Active Impact Investments
Chief Financial Officer (Zeno)
Active Impact Investments, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
An unprecedented global energy transition has begun. To meet 2040 net zero goals, over 2 billion electric two-wheelers (motorcycles) must be sold and $11 trillion in fuel consumption replaced. Zeno is building a tech platform to electrify this two-wheeler market, currently responsible for more than 4% of the world's GHG emissions. Our mission is to accelerate the energy transition and democratize the benefits across Africa, India, and Latin America. With a focus on East Africa as a starting point, Zeno is building a new energy ecosystem with ground-up development of a fundamentally better electric motorcycle, battery and associated battery charging network to drive a better experience for our customers.
We are looking for audacious, creative, and committed people to join us on this important mission. You will be joining a bold team consisting of leading engineers and senior operators hailing from companies including Tesla, Apple, Google, Ola Electric, LiveWire, Lucid Motors, Bolt, SRAM, Sun Mobility, Exponent Energy, SafeBoda and Microsoft, among many others.
Zeno has recently closed its seed round with Lower Carbon, one of the world's leading climate tech venture fund, Toyota Ventures, the VC of the world's largest automotive brand, along with participation by a long list of great regional venture investors in India and Africa.
The Role
The CFO will report directly to the CEO and work closely with other executive team members to drive Zeno's financial strategy and business growth on our mission to make reliable, empowering electric mobility and energy storage accessible to as many people on the planet as possible. As the CFO of a small, scrappy start up developing an entirely new business model and technology, the ideal candidate will be capable of (and excited about) wearing lots of hats. You will lead all finance and accounting functions, guide our manufacturing finance operations, spearhead Zeno's large debt and equity raising efforts and ideally, bring strong data science and statistical analysis skills to the job, making data-defined updates to our financial model as we grow. All of these roles will sit with you alone initially for the first 6-9 months after which you will be responsible for building out a world-class team of people under you.
What You'll Do
Financial Strategy:• Develop and execute comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the company's
mission, vision, and long-term objectives.• Lead financial planning and analysis efforts, including budgeting, forecasting, and
scenario planning, to support decision-making and drive business performance.• Own and update our Zeno finance model.• Assess capital allocation opportunities, recommend and impliment strategies to
optimize capital structure, manage financial risks, and enhance bottom-line for Zeno.• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership and the Board
on key financial issues, opportunities, and risks.
Manufacturing Finance:• Oversee manufacturing finance activities for Zeno's OEM business, including BOM
cost Managment, cost accounting, inventory management, and operational
performance analysis, to ensure accurate financial reporting and control.• Partner with operations and engineering teams to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce production costs, and improve efficiency and quality.• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support capacity expansion,
production scaling, and supply chain optimization efforts.• Establish roadmap for vertical integration over time based on best return on
invested capital.
Debt Capital Fundraise Leadership:• Lead development of several new innovative financial products, designing and
building the facilities and structures required to support them.• Lead debt capital raising initiatives for Zeno. This will include structuring,
negotiation, and execution of financing transactions.• Manage relationships with financial institutions, investors, and other stakeholders to
secure favourable financing terms and conditions.• Monitor debt covenants and compliance requirements, proactively identifying and
addressing potential risks and challenges.
Equity Fundraise Leadership:• Support Zeno's equity fundraising efforts, including private placements to raise
capital for growth and expansion initiatives.• Collaborate with investment bankers, legal advisors, and other external partners to
structure and execute equity financing transactions.• Develop investor presentations, financial models, and due diligence materials to
support fundraising activities and communicate the company's value proposition to
potential investors.• Manage relationships with existing and prospective investors, providing regular
updates on financial performance, strategic initiatives, and growth prospects.
Financial Management and Control:• Establish and maintain robust financial controls and procedures to safeguard assets,
mitigate financial risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.• Manage treasury functions, including cash management, liquidity planning, and
foreign exchange risk management, to optimize capital allocation and mitigate
financial risks.• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports and presentations for internal and
external stakeholders, highlighting key performance metrics, financial trends, and
strategic insights.• Collaborate with external auditors and regulatory authorities to ensure compliance
with accounting standards, tax regulations, and reporting requirements
Data Science and Statistical Analysis:• Develop and own a multi-variate model of Zeno's business operations that allow us
to develop a deeper understanding of key levers to drive optimization in our unique
networked infrastructure business model.• Refine and improve our understanding of the model over time with statistical
analysis and input of data as it is collected.• Integrate learnings into an updated and refined financial model.• Drive initial design of our AI network operating platform based on the above
modelling and data analysis.
What You Bring• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field; MBA or advanced degree
preferred.• CPA or equivalent professional certification strongly preferred.• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting roles, with
at least 3 years in a senior leadership position.• Extensive experience in manufacturing finance, preferably within the automotive or
manufacturing industry, with a deep understanding of Supply Chain finance, working
capital management, cost accounting, production processes, and inventory
management.• Proven track-record of success in debt and equity capital raises, particularly in
emerging markets, with a strong global network of relationships in the finance
community.• Strong analytical skills and financial acumen, with the ability to translate complex
financial data into actionable insights and recommendations. Preferably, strong skills
in data analytics / data science and proficiency with Python, R or similar.• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build
relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate future trends, identify opportunities,
and drive innovation.• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including experience leading and developing high-
performing teams and supporting a globally disbursed team.
Benefits• Join a world class team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs from across the globe
who are part of the inevitable trillion-dollar transition of two-wheelers to electric!• Competitive salary based on experience and significant ESOP.• Company spoored healthcare plan
We are looking for audacious, creative, and committed people to join us on this important mission. You will be joining a bold team consisting of leading engineers and senior operators hailing from companies including Tesla, Apple, Google, Ola Electric, LiveWire, Lucid Motors, Bolt, SRAM, Sun Mobility, Exponent Energy, SafeBoda and Microsoft, among many others.
Zeno has recently closed its seed round with Lower Carbon, one of the world's leading climate tech venture fund, Toyota Ventures, the VC of the world's largest automotive brand, along with participation by a long list of great regional venture investors in India and Africa.
The Role
The CFO will report directly to the CEO and work closely with other executive team members to drive Zeno's financial strategy and business growth on our mission to make reliable, empowering electric mobility and energy storage accessible to as many people on the planet as possible. As the CFO of a small, scrappy start up developing an entirely new business model and technology, the ideal candidate will be capable of (and excited about) wearing lots of hats. You will lead all finance and accounting functions, guide our manufacturing finance operations, spearhead Zeno's large debt and equity raising efforts and ideally, bring strong data science and statistical analysis skills to the job, making data-defined updates to our financial model as we grow. All of these roles will sit with you alone initially for the first 6-9 months after which you will be responsible for building out a world-class team of people under you.
What You'll Do
Financial Strategy:• Develop and execute comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the company's
mission, vision, and long-term objectives.• Lead financial planning and analysis efforts, including budgeting, forecasting, and
scenario planning, to support decision-making and drive business performance.• Own and update our Zeno finance model.• Assess capital allocation opportunities, recommend and impliment strategies to
optimize capital structure, manage financial risks, and enhance bottom-line for Zeno.• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership and the Board
on key financial issues, opportunities, and risks.
Manufacturing Finance:• Oversee manufacturing finance activities for Zeno's OEM business, including BOM
cost Managment, cost accounting, inventory management, and operational
performance analysis, to ensure accurate financial reporting and control.• Partner with operations and engineering teams to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce production costs, and improve efficiency and quality.• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support capacity expansion,
production scaling, and supply chain optimization efforts.• Establish roadmap for vertical integration over time based on best return on
invested capital.
Debt Capital Fundraise Leadership:• Lead development of several new innovative financial products, designing and
building the facilities and structures required to support them.• Lead debt capital raising initiatives for Zeno. This will include structuring,
negotiation, and execution of financing transactions.• Manage relationships with financial institutions, investors, and other stakeholders to
secure favourable financing terms and conditions.• Monitor debt covenants and compliance requirements, proactively identifying and
addressing potential risks and challenges.
Equity Fundraise Leadership:• Support Zeno's equity fundraising efforts, including private placements to raise
capital for growth and expansion initiatives.• Collaborate with investment bankers, legal advisors, and other external partners to
structure and execute equity financing transactions.• Develop investor presentations, financial models, and due diligence materials to
support fundraising activities and communicate the company's value proposition to
potential investors.• Manage relationships with existing and prospective investors, providing regular
updates on financial performance, strategic initiatives, and growth prospects.
Financial Management and Control:• Establish and maintain robust financial controls and procedures to safeguard assets,
mitigate financial risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.• Manage treasury functions, including cash management, liquidity planning, and
foreign exchange risk management, to optimize capital allocation and mitigate
financial risks.• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports and presentations for internal and
external stakeholders, highlighting key performance metrics, financial trends, and
strategic insights.• Collaborate with external auditors and regulatory authorities to ensure compliance
with accounting standards, tax regulations, and reporting requirements
Data Science and Statistical Analysis:• Develop and own a multi-variate model of Zeno's business operations that allow us
to develop a deeper understanding of key levers to drive optimization in our unique
networked infrastructure business model.• Refine and improve our understanding of the model over time with statistical
analysis and input of data as it is collected.• Integrate learnings into an updated and refined financial model.• Drive initial design of our AI network operating platform based on the above
modelling and data analysis.
What You Bring• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field; MBA or advanced degree
preferred.• CPA or equivalent professional certification strongly preferred.• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting roles, with
at least 3 years in a senior leadership position.• Extensive experience in manufacturing finance, preferably within the automotive or
manufacturing industry, with a deep understanding of Supply Chain finance, working
capital management, cost accounting, production processes, and inventory
management.• Proven track-record of success in debt and equity capital raises, particularly in
emerging markets, with a strong global network of relationships in the finance
community.• Strong analytical skills and financial acumen, with the ability to translate complex
financial data into actionable insights and recommendations. Preferably, strong skills
in data analytics / data science and proficiency with Python, R or similar.• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build
relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate future trends, identify opportunities,
and drive innovation.• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including experience leading and developing high-
performing teams and supporting a globally disbursed team.
Benefits• Join a world class team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs from across the globe
who are part of the inevitable trillion-dollar transition of two-wheelers to electric!• Competitive salary based on experience and significant ESOP.• Company spoored healthcare plan