The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced April 8, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person June 4.
Next is JD Kuhn, chief financial officer of Auria, and finalist in the CFO of the Year (Annual Revenue Less than $100M) category. In this spotlight, he reflects on key achievements, offers advice for those following a similar path, shares current priorities and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024 / 2025?
The focus of our finance team over the past couple of years has been to centralize 3 finance teams and to integrate four businesses into one financial platform, which was completed in 2024. As part of the integration, we also focused on centralizing our processes and developed timely financial reporting for our business unit. For 2025, we will continue to focus on streamlining our financial operations and maximize the use of our integrated systems.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Our continued focus is to provide excellent support to our business unit operators, our internal customers, so they can focus on providing support to our customers’ mission and expand the level of services we are providing them. My team is also focused on developing a more strategic pricing function to propose and win larger prime opportunities in supporting our customers’ needs at a fair price.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
I would recommend to anyone working their way up the ranks inside a finance organization to always focus on a balance between instilling financial discipline while allowing the operations team to effectively manage to their budgets. It’s also important to educate the organization on the company’s financial goals and why they are important as well as helping colleagues understand the basics of financially managing a cost center or a billable program.
Finally, always focus on building strong working relationships with all functions in the organization so that everyone communicates openly and is aligned in supporting our customers effectively.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know?
In the world of remote workforces, I’m not sure people know I moved to Charleston a couple of years ago. I love everything outdoors and Charleston was a great place to explore with the rich history, outdoor festivals, and great food. I enjoy boating with friends, kayaking, and searching for a golf game.
My wife and I, and sometimes our adult kids, are enjoying exploring new countries as well as all the nearby islands and towns in South Carolina.