Chief Financial Officer at Texas-Based Family Office

Chief Financial Officer

The Client
Our client is a Houston, Texas-based family office established in 2021. Founded by an entrepreneurial Principal with a track record of creating and leading multiple businesses and philanthropic initiatives, the office now serves three generations of family members. Its primary mission is to support the tax, accounting and reporting, fiduciary, investment management, property management and philanthropic interests of the multigenerational family and their related entities.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serve as a key member of the family office leadership team. As the senior financial expert, the CFO will lead the accounting, finance, tax and treasury functions, leveraging technology to drive efficiencies in financial processes, procedures and reporting. The CFO will also assist in administration and provide fiduciary insight and counsel to the directors of the family’s private trust company (PTC). In addition, the CFO will serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the family and individual family clients, engaging proactively with current and future generations.

The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced family office or wealth management executive to assume responsibility for leading the financial function of a growing, multigenerational family office. The ideal candidate will bring technical expertise across tax, accounting, financial management and reporting, trust and estate planning, investment management and risk management, along with a deep understanding of family office operations, services and best practices.

The CFO will work closely with the leadership team to define and execute the strategic financial goals and priorities of the family office, both for today and the future. As the senior financial expert, the CFO will be responsible for transforming and managing the financial infrastructure and operations into an institutional-quality platform. Strong leadership, relationship management and advisory skills are essential, as is the ability to inspire confidence and become a trusted advisor to the family.

Location
Houston, Texas

Reports to
Chief Executive Officer

The Position

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the family office leadership team, working collaboratively to establish short- and long-term strategic priorities and objectives. Provide accurate, timely data and insight to support decision-making. Identify and drive strategic initiatives aligned with the organisation’s vision and values.

Lead the accounting, finance, tax, and operational functions of the family office, ensuring excellence across financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and cash management; income tax planning, preparation, and compliance oversight; trust administration and estate planning; investment operations support and reporting; risk management, legal and entity management, and foundation support; real estate and property acquisitions; and oversight of ad hoc projects as needed.

Leverage technology to improve efficiency and scalability of financial and operational processes. Assess and enhance internal systems, procedures, and controls. Safeguard data integrity and support information security. Oversee reporting to family members, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.

Act as a senior trusted advisor to the Principal and leadership team. Present complex financial and strategic matters in a clear and consultative manner. Advise on the long-term direction of the family office.

Partner with the Investment Committee to support portfolio, liquidity, and risk management, and cash flow forecasting. Manage capital calls and private investment distributions. Provide clear reporting on investment activity and commitments.

Establish a best practice financial and reporting platform. Lead the finance team in regular planning and forecasting at consolidated and entity levels. Streamline reporting to improve transparency for beneficiaries and family office clients.

Oversee tax and estate planning strategy. Collaborate with advisors to drive efficient income and estate tax planning. Ensure timely and accurate tax return preparation and filing. Evaluate trust structures in light of evolving tax and legal frameworks.

Manage risk exposure for the family office and family clients by evaluating and implementing appropriate risk management strategies and insurance coverage.

Review, evaluate and negotiate contracts including personal, business and investment agreements, vendor contracts, and service agreements. Coordinate with external legal counsel as needed.

Maintain legal and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. Ensure proper entity formation and filing of required corporate documents and reports.

Support the administration and compliance of the Private Trust Company, in collaboration with the Chief of Staff.

Provide leadership to the finance team. Foster a high-performance, collaborative and accountable culture. Model integrity, teamwork, and a hands-on approach.

Build and maintain trusted relationships. Anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of the Principal and family clients. Stay connected to market trends and peer practices.

Oversee and coordinate external advisors and service providers. Monitor agreements, fees, and performance metrics.

Ensure compliance and provide support for charitable foundations.

Represent the family professionally, ethically and confidentially in all dealings.

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications:
The successful family office/wealth management CFO candidate has a strong technical accounting, tax, financial management and operations background combined with demonstrated leadership, management, and relationship-building skills. The individual also brings the financial, investment and business acumen, intellectual capacity, communication skills, professional integrity and judgement required to effectively serve as a senior trusted advisor and represent the Principal and their family.

The ideal background includes an undergraduate degree in accounting or a related field; a CPA designation is strongly preferred, and an advanced degree (MBA, LLM, JD) is desirable. A minimum of 20 years of relevant experience in the family office or wealth management industry is expected, including a foundation in public accounting and demonstrated experience providing high-quality financial management, accounting, tax and reporting for individuals, trusts, foundations and other entities. The candidate should have comprehensive knowledge of tax and investment partnership accounting, tax planning and compliance, and ideally prior responsibility for internal tax planning or advisory experience. Familiarity with profits interest structures is also beneficial.

The candidate should have prior experience advising family office clients or multigenerational families of significant wealth. They must understand and relate well to ultra-high-net-worth family clients and their needs, bringing a service-oriented, proactive, and adaptable approach. Knowledge of family office best practices is essential.

A proven track record of success as a CFO is required, with broad experience in accounting, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and modelling, investment reporting, technology, tax and risk management. The candidate should be well-versed in financial management best practices and capable of building and leading an institutional-quality finance function.

The individual should be disciplined, process-oriented, and highly attentive to detail, while also able to maintain a big-picture perspective. Strong project management and problem-solving skills are necessary, with a track record of creating value through continuous improvement and enhanced operational processes, systems and platforms.

They must be an effective leader with strong management and mentoring capabilities, experienced in attracting, motivating and retaining high-performing staff. The ability to lead a culture of quality, collaboration, accountability and excellence is critical, alongside change management skills and a mindset of continuous improvement.

This individual will be a strategic thinker and expert generalist, able to conceptualise, anticipate challenges and proactively recommend and implement solutions. A solid grounding across all areas of wealth management—including finance, accounting, tax, reporting, investment management, trust and estate planning, insurance, risk management and philanthropy—is essential. Strong investment acumen across public and private asset classes, including alternatives and direct investments, is expected, along with understanding of legal, tax and regulatory requirements relevant to tax compliance and private trust company administration.

The candidate should be knowledgeable about estate planning techniques and tax optimisation strategies and capable of working effectively with counsel to implement these. They should be solutions-oriented with strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial systems and reporting. The ability to interpret complex data and communicate advice clearly and concisely to clients and other stakeholders is key.

Strong business and financial acumen, combined with advisory skills and risk assessment capabilities, are essential. The candidate should be adept at helping family clients assess opportunities and evaluate “what if” scenarios. Excellent research and analytical skills are required, with the ability to present findings and recommendations succinctly to support decision-making.

Technological proficiency is important, including the ability to assess systems and software to enhance operational efficiency. Experience in leveraging technology to create a highly efficient financial environment is a plus.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are critical. The candidate must be able to synthesise and present complex concepts clearly and effectively, adapt to different communication styles, and create visual aids (such as PowerPoints) to explain complex information simply.

A professional and composed presence is essential to develop trust and respect with family clients, advisors, and colleagues across generations. The individual must be diplomatic, tactful, and pragmatic in all interactions, with a strong client-service mentality, approachable demeanour, and results-driven attitude.

They should be a proactive, adaptive leader with a “roll up your sleeves” approach, high emotional intelligence and intellectual curiosity. Maturity, sound judgement, and the ability to provide objective advice and express convictions with clarity and confidence are vital. The candidate must be highly organised, efficient, and accountable, consistently delivering on commitments.

Finally, the individual must demonstrate intelligence, integrity, discretion and a strong work ethic. They should be sensitive to the highly personal and confidential nature of the role, calm under pressure, ego-free, and able to maintain a positive, grounded perspective—with a good sense of humour.