VP of Finance

Department: Client Services CFO

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote - US

Description

Reports To: Client Services CFO

Location: Remote (In person meetings as needed)

Role overview: In 2008, Propeller reinvented the way venture-stage companies build finance teams, and in the process we defined the category the market now calls fractional. Today we are building what comes next: a firm where human judgment and AI-enabled intelligence work as one system, so a founder gets the output of a full finance function from a lean embedded team.

We are hiring a VP, Finance to be the analytical engine of that team and a leader within it. Working alongside the Propeller CFO across a portfolio of 20–30 clients, you will own the financial models, budgets, rolling forecasts, KPI reporting, and board and investor materials that the CFO and founder use to make decisions. You will lead a team of finance professionals, help grow Propeller's client base, and do the work AI-first, so more of your time goes to the analysis and less to the assembly.

This is a role for a seasoned finance professional who wants to go deep on the numbers across several companies at once, and who measures success on two scorecards: the client's and Propeller's.

Key Responsibilities

Most finance roles emphasize one dimension. This role requires four.

At venture and growth stage the founder has little or no finance bench; the Propeller team is the finance team. The CFO sets direction with the founder and the board. You make that direction concrete: the model behind it, the plan that tests it, the reporting that tracks it, and the materials that explain it. And because you are accountable for Propeller's success as well as the client's, you also lead the team that does the work and help build the book it serves.

Planning & Analysis Lead

You own the financial core of each engagement. You build and maintain the operating model, run the annual budgeting process and the monthly rolling forecast, and deliver the ad-hoc analysis that answers the founder's next question: what happens to runway if we hire ahead of plan, how a pricing change flows through to cash, which scenario the board should see. You bring the CFO a point of view, not just a spreadsheet. If you need to be told what to analyze, this isn't your role.

• Develop and maintain financial models with the support of the finance team, covering cash flow, headcount, revenue, pricing, and budgets; own the annual budget, monthly rolling forecasts, and reforecasts.
• Provide ad-hoc analysis that supports strategic planning and key business decisions.
• Support the CFO on capital raises and acquisitions: investor decks, data rooms, diligence, deal analysis, and guidance on equity and debt term sheets.
• Continually assess changes in each client's market and industry, and translate their impact into the plan.

AI-Enabled Builder

You build the reporting that runs the business, and you build it AI-first. You stand up KPI dashboards and automated scorecards, and you use AI to carry the mechanical work: first-draft models, variance commentary, data pulls, and deck builds. You know where AI is reliable and where it is not, and you check every number before it leaves your hands. What works for one client you share back so it compounds across the practice. If AI is something you plan to learn later, this isn't your role.

• Proactively create KPI dashboards and automated scorecards that guide key business decisions in real time.
• Use AI and PropellerOS to speed up modeling, reporting, and deck production, and verify every output.
• Codify what works into best practices and resources the rest of the practice can use.

CFO's Partner

You are the CFO's right hand on each engagement. You prepare board presentations, attend board meetings, and turn complex analysis into a clear financial vision and simple, actionable recommendations for the CFO, the founder, and investors. You manage client expectations, bring executive presence to the boardroom, and bring your industry knowledge and network to the clients you serve. If you prefer to work alone on the numbers, this isn't your role.

• Prepare board presentations and attend Board of Directors meetings alongside the CFO.
• Advise founders on strategic planning, capital strategy, and acquisition deals; manage client expectations across each engagement.
• Manage and prioritize multiple client workstreams and ad-hoc requests in a timely, efficient way.
• Leverage your network to bring great resources to clients.

Team Leader & Practice Builder

You build the team and the book that sustain the work. You lead 3–5 direct reports and are the go-to resource for the Directors, managers, and analysts across your portfolio, mentoring them in both accounting and FP&A. You set the standard, delegate work to the right level, and develop the people who will run engagements of their own. You also help grow the practice: you articulate Propeller's value to prospective clients, join pitches, and close new business. If you avoid personnel decisions or see business development as someone else's job, this isn't your role.

• Lead, coach, and develop 3–5 direct reports; provide mentorship in accounting and FP&A to all levels of the team.
• Delegate work to the right level so Directors, managers, and analysts collaborate to deliver high-quality service.
• Partner with Business Development to pitch prospective clients, articulate Propeller's value, and close new engagements.
• Expand within existing accounts and manage a book of business of $1–3M.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications:

• 15+ years in finance-focused roles, with deep FP&A experience at venture-backed or high-growth companies.
• Advanced content expertise in both accounting and FP&A, including the most sophisticated monthly closes.
• Firsthand fundraising experience; conversant with outside investors, comfortable with board calls and investor presentations, and able to advise on term sheets and acquisition deals.
• Strong grasp of early-stage growth dynamics, and the critical thinking to help management make strategic decisions.
• Track record of building, leading, and developing finance teams, including managing direct reports.
• Proven ability to articulate a value proposition to prospective clients, pitch, and close new business.
• Demonstrated AI fluency: you work with AI in your own finance workflow today, and you can walk us through how it changes what you produce.
• Executive presence and high EQ; a clear communicator who distills complex thinking into simple, actionable recommendations; highly organized, with the desire to teach others.
• BA in Finance, Accounting, or Economics.

Industry Expertise

You understand venture and growth-stage economics: burn and runway, unit economics, and the metrics investors underwrite at each round. Deep expertise in at least one of: E-commerce/DTC (CAC, LTV, contribution margin, channel economics); CPG (trade spend, retailer margins, inventory, COGS); or Technology (SaaS metrics, ARR, net revenue retention, revenue recognition).

DEI Statement

At Propeller Industries, we encourage our employees and our clients to bring their true selves to the organization. We believe that a diverse team enables us to cultivate and improve upon our culture of inclusion and collaboration. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome the contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. So however you identify and whatever your background, we encourage you to apply for this role if you share our passion for helping great entrepreneurs build great companies. We look forward to meeting you!

Benefits

Salary range: $190,000 - $220,000 plus bonus, benefits and 401k match

Current Benefits Offered: Generous Paid Time Off and Holiday pay, Comprehensive health benefits plus dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance. HSA contribution, Paid Family Leave, 401k match and Remote Work. We also help you grow in your professional life.