Job description
About Us
At 1848 Ventures, we’re not just building companies—we’re shaping the future. As a venture studio focused on B2B SaaS startups powered by data and AI, we’re on a mission to transform the SMB market in industries that are the backbone of the economy, such as construction, real estate, hospitality, retail, and restaurants. Our team of venture builders, data scientists, engineers, and designers leverage cutting-edge AI to build products that empower SMB businesses to succeed.
We’re not following traditional playbooks; we’re creating our own. Join us and help drive innovation in industries where data and AI can make a real impact.
The Opportunity
As CFO at 1848 Ventures, you will be a strategic and operational partner to the Managing Partner, responsible for shaping the studio’s capital approach and enabling sustainable, disciplined growth across our venture studio and portfolio companies. You will architect the operating model that powers our studio by leading capital deployment, building forecasting and investment frameworks, and overseeing legal, risk, and IT as critical enablers of scale.
This is more than a traditional CFO role. It requires balancing the agility of a startup environment with the financial rigor of a venture-backed organization. You will build and scale back-office infrastructure while partnering closely with ventures to ensure they have the necessary financial structure needed to scale. In partnership with our Managing Partner, you will help align how and where we invest with our AI-first, SMB-focused strategy.
We’re looking for a finance leader who is energized by ambiguity, fluent in early-stage SaaS economics, and passionate about building from zero. This is our first full-time CFO hire and an opportunity for a highly adaptable operator to move confidently between strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
What You’ll Do
Strategic Financial Leadership
- Act as a strategic partner to the Managing Partner and leadership team, driving the financial and investment strategy for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio companies.
- Establish the finance function at 1848V, building foundational systems, reporting frameworks, and scalable budgeting processes.
- Develop financial models that support the lifecycle of SaaS startups, from ideation to scale, ensuring efficient capital allocation and long-term growth.
- Lead due diligence, valuation, and deal structuring for venture investments, acquisitions, and liquidity events.
- Balance financial control with the agility needed to support a fast-paced venture-building environment.
- Influence the design and implementation of tools to support financial visibility and enable faster decisions.
Portfolio Economics & Venture Funding
- Engage with our proprietary Total Net Value (TNV) Model to assess venture potential and refine financial strategies.
- Oversee financial reporting, including SaaS metrics, burn rates, and performance benchmarks.
- Develop investment frameworks and approval packages for Seed and Series A funding rounds, ensuring alignment with business strategy and capital requirements.
- Build financial dashboards and metrics to track venture performance, incorporating milestone-based funding models.
- Support portfolio capital allocation and scenario planning across multiple ventures, adapting to stage and risk profile.
- Guide exit strategies, including M&A, strategic sales, and other liquidity events.
Corporate & Stakeholder Alignment
- Serve as the financial liaison between 1848 Ventures and Westfield (1848V’s corporate investor), ensuring alignment on reporting cadence, capital investments, financial performance, and compliance.
- Present financial updates, investment strategies, and exit plans to Westfield senior leadership.
- Help manage governance touchpoints and act as a thought partner on long-term capital strategy and portfolio returns.
- Optimize the interface between venture studio operations and corporate financial frameworks, ensuring efficiency and flexibility.
Financial Operations & Process Improvement
- Design and implement finance systems and tools that support automation, visibility, and investment workflows across ventures.
- Build and lead a high-performing finance team, ensuring financial systems scale with our growth.
- Provide financial training and resources to venture teams, enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Enhance internal financial discipline, risk management, and compliance while maintaining the speed and experimentation required in an innovation environment.
- Identify gaps in financial operations and introduce scalable, repeatable processes to address them.
Finance & Accounting
- Establish and evolve financial processes to support new ventures and subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with SaaS accounting standards (GAAP, ASC 606, etc.).
- Oversee accounting, financial planning and analysis, tax compliance, capital management, and vendor management.
- Manage capital allocation and investment strategies across the portfolio.
- Assess financial risk exposure in contracts and agreements, safeguarding operational integrity.
Oversee Legal & IT Functions
- Lead the legal strategy for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio companies, ensuring compliance with corporate governance, contracts, and regulatory frameworks.
- Manage relationships with external legal counsel; build internal systems to support contracting and risk evaluation.
- Drive IT strategy to support scalable, secure, and high-performing infrastructure for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with data security, privacy laws, and IT governance best practices while maintaining the speed and flexibility of a startup environment.
Back-Office Leadership
- Collaborate with Westfield stakeholders as needed on finance, legal, and IT initiatives.
- Optimize back-office functions to increase efficiency and support business needs.
- Partner with the People & Culture Team to shape compensation, benefits, and incentive structures that attract top-tier talent.
Who You Are
Must-Haves:
- Deep expertise in venture capital financing, fundraising, and capital strategy.
- Strong understanding of SaaS metrics, financial modeling, and valuation.
- Experience with M&A, investor relations, and exit strategy execution.Extensive experience as a senior financial leader in venture-backed SaaS businesses.
- Proven ability to lead across multiple back-office functions (Finance, Legal, IT, Procurement).
- Ability to balance corporate governance and startup agility.
- Exceptional communicator with the ability to influence senior leadership and investors.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Familiarity with milestone-based funding models and scenario modeling across portfolios.
- Experience building finance systems in ambiguous, scaling environments.
- Understanding of stochastic modeling and advanced financial forecasting.
- Experience working in regulated environments.
- Background in machine learning/AI-powered ventures.
Travel & Location
This role is remote, but the CFO must be available for in-person engagements with 1848 Ventures and Westfield leaders as needed. Expected travel is approximately 25%.
Why Join Us?
At 1848 Ventures, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the financial future of a venture studio dedicated to innovation. We operate with speed, intention, and a deep commitment to results. If you’re looking to apply your financial leadership to a fast-moving, high-growth environment, let’s talk.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
1848 Ventures celebrates diversity and is committed to inclusion. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
