Role Overview:
Shaper's CFO-in-Residence program is how we find and develop the next generation of finance leaders for our portfolio. You'll work across multiple early-stage, venture-backed startups, starting on a fractional basis and, as the right fit emerges, stepping into a full-time Head of Finance or CFO role.
As CFO-in-Residence, you'll partner closely with founders to build the financial foundation of their companies. One month you might be helping close a fundraise; the next, you're setting up financial systems, building an operating model, or shaping pricing strategy. Every engagement is high-leverage, fast-moving, and critical to the company's success.
This role is for someone who thrives in early-stage environments, loves solving complex financial problems, and is just as comfortable advising a CEO on strategy as building the model behind it.
What you'll do: - Embed with one or two Shaper-backed companies at a time as a fractional Head of Finance or strategic finance partner, stepping in during key moments of growth, fundraising, or scale.
- Own core finance functions, from setting up or refining financial systems to building budgets, forecasts, dashboards, and the KPIs that drive board reporting and decision-making.
- Partner with founders on fundraising, including financial models, the story behind the numbers, data room readiness, and investor Q&A.
- Build infrastructure that lasts by setting best practices for financial operations, cash management, vendor selection, and compliance.
- Lead strategic finance projects such as pricing strategy, cap table modeling, M&A diligence, cost optimization, and international expansion planning.
- Over time, step into a full-time CFO or Head of Finance role at a portfolio company where the fit is right on both sides.
Who you are: - You have 8+ years of progressive finance experience, including time as the senior finance leader (CFO, VP Finance, or Head of Finance) at a venture-backed startup, ideally taking it from early stage through a priced round or beyond
- Your background includes investment banking, FP&A, private equity, venture capital, or Big 4 accounting, and you're as comfortable in the details as you are in the boardroom
- Modeling, forecasting, accounting, revenue recognition, and SaaS metrics are second nature. When something you send has your name on it, it's right, every time
- You've set up finance functions from scratch, choosing the systems, designing the processes, and making the first hires, and you know how to build something that scales without over-engineering it
- You turn financial insight into strategy, guide fundraising and board conversations, and quickly earn the trust of CEOs who are building something for the first time
- You'll build the model at 10pm and present it to the board the next morning. No task is too small, and no decision is outside your scope
- You thrive working across multiple companies and teams, and the people you work with see you as a steady, collaborative force
- Low Ego, High Trust: Collaborative team player who earns the confidence of founders quickly
You're energized by fast-moving, ambiguous environments, excited to help build meaningful, data-driven companies, and you embody Shaper's values: smart, nice, and gets things done.
