Collaborative Strategies, Inc. is conducting this search on behalf of Glik’s. In an industry marked by steady turnover and tough competition, Glik’s would stand out from the pack on longevity alone. In 1897 Joseph Glik opened the first Glik’s location in St. Louis, MO as a menswear store. A second location in Madison, IL then expanded into a full-blown department store. The company has stayed in the family, and now over 120 years later, they are recognized as the 14th oldest retailer in the United States. In 2021 Glik’s headquarters moved to Collinsville, IL from Granite City, IL where they were located for 58 years. Their new 50,000 square foot facility is designed to house their fast-growing office, distribution, and e-commerce needs. With the fourth and fifth generations of the Glik family at the helm, they continue to focus on the growth of the company with over 70 stores in 11 states.

When you walk into a Glik’s store, you feel like it’s an extension of your closet - complete with a few friends on standby to help you find an outfit that will make you feel amazing. The stores are a product of their communities, managers, staff, and amazing customers and each store location has been personally chosen by a member of the Glik family. The design of the store is specifically curated with manager and staff insights to fit each location to guide them as they fill their stores with brands and styles specific to the community. If you walk into the Edwardsville, IL store it will have a completely different design and atmosphere than the separate men’s and women’s locations in Holland, MI. No cookie-cutter box store branding for Glik’s! The signs above the doors may all say “Glik’s,” but the people inside those doors easily and quickly make it a truly unique experience.

Glik’s is looking for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the financial and technology functions of the organization. This financially stable company is innovative and constantly looking for ways to improve and grow the business. That’s why this is a great opportunity for an entrepreneurial executive to partner with the generational owners on the financial and technology strategy that will build on the foundation and make a positive impact on the business and its customers. Your strong relationships and collaboration with all functions in the company will allow the organization to adapt to changes and the needs of each community store.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the CFO will:

• Work as a strategic partner with generational leadership to drive all key financial and operational decisions. Work cross functionally to understand each location and individual department’s operations and needs to be able to provide financial and technological guidance to positively impact the organization.
• Lead all financial activities including financial analysis and scenario planning, accounting work, sales budgeting, cash management, analyzing store profitability and merchandising results, conducting cost-benefit analysis and responding to bank inquiries. Address opportunities for growth and store profitability while maintaining discipline in cost management, prepare new store projections, and file and maintain business registrations.
• Manage and maintain productive relationships with third-party vendors, including banks, accounting firms, insurance carriers and landlords. Benchmark company benefits and work with insurance carriers to ensure the benefits attract and retain staff while effectively managing costs. Oversee the payroll and accounts payable functions and ensure responsibilities are completed in a timely manner with a high level of accuracy.
• Refine and lead ongoing analysis of sales and store performance, providing key data-driven insights to make informed decisions around expansion or changes. Thoroughly analyze expenditures to evaluate the return on investment. Oversee the development and analysis of financial predictive models and scorecards to evaluate performance and identify opportunities to improve performance and increase revenue/margins.
• Direct the technology function including identifying new technology vendors, negotiating pricing, and maintaining positive relationships with vendors. Oversee hardware purchases and and maintenance of the wide area network so business can run effectively. Ensure end-user support is provided in a positive and efficient manner.
• Guide optimization of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other systems, including upgrades and implementations of systems. Drive continuous improvement in system infrastructure, operations, and standardized business processes with an eye toward streamlining and improving business performance. Stay abreast of the latest and greatest technology and be proactive in anticipating needs and finding technology solutions that align with the company’s future goals and strategy.
• Oversee the accounting and information technology functions. Lead, motivate, and develop staff. Inspire trust and credibility between team members as modeled through personal leadership. Grow and mentor existing bench strength with a focus on career pathing and creating developmental opportunities throughout the team member’s lifecycle. Promote the company’s culture by living the mission and values, conveying a high degree of emotional intelligence, and creating an atmosphere of open communication and personal accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. Master’s degree in business administration or a related field preferred.
• Certified Public Accounting (CPA) a plus.
• Experience managing financial functions, including building successful financial strategies.
• Experience leading audits and tax preparation and building strong relationships with the vendors who perform this work.
• Experience in a multi-unit retail industry preferred.
• Experience leading, developing, and holding a team accountable, including hiring, training, and managing the performance of staff.
• Tech savvy and proven experience utilizing technology to maximize efficiencies and performance. Experience leading the information technology function a plus.
• Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems; experience with Aptos or Great Plains a plus.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strong relationship skills and a natural collaborator.
• Ability to be fiscally responsible while still being empathetic.
• Honest and straightforward but in a respectful way.
• Strong sense of urgency.

Location and Travel

Glik’s is headquartered in Collinsville, Illinois. This position is based in the Collinsville office full-time. Must have the ability to travel to local stores quarterly.

Ready to Apply?

If you are interested, qualified and ready to take the next step, click APPLY. All inquiries and resume submissions will be treated as strictly confidential. Please do not contact Glik’s directly.

Collaborative Strategies, Inc. is a St. Louis-based consulting firm with a dedicated search practice and has been connecting talent with opportunity since 1994. We take pride in matching talented leaders seeking mission-critical endeavors with entrepreneurial organizations. For more information, visit us at www.getcollaborative.com. To view our job board, visit getcollaborative.com/careers.

| Equal Opportunity Employer |