Chief Financial Officer Porto

Chief Financial Officer
Porto
Porto, Porto District, Portugal

About Hei
Q

Hei
Q is a recognized global leader in innovation and specialty materials in biotech, textile and polymers combining science and creativity to improve the lives of billions. With 185+ employees worldwide, Hei
Q drives excellence, entrepreneurship, and responsibility at scale. Our ambition for the next phase is clear: to build a highly profitable, effective, lean and resilient organization that continues to shape the future of materials science.

Role Overview

The Group CFO will play a pivotal
- on role in Hei
Q’s further growth journey , ensuring profitability, internal alignment, and process discipline across the Group. This role requires a dual focus :

• Acting as a guardian – securing compliance, cost control, robust governance, and stakeholder trust.
• Acting as a strategic partner to the business – driving organizational transformation, digitalization, and impactful
  - making with the CEO, Lead Circle and Board.

The CFO will oversee Finance, HR, IT, and Systems Operations (Odoo development) , with a strong mandate to standardize processes across all legal entities and inspire confidence across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with strategic initiatives and profitability goals.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes across the Group.
• Provide strategic input on capital investments, M&A, and funding initiatives .
• Drive cost optimization and working capital improvements to enhance operational efficiency.
• Consolidate
  - wide reporting, KPIs, and
  - making into a clear, standardized framework.

Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Oversee accounting, treasury, tax, and internal control functions across all entities.
• Act as the primary contact for auditors, banks, tax authorities, and regulatory stakeholders .
• Ensure timely, transparent, and reliable financial reporting at both group and entity levels.
• Safeguard the company’s reputation through strong compliance, ethical standards, and proactive risk management.

Organizational Evolution

• Build cohesive structures and processes across all entities, ensuring alignment in Finance, HR, IT, and Systems.
• Drive digital finance transformation (ERP/Odoo, automation,
  - driven reporting).
• Engage directly in operations (pricing, cost analysis, production economics) to support profitability.
• Establish and implement a clear roadmap for aligning processes and procedures across all legal entities.

Leadership & Culture

• Act as a charismatic, credible, fair but tough leader – bring credibility, structure processes and boost confidence to Finance and beyond.
• Be a hands-on as well as strategic leader : equally comfortable in Group Lead Circle, Board-level discussions and operational detail.
• Inspire, mentor, motivate and elevate Finance/HR/IT teams, shaping a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration .
• Embody Hei
  Q’s values – delivering impactful results with integrity while fostering entrepreneurial spirit and responsibility.

Profile Requirements

Must-Haves

• Qualified accountant (e. g. , CPA, ACA, ROC, TOC) with solid technical finance expertise.
• Proven experience as Group CFO or equivalent senior leadership role in international,
  - entity organizations .
• Demonstrated success in building or restructuring Finance/Corporate functions from the ground up.
• Strong track record in financial strategy, cost control, risk management, and working capital improvements .
• Experience leading ERP/digital finance transformations (ideally Odoo or similar).
• Fluent in Portuguese and English , with excellent communication and motivational skills.

Nice-to-Haves

• Listed company exposure (capital markets, investor relations, financial storytelling).
• M&A, debt/equity fundraising, or corporate finance experience.
• Industry knowledge in biotech, chemicals, textiles, materials , or broader industrial/manufacturing sectors.

Personal Attributes

• Charismatic credible, fair but tough leader .
• Hands-on and strategic mindset – equally effective in strategic vision and operational execution while leading by example.
• Inspirational and impactful communicator .
• Pragmatic yet strategic – able to zoom in and out from detail to big picture.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and integrity.
• Professional and confident demeanour, with high ethical standards.

Location & Mobility

• Base: Maia, Porto, Portugal.
• Travel: As required to global entities (US, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, China).
• Eligibility: EU resident or EU work permit.

What We Offer

• A pivotal executive role with direct impact on Hei
  Q’s evolution and growth journey .
• The opportunity to shape Finance, HR, and IT into a center of excellence .
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial, and international culture of high performers.
• Competitive compensation package, aligned with senior leadership responsibilities, with Lead Circle incentives .