Practice Leader & Client CFO, Growth

In 2008, Propeller reinvented the way venture-stage companies build finance teams, defining the fractional category. Three years ago, we expanded to serve breakout clients scaling past venture, launching our Growth practice. Now, we're hiring the leader to professionalize and scale it. You'll own the practice end-to-end: its commercial engine, embedded delivery teams, and strategic relationships, bringing the horsepower Growth-stage Consumer companies need as they scale from $30M to $300M and beyond.

Growth-stage companies operate differently than venture-stage startups. The financial infrastructure is more complex, operational stakes are higher, boards are more demanding, and the margin for error is smaller. Turnover in the finance seat stays high because these companies accelerate faster than talent can adapt. These clients need a CFO partner who has lived the $30M-to-$300M journey—someone who knows the landmines, how to build scalable systems, and has the confidence to deliver uncomfortable truths when needed.

This is an equity-track leadership role for someone ready to build a practice, not just a portfolio.

About Propeller

Propeller's 250+ professionals serve as the embedded finance and accounting partner to iconic emerging companies in Consumer, Technology, Blockchain, and Business Services. All are full-time employees across three continents. We've served 1,500+ companies, created $105B+ in enterprise value, supported 26 unicorn alumni, and helped raise $29B+. Our embedded teams integrate seamlessly into client operations in multi-year partnerships, attending leadership meetings, participating in board prep, and collaborating on strategic decisions with direct access to CEOs and CFOs.

PropellerOS, our financial operating platform, combines human judgment, precision accounting, data infrastructure, and AI-enabled insight to transform finance into the central nervous system of growth. It ensures finance-grade standards of lineage, reconciliation, auditability, and explainability, with a named human accountable for every number.

Responsibilities

• Own the Growth practice's expansion: pipeline, bookings, retention, and P&L as a commercial leader.
• Build relationships before they're needed, identify opportunities, and close deals to grow the practice.
• Develop go-to-market strategy for Growth-stage Consumer companies and build referral networks with private equity, investors, and advisors.
• Build and lead embedded teams: Controllers who run their own client books, with parallel career tracks for Controllers and CFOs.
• Set service standards, hold teams accountable for client satisfaction, deliverable quality, and engagement profitability.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews, build capacity through hiring and development, and step in for senior attention when needed.
• Serve as CFO-level advisor to Growth-stage Consumer operators, bringing pattern recognition from scaling companies from $30M to $300M.
• Maintain strategic relationships with complex clients, command respect in boardrooms, and translate financial data into strategic insight.
• Drive business development through networking, referrals, strategic partnerships, and direct outreach.
• Own financial performance of the practice: revenue, margins, utilization, and profitability.
• Lead and develop teams, placing people where their strengths compound.
• Serve as executive sponsor and escalation point for key accounts.
• Participate in board meetings and investor conversations for strategic clients.
• Make informed decisions about pricing, resource allocation, and engagement scope.
• Use PropellerOS to deliver cross-client insight and codify best practices for Growth-stage clients.
• Continuously improve service delivery quality, efficiency, and client impact.

Requirements

• Demonstrated business development success: ability to identify, cultivate, and close client relationships.
• 15+ years in finance/accounting with at least 7 years in CFO or senior financial leadership roles.
• Direct experience scaling companies from $30M to $300M+ in revenue, ideally as CFO or VP Finance.
• Demonstrated AI fluency: hands-on experience using AI in finance workflows.
• Track record leading and developing teams, including managing managers.
• Multi-client or consulting background strongly preferred (Big 4, boutique advisory, PE portfolio, or similar).
• Strong executive presence; comfortable presenting to boards, private equity sponsors, and sophisticated stakeholders.
• Experience building financial infrastructure that scales: ERP transitions, reporting systems, planning processes.

Industry Expertise

You understand how Consumer businesses work: the economics, channels, metrics, seasonal rhythms, retail relationships, and brand dynamics. Deep expertise in at least one of:

• DTC/e-commerce (CAC, LTV, channel economics, fulfillment optimization, Shopify/Amazon ecosystem).
• CPG (trade spend, retailer margins, inventory turns, COGS optimization, promotional ROI).
• Omnichannel retail (wholesale vs. DTC mix, sell-through rates, gross margin management, supply chain finance).

Experience with core processes and systems such as inventory, trade spend, QuickBooks, NetSuite, etc. Business Services depth alongside Consumer is a plus.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off and Holiday pay.
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision), short and long-term disability, and life insurance.
• HSA contribution.
• Paid Family Leave.
• 401k match.
• Remote-flexible work with travel for client meetings, team leadership, and conferences.
• AI/automation training, executive coaching, and access to Propeller's network.

Pay

Base salary range: $250,000 - $300,000 + significant variable compensation tied to practice performance and new business. Equity participation included.