CFO | AI SaaS | Series B | New York

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience across capital markets, corporate development, growth strategy, or institutional investing
• Proven success leading institutional fundraising and investor strategy at an executive level
• Experience at growth-stage technology companies — ideally in AI, enterprise software, or national security / infrastructure
• Skilled in crafting high-impact investor narratives, capital market materials, and valuation strategy
• Comfortable navigating complex stakeholder environments — including public market analysts, bankers, and board members
• Executive presence, long-term orientation, and comfort operating in highly visible leadership roles
• Based in NYC full-time; occasional travel for investor or partner engagements expected

Benefits

• Lead a growth-stage fundraising strategy, targeting $100M–$200M+ in institutional capital
• Comfortable operating as a core member of the executive leadership team and contributing directly to board-level strategic decisions

Responsibilities

• Reporting directly to the board, you will establish the Finance function capabilities required for scale
• Leveraging a deep understanding of financial data, performance drivers, and operational dynamics, you will deliver actionable insights to support strategic decision-making
• Develop and manage relationships with investment banks, institutional investors, analysts, and public market advisors
• Craft and lead IPO narrative — from positioning to timing — in partnership with the CEO and COO
• Lead external-facing IPO readiness, including investor messaging, governance alignment, banking ecosystem coordination, and public market preparation
• Stand up and scale new functional areas: investor relations, capital markets, corporate development, and strategic growth
• Lead external market analysis and competitive positioning — shaping how the company is perceived by investors, analysts, and strategic partners
• Drive investor-aligned messaging across executive communications, external channels, and market-facing content
• Influence internal strategy across GTM, product, and finance to ensure capital formation, valuation drivers, and market strategy are tightly integrated with execution
• Operate as a core member of the executive leadership team, contributing directly to company-wide strategy and board-level growth planning
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO on all matters related to capital access, growth strategy, and long-term market readiness

Full Description

Zanda is an Executive search partner that works exclusively with high growth start-ups as they look to scale their business with senior talent.

Zanda partners with VC’s, Founder’s, CEO’s and CFO’s when it comes to successfully delivering on key senior appointments.

Who’s the business

Zanda is partnering with a rapidly scaling, AI-driven technology company operating across multiple sectors.

Withbold expansion plans and a mission to redefine how enterprises leverage unstructured data faster, they are now seeking a CFO to help build a sophisticated, insight-driven finance function.

Reporting directly to the board, you will establish the Finance function capabilities required for scale.

Leveraging a deep understanding of financial data, performance drivers, and operational dynamics, you will deliver actionable insights to support strategic decision-making.

What experiences you will gain

• Lead a growth-stage fundraising strategy, targeting $100M–$200M+ in institutional capital

• Develop and manage relationships with investment banks, institutional investors, analysts, and public market advisors

• Craft and lead IPO narrative — from positioning to timing — in partnership with the CEO and COO

• Lead external-facing IPO readiness, including investor messaging, governance alignment, banking ecosystem coordination, and public market preparation

• Stand up and scale new functional areas: investor relations, capital markets, corporate development, and strategic growth

• Lead external market analysis and competitive positioning — shaping how the company is perceived by investors, analysts, and strategic partners

• Drive investor-aligned messaging across executive communications, external channels, and market-facing content

• Influence internal strategy across GTM, product, and finance to ensure capital formation, valuation drivers, and market strategy are tightly integrated with execution

• Operate as a core member of the executive leadership team, contributing directly to company-wide strategy and board-level growth planning

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO on all matters related to capital access, growth strategy, and long-term market readiness

What background should you have before you press apply!

• 15+ years of experience across capital markets, corporate development, growth strategy, or institutional investing

• Proven success leading institutional fundraising and investor strategy at an executive level

• Experience at growth-stage technology companies — ideally in AI, enterprise software, or national security / infrastructure

• Familiarity with federal / DoD market dynamics strongly preferred

• Skilled in crafting high-impact investor narratives, capital market materials, and valuation strategy

• Comfortable navigating complex stakeholder environments — including public market analysts, bankers, and board members

• Executive presence, long-term orientation, and comfort operating in highly visible leadership roles

• Based in NYC full-time; occasional travel for investor or partner engagements expected

• Comfortable operating as a core member of the executive leadership team and contributing directly to board-level strategic decisions