Job Title: CFO-in-Residence
Location: Remote (with occasional travel as needed)
Company Overview: At Shaper Capital, we’re on a mission to partner with incredible people to build companies that shape the world. Shaper Capital was founded by Travis May, who led the two biggest data companies created in the last 20 years (LiveRamp and Datavant); we’ve launched six companies over the past year, creating data businesses that follow similar playbooks across industries.
By joining Shaper today, you’ll be part of a small, ambitious team driven by the belief that the world’s greatest problems have yet to be solved and the most transformative companies have yet to be built. We empower our portfolio companies to create businesses that transform industries, and we believe in hiring individuals who are smart, nice, and get things done. We invest in hiring high potential and humble individuals who thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and can rapidly grow their responsibilities as we reimagine company creation.
Role Overview:
We’re building a “CFO-in-Residence” program to identify and cultivate the next wave of finance leaders for Shaper’s portfolio. This is a unique opportunity for strategic finance professionals to work across multiple early-stage, venture-backed startups—initially supporting them on a fractional basis, and over time, growing into full-time Head of Finance or CFO roles as mutual fit emerges.
As CFO-in-Residence, you’ll partner closely with founders to build the financial foundation of their companies. You might help close a fundraise, set up financial systems, build operating models, or shape pricing and monetization strategies. Each tour of duty is high-leverage, fast-paced, and critical to company success.
This role requires someone who thrives in early-stage environments, is eager to solve complex financial challenges, and is comfortable operating both at a strategic level and in the financial trenches.
Key Responsibilities:
- Embed with Portfolio Companies: Serve as a fractional Head of Finance or strategic finance partner to 1–2 Shaper-backed companies at a time, supporting mission-critical needs during moments of growth, fundraising, or operational scale-up.
- Own Core Finance Functions: Stand up or refine financial systems, develop budgets, forecasts, and dashboards, and help establish key KPIs to support board-level reporting and decision-making.
- Support Fundraising: Partner with founders on modeling, storytelling, data room readiness, and investor Q&A
- Build Scalable Infrastructure: Lay the groundwork for long-term success by establishing best practices in financial operations, cash management, vendor selection, and compliance.
- Strategic Projects: Lead one-off strategic finance initiatives, including pricing strategy, cap table modeling, M&A diligence, cost optimization, or international expansion planning.
- Grow Into Permanent Roles: Over time, transition into a full-time CFO or Head of Finance position within a portfolio company that’s the right mutual fit.
Key Qualifications:
Experience:
- 5–10 years of progressive finance experience, ideally including:
- Early-stage startup finance leadership (Head of Finance, VP Finance, etc.)
- Investment banking, FP&A, private equity, venture capital, or Big 4 accounting
- Experience supporting venture-backed tech startups is strongly preferred
Skillset:
- Finance Excellence: Strong command of financial modeling, forecasting, accounting, and SaaS metrics
- Builder Mindset: Comfortable operating in zero-to-one environments with limited structure
- Operational Rigor: Ability to implement financial systems and processes that scale
- Strategic Thinking: Able to connect financial insights to broader business strategy
- High Ownership: Willing to roll up sleeves while maintaining strategic oversight
- Low Ego, High Trust: Collaborative team player who earns the confidence of founders quickly
Culture Fit:
- Excited to work in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment
- Mission-aligned and motivated to help build meaningful, data-driven companies
- Embody Shaper’s values: smart, nice, and get things done
What We Offer:
- A fast-track path to a CFO role at a breakout startup
- The unique opportunity to shape the future of Shaper Capital and its portfolio companies.
- A dynamic, fast-paced environment where your impact is immediate and meaningful.
- Competitive salary, equity, and benefits package.
- The chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in venture and entrepreneurship.
How to Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are excited about this opportunity.
