CFO Chief Financial Officer - Startup Company

CFO Chief Financial Officer - Startup Company


$ 200.000-250.000 + Benefits



(POSITION SPECIFICATION)
A 3-D social networking startup headquartered in Seoul, Korea

(SUMMARY of background)
-A rare world-class startup is seeking to add an outstanding Chief Financial Officer to its core management team.
-Financed by blue chip venture capital firms in Asia and Silicon Valley, the company is in the process of launching a new social entertainment media.
-The ideal CFO will be eager to supply the financial leadership required for such a bold venture. That person will be looking for one of those rare opportunities and related challenges that occur once in a career lifetime.

The demands on this CFO are large and should not be lightly dismissed. Significant skills are required to attract large amounts of venture growth capital, establish and manage a complex trans-national financial control system, and contribute to significantly advancing the company’s strategic and business development decision-making.

The candidate will have a track record of successively greater achievements under demanding working conditions in prior corporations of the highest quality. In-depth startup experience with new enterprises financed by American based venture capital firms is mandatory. Hands-on work with Asian venture firms is a plus.

The company has important markets in China and Korea, as well as America and Europe. This will put a significant premium on the candidate with a track record that demonstrates the ability to work effectively with those special business cultures, including the extensive travel and communications demands therein.
-Fluency in English writing and speaking is mandatory, abilities in Korean or Chinese will enhance the attractiveness of the candidate.
-The immediate job tasks call for jumping in, hands-on, to get the multi-country financial system up and running. Thereafter the emphasis will shift to building the supporting financial system that prepares the company for its initial public offering on Nasdaq within the next five years.
-The founders of the company believe strongly that its culture will shape its success. The CFO must fit it well. The culture of the company is marked by rapid changes, revered creativity, demanding work schedules and very intelligent people who are comfortable with themselves and each other. It is a youthful culture, focused on innovating things in Asia that are attractive to the young global pop culture that is emerging in the form of new media inventions. The company sees its creations as positive contributions to young people, for instance as alternatives to classic shoot and kill electronic games and it does not do pornography.
-The candidate for this position will view the primary value in the compensation package as the equity sharing via a significant stock option grant.
Candidates are likely to have prior experience with companies competing in social networking, on-line games and electronic commerce.

(POSITION)
Chief Financial Officer

(COMPANY)
-Social Networking
Our client has raised $15M in Series A funding from Globespan Capital Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Northern Light Venture Capital and QiMing Venture Partners.
This company plans to launch in China and Korea at the end of 2008 and in the US in 2009. The firm says it has built a platform with which users can create avatars, 3D space and content. Our client has built online such an online dance game; Runway, a fashion show application; and a casual online game.
Here`s the big idea from CEO and co-founder of the company: “We wanted to create a social virtual world – sort of like a 3D MySpace – where users can create, collect, combine and share legacy media such as music, photos, video as well as 3D objects such as clothing, furniture, pets, cars and more, all in a beautiful 3D environment. We wanted to give users a powerful new vehicle for self-expression that breaks down real world limitations. We believe that if people created homepages in the ‘90s to express themselves, and if they have migrated to blogging and using social networking sites like Face book and MySpace today, then the next natural step will be to inhabit fun, virtual worlds with user-created avatars.”

(POSITION LOCATION)
Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Europe
*At candidate`s preference, all location is opened.

(REPORTING RELATIONSHIP)
-Reports directly to President and Chief Executive Officer.

(EDUCATION)
The ideal candidate will have min. a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or economics from a top school. CPA or MBA preferred.

(JOB SUMMARY)
-To direct and oversee all financial activities of the corporation including preparation of current financial reports as well as summaries and forecasts for future business growth and general economic outlook.

(BASIC FUNCTION)
•Oversees all company accounting practices, including accounting departments, preparing budgets, financial reports, tax and AUDIT functions.
•Directs financial strategy, planning and forecasts; conferring with president, VP of business development and department heads.
•Supervises investment and raising of funds for growth.
•Studies, analyzes and reports on trends, opportunities for expansion and projection of future company growth.

(SPECIFIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES)
•Directs the preparation of all financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, reports to shareholders, tax returns, and reports for government regulatory agencies.
•Oversees accounting departments, budget preparation, and AUDIT functions. Meets regularly with department heads to keep informed and to offer direction.
•Reviews reports to analyze projections of sales and profit against actual figures, budgeted expenses against final totals, and suggests methods of improving the planning process as appropriate.
•Analyzes company operations to pinpoint opportunities and areas that need to be reorganized, down-sized, or eliminated.
•Confers with president, vice president of sales, and vice president of manufacturing, and division leaders to coordinate and prioritize planning.
•Studies long-range economic trends and projects company prospects for future growth in overall sales and market share, opportunities for acquisitions or expansion into new product areas. Estimates requirements for capital, land, buildings, and an increase in the work force.
•Supervises investment of funds; works with banks and/or investment bankers to raise additional capital as required for expansion.

(QUALIFICATIONS)
•BA or Master`s degree in business administration, accounting, or finance. MBA preferred.
•CPA. designation preferred.
•Knowledge of database and accounting computer application systems to supply the most accurate financial information.
•8~10 years of experience in financial management with increasing responsibilities for multi-faceted direction and planning.
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

(EXPERIENCE)
The finalist will:
•Have hands-on startup experience
•Have 6 to 12 years relevant experience.
•Hold the ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously.
•Possess strong technical, quantitative analysis skills.
•Be highly competent in leveraging MS Office applications to produce professional work.
•Possess exceptional communication skills, be well organized and have a good sixth sense about organizational priorities.
•Exude a style that will wear well with all levels of management as well as with customers, vendors, consultants/contractors, technical employees, and field sales.
•Have unimpeachable integrity and be perceived as a star within the organization.
•Be a bright, mature, articulate, pragmatic, energetic and accomplished professional with a track record of meeting or exceeding planned goals and objectives.
•Thrive in environments undergoing rapid change.
•Be a seasoned, hands-on, street-smart contributor who is a team player and is results-oriented.
•Exhibit a keen interest in the areas of accounting, tax, and financial management.
•Exhibit an attitude that promotes a `can do` mentality and consistently delivers exceptional levels of customer service to both internal and external constituents.

(PERSONAL PROFILE)
-In terms of personal style, the successful candidate must be a bright, articulate, knowledgeable, hands-on individual with strong business acumen.
-The finalist will be an incisive and integrative thinker, with the ability to relate to employees at all levels of the company in a consultative and facilitative manner.
-Other characteristics will include an open, inclusive, unassuming, honest, direct, and self-confident personal demeanor, coupled with the flexibility to anticipate and react to changing priorities and/or workflows, objectivity, a high energy level, a passion for excellence, and the ability to “have fun” which will imbue a sense of teamwork to achieve company growth goals and objectives.

(BENEFITS)
-We offer a fun, flexible and challenging work environment with competitive benefits, pre-IPO stock options and competitive salary.