Chief Financial Officer – Kilkenny

Are you an experienced finance leader ready to help shape financial strategy and support ambitious growth?

We are seeking a commercially focused Chief Financial Officer to join our leadership team in Kilkenny. This is a senior strategic role, working closely with the CEO, executive team and board to lead financial strategy, planning, reporting, compliance, risk management and financial governance across the organisation.

The Role

The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for leading the organisation’s finance function and ensuring that financial strategy, systems, controls and reporting support long-term business objectives. The successful candidate will provide clear financial insight, commercial challenge and strategic leadership to support effective decision-making, sustainable growth and governance.

About Ifac

Founded in 1975, Ifac is Ireland’s specialist professional services firm for the farming, food, agri, and family business sectors. We are an award-winning employer and one of Ireland’s Top Ten Accountancy firms. Ifac is also one of Ireland’s Top 200 Employers 2025 as listed by the Irish Independent in partnership with Statista, and a PrimeGlobal member firm.

Our Purpose

Ifac’s purpose is to help its clients to build profitable sustainable futures, so that people and communities across Ireland can thrive.

Our Ambition

With a strong focus on global best practice, Ifac has set its ambition to be a global leader in agrifood advisory, while also driving growth and excellence in Ireland’s dynamic SME sector.

Why Join Ifac?

At Ifac, we are more than just a workplace – we are a community of professionals committed to growth, innovation, and sector leadership. When you join our team, you’ll have the opportunity to:

•        Work with industry-leading experts and clients in Ireland’s farming, food, agribusiness, and SME sectors.

•        Be part of a values-driven culture emphasising collaboration, commitment, energy, respect, and foresight.

•        Build a great career, help us achieve our ambitions and help shape the future of Ireland’s business landscape.

•        Enjoy a competitive compensation package, including performance-based bonuses and significant opportunities for professional growth.

Making an impact

This is a high-impact leadership role for a finance professional who can combine strategic thinking with strong technical capability and practical execution. The CFO will play a central role in helping the organisation make informed commercial decisions, manage risk, deliver financial performance and maintain the highest standards of financial stewardship.

Key Responsibilities:

•  Develop and drive the organisation’s financial strategy in line with overall business objectives.

•      Lead long-term financial planning processes and oversee budgeting and forecasting.

•      Provide strategic financial input and leadership to the CEO, executive team and board on key decisions.

•      Ensure accurate and timely preparation of statutory accounts, management accounts and board reporting.

•      Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax legislation and regulatory requirements.

•      Oversee external audit relationships and manage the audit process.

•      Manage cash flow, working capital and treasury functions to ensure liquidity and financial resilience.

•      Manage banking relationships, funding arrangements, debt management and, where applicable, foreign exchange and interest rate risk.

•      Maintain robust financial controls, risk management frameworks and governance processes.

•      Identify, assess and mitigate financial and operational risks, including appropriate insurance cover and business continuity planning.

•      Act as a strategic partner to departments across the organisation, providing financial insight to support pricing, investment, operational and growth decisions.

•      Support M&A activity, due diligence and integration where relevant.

•      Build, lead and develop a high-performing finance team, setting clear objectives and supporting succession planning.

•      Manage relationships with investors, lenders, auditors, regulators and other key stakeholders as applicable.

•      Ensure the organisation operates within its governance framework, legal obligations and delegated authority structures.

Our Chief Financial Officer will be a key member of the senior leadership team and will make a significant contribution to the organisation’s continued growth, financial strength and governance.

You will be:

A qualified accountant with significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally gained in a complex, commercially focused organisation, and will have:

• Strong strategic financial leadership and commercial judgement.
• Excellent technical accounting, financial reporting, tax and compliance knowledge.
• Proven experience leading budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and long-term planning processes.
• Strong risk management, internal controls and governance capability.
• The ability to partner effectively with CEOs, boards, executive teams and operational leaders.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A track record of building and developing high-performing finance teams.

Rewards

Our Chief Financial Officer will receive:

•        Market-leading compensation and benefits package.

•        Substantial employer pension contribution.

•        Generous annual leave allowance.

•        Supportive family orientated workplace policies.

•        Blended WFH.

•        Opportunities for internal growth and development.

•        Access to a bike to work scheme.

•        Access to an employee assistance programme.

•        Well-being benefits, including the Digital Doctor programme.

•        Regular wellness, social, and charity activities throughout the year.

•        Voucher at Christmas.

Next Steps

Apply in confidence with full CV quoting reference: CFO/Kilkenny to careers@ifac.ie Tel. 056 7761048.