bankers, evaluating offers, and managing the diligence and transaction workstreams.
• Evaluate short-term and long-term capital investment decisions, including how to finance them.
• Drive initiatives to improve company profitability, margin, and operating efficiency.

Gross Margin, Inventory & Expense Discipline

• Own gross margin performance — analyze margin by SKU, product line, and channel, and partner with operations and sales to identify and act on improvement opportunities.
• Keep a tight lid on inventory: monitor inventory levels, turns, and aging across our ~1,000-SKU production line; work with the inventory and operations team to manage working capital tied up in stock and minimize write-downs and obsolescence.
• Maintain disciplined oversight of operating expenses; establish budgets, monitor variances, and challenge spend where appropriate.
• Help build and maintain pricing, costing, and landed-cost frameworks that support accurate margin visibility.

Banking & Vendor Negotiations

• Own the relationship with the company's bank(s); negotiate credit facilities, lines of credit, and financing terms.
• Negotiate commercial terms with key vendors, including shipping carriers and warehousing providers.

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Oversee cash flow management and the broader financial operations of the business.
• Partner with the company's bookkeeper to ensure books and records are accurate and timely.
• Prepare and deliver weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting to the owner and key stakeholders.

Leadership

• Help steer the organization in a peer-to-peer leadership culture rather than a top-down structure.
• Step in flexibly to support cross-functional needs as they arise — typical for a small-company environment.

What We're Looking For

• Senior finance leadership experience (CFO, VP Finance, Head of Finance, or equivalent), ideally at a small or mid-sized privately held company.
• Direct experience preparing a company for sale and/or executing M&A transactions — sell-side experience strongly preferred.
• Track record managing banking relationships and negotiating credit facilities.
• Strong capital allocation judgment and comfort making investment and financing recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience managing gross margin, inventory, and operating expenses — ideally in a product, distribution, food, or e-commerce business.
• Prior experience in a sub-30-employee environment is strongly preferred; comfort with the realities of that setting is essential.
• Collaborative, peer-oriented leadership style; able to lead without relying on hierarchy.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and with a scope that may extend beyond a strict finance job description.
• We are open to candidates at any stage of their career, including retired executives looking for a meaningful, flexible engagement.

Schedule & Arrangement

• Open to part-time or full-time arrangements.
• Minimum 2 days per week on-site at our Avon, MA office.
• First month is all 5 days on site to spend the time to understand each function in the company.
• Compensation commensurate with experience and scope.
• Either Part time or Full time role is acceptable.

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to take real ownership of finance at a privately held specialty food business — and to play a central role in shaping its next chapter, including a eventual sale. The owner is looking for a partner who can think strategically, act operationally, and step into the leadership space the owner is stepping back from.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan

Application Question(s):

• Have you worked recently at an organization with 30 employees or less? Has to be within the US.
• Would your commute to Avon be 45 min or less during peak traffic?
• Are you an US citizen?

Ability to Commute:

• Avon, MA 02322 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Avon, MA 02322