We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
The Managing Director, Consulting leads the strategic development and delivery of managed services across multiple domains including IT, Finance as a Service, data analytics, and business applications. This role drives process and technology improvements, oversees client engagements, and collaborates with global teams to expand service capabilities. With deep expertise in managed services infrastructure and transformation, the director ensures high-quality client outcomes and contributes to the firm’s growth and innovation.
RSM's Financial Consulting practice is seeking an experienced finance executive to serve as an Interim CFO for middle-market clients navigating ownership transitions, sale preparation, restructuring, or periods of rapid growth. Our clients are typically closely held or family-owned businesses where the finance function needs senior leadership on a defined-term basis. The right candidate brings the credibility to earn the trust of founders and ownership groups quickly, and the operational depth to make an immediate impact.
Candidates should have a strong background as a CFO or senior finance leader, ideally across multiple companies or sectors. Experience in operationally intensive industries such as retail, distribution, food service, or consumer products is particularly relevant. We are looking for executives who have led finance through meaningful events, including M&A transactions and integration, debt refinancing or lender negotiations, enterprise data and analytics transformation, and business turnarounds. The ability to both set strategic direction and roll up your sleeves on execution is essential.
This is not a traditional placement. You will be backed by RSM's full delivery infrastructure, including back-office support, FP&A resources, and technology capabilities, so you can focus your time where it matters most. Engagements are structured and scoped in advance, which means cleaner expectations and a faster start than most interim arrangements. Executives who thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and are comfortable representing RSM directly with client leadership will find this a strong fit.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive experience serving as a CFO or senior finance leader within middle-market organizations, with a demonstrated track record of leading finance strategy, operational performance, and business decision support in complex, growth-oriented environments.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and relevant executive finance leadership experience.
- Proven experience leading organizations through meaningful and strategic business events, such as rapid growth, business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, restructuring, systems modernization, organizational redesign, or other inflection-point initiatives.
- Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership and key stakeholders to align financial strategy with broader business objectives.
- Strong foundation in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting, cash flow management, and strategic resource allocation.
- Experience building, leading, and developing high-performing finance teams while establishing scalable processes, controls, and decision-making frameworks.
- Ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for executive, board, and investor-level audiences.
- Excellent executive presence, communication skills, and business judgment, with the ability to influence across functions and lead through ambiguity and change.
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA, MBA, or other relevant professional credential preferred, such as CMA or comparable executive finance certification.
- Experience supporting private equity-backed, founder-led, or sponsor-backed middle-market businesses.
- Background leading finance organizations through enterprise transformation initiatives, including technology implementation, process optimization, or operating model redesign.
- Prior experience presenting to boards, investors, lenders, or other external stakeholders on business performance, strategy, and financial outlook.
- Demonstrated success in helping organizations scale through periods of accelerated growth, market expansion, or increased operational complexity.
- Experience balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.
RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.
RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records. For those living in California or applying to a position in California, please click here for additional information.
At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Compensation Range: $181,900 - $397,700Individuals selected for this role will be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on firm and individual performance.
About RSM
RSM is a leading global network of assurance, tax and consulting advisors focused on helping businesses navigate change and realize their full potential. With more than 56,000 professionals across more than 120 countries, RSM combines global reach with a distinctly client-centric approach, taking the time to understand each organization’s unique challenges, ambitions and opportunities.
At the heart of RSM’s model is a simple belief: clients need more than technical expertise. They need advisors who understand their business, anticipate what’s ahead and help them move forward with confidence. This commitment to delivering a personalized experience, grounded in deep industry and business knowledge, is reflected in RSM’s promise to instill confidence in a world of change.
RSM US LLP, a member of the global RSM network, brings this approach to the U.S. middle market. As the fifth-largest accounting firm in the United States, RSM US has grown from its founding in 1926 to more than 21,000 professionals serving clients across 119 locations in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland with additional offices across its international footprint.
Together, RSM’s scale, specialized expertise and understanding of the middle market position the firm to help clients address today’s most pressing challenges while building for what comes next.
Military Support
VALOR (Veterans and Allies Leading Outreach) is RSM’s employee network group dedicated to strengthening the recruitment, retention, development and success of veterans, active and reserve military members, military spouses, families and allies. Through connection, advocacy and professional development, VALOR creates a community where military-connected professionals can build meaningful relationships, advance their careers and bring the unique skills and experiences gained through service to RSM and its clients.
VALOR champions the continued growth and success of its members by connecting them to resources, mentorship, networking and leadership opportunities across RSM. Members share career and military-related resources, advocate for one another and provide a strong network of support, including for colleagues continuing to serve when military commitments or deployments take them away from the workplace.
Beyond RSM, VALOR extends its impact into local communities and the broader military-connected ecosystem through regional and national strategic business alliances, events and initiatives. These efforts create opportunities for professional development, leadership growth, networking, business development and community engagement, while helping RSM attract and retain exceptional military-connected talent.
At its core, VALOR is about turning the strengths of military service into lasting impact for our people, our clients and the communities we serve.
Internships and RSM Excellence Academy
At RSM, you’ll be valued as an individual while interning with our firm. We recognize your accomplishments and unique potential, and mentor you as a future leader. By working directly with RSM professionals and leaders, you’ll move quickly along the learning curve to jump-start your career in accounting, consulting, tax, or operations.
Internships include orientation and training where interns will be prepared to work in client service through a combination of formal and informal training. Interns will receive hands-on experience working with a variety of clients, while teaming up with RSM colleagues and leaders. RSM will provide interns with lunch-and-learn workshops, sporting events, and community service projects. Interns will gather with their peers and co-workers to develop both personally and professionally. Interns will be paired with both a navigator and a career advisor to help transition into their new role. The navigator is a peer aligned with you to help with questions. The career advisor ensures your experience meets your expectations and that you’re doing the right things to work toward that job offer.
The RSM Excellence Academy consists of a three-day summer leadership conference with a stipend and the opportunity to participate in an internship with RSM during the following summer. The Excellence Academy is open to all qualified students who are three years from graduation. The Excellence Academy is designed to align with RSM’s strategic pillar of driving an unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience. We recognize efforts of inclusivity and intend to develop outstanding business, accounting, and technology students for internships and full-time employment. Participants will have an opportunity to build relationships that will assist them in their educational and career development. We hope that this experience will provide students with an overall understanding of the professional services industry, RSM’s culture, and the advantages of working in the middle market.