About Us
At 1848 Ventures, we're not just building companies—we're shaping the future. As a venture studio focused on B2B SaaS startups powered by data and AI, we're on a mission to transform the SMB market in industries that are the backbone of the economy, such as construction, real estate, hospitality, retail, and restaurants. Our team of venture builders, data scientists, engineers, and designers leverage cutting-edge AI to build products that empower SMB businesses to succeed.
We're not following traditional playbooks; we're creating our own. Join us and help drive innovation in industries where data and AI can make a real impact.
The Opportunity
As CFO at 1848 Ventures, you will be the strategic leader responsible for shaping our financial strategy and driving sustainable growth across our venture studio and portfolio companies. Reporting to the Managing Partner, you will build scalable financial systems, define our capital strategy, and enable high-impact investment decisions.
This is more than a traditional CFO role—this is about balancing the agility of a startup environment with the financial rigor of a venture-backed organization. You will lead financial strategy, venture investment frameworks, and operational execution, ensuring our portfolio companies have the financial infrastructure needed to scale. You will also oversee legal and IT functions, ensuring compliance and operational excellence while enabling speed and flexibility.
This role requires a proven financial leader with deep expertise in venture-backed SaaS businesses, venture funding, portfolio economics, and capital strategy. If you thrive in high-growth, fast-paced environments and know how to bridge the gap between startup innovation and corporate governance, we want to hear from you.
What You’ll DoStrategic Financial Leadership
- Act as a strategic partner to the Managing Partner and leadership team, driving the financial and investment strategy for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio companies.
- Develop financial models that support the lifecycle of SaaS startups—from ideation to scale—ensuring efficient capital allocation and long-term growth.
- Lead due diligence, valuation, and deal structuring for venture investments, acquisitions, and liquidity events.
- Balance financial control with the agility needed to support a fast-paced venture-building environment.
Portfolio Economics & Venture Funding
- Engage with our proprietary Total Net Value (TNV) Model to assess venture potential and refine financial strategies.
- Oversee financial reporting, including SaaS metrics, burn rates, and performance benchmarks.
- Develop investment approval packages for Seed and Series A funding rounds, ensuring alignment with business strategy and capital requirements.
- Guide exit strategies, including M&A, strategic sales, and other liquidity events.
Corporate & Stakeholder Alignment
- Serve as the financial liaison between 1848 Ventures and Westfield (1848V’s corporate investor), ensuring alignment on capital investments, financial performance, and compliance.
- Present financial updates, investment strategies, and exit plans to Westfield senior leadership.
- Optimize the interface between venture studio operations and corporate financial frameworks, ensuring efficiency and flexibility.
Financial Operations & Process Improvement
- Build and lead a high-performing finance team, ensuring financial systems scale with our growth.
- Implement financial technologies that enhance reporting, automation, and investment workflows.
- Provide financial training and resources to venture teams, enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Enhance internal controls, risk management, and compliance while maintaining operational agility.
Finance & Accounting
- Establish and evolve financial processes to support new ventures and subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with SaaS accounting standards (GAAP, ASC 606, etc.).
- Oversee accounting, financial planning and analysis, tax compliance, capital management, and vendor management.
- Manage capital allocation and investment strategies across the portfolio.
- Assess financial risk exposure in contracts and agreements, safeguarding operational integrity.
Oversee Legal & IT Functions
- Lead the legal strategy for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio companies, ensuring compliance with corporate governance, contracts, and regulatory frameworks.
- Oversee external legal partnerships, balancing risk management with business enablement.
- Drive IT strategy to support scalable, secure, and high-performing infrastructure for 1848 Ventures and its portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with data security, privacy laws, and IT governance best practices while maintaining the speed and flexibility of a startup environment.
Back-Office Leadership
- Collaborate with Westfield stakeholders as needed on finance, legal, and IT initiatives.
- Optimize back-office functions to increase efficiency and support business needs.
- Partner with the People & Culture Team to shape compensation, benefits, and incentive structures that attract top-tier talent.
Who You AreMust-Haves:
- Extensive experience as a senior financial leader in venture-backed SaaS businesses.
- Proven ability to lead across multiple back-office functions (Finance, Legal, IT, Procurement).
- Deep expertise in venture capital financing, fundraising, and capital strategy.
- Strong understanding of SaaS metrics, financial modeling, and valuation.
- Experience with M&A, investor relations, and exit strategy execution.
- Ability to balance corporate governance and startup agility.
- Exceptional communicator with the ability to influence senior leadership and investors.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
Nice-to-Haves:
- Understanding of stochastic modeling and advanced financial forecasting.
- Experience working in regulated environments.
- Background in machine learning/AI-powered ventures.
Travel & Location
This role is remote, but the CFO must be available for in-person engagements with 1848 Ventures and Westfield leaders as needed. Expected travel is approximately 25%.
Why Join Us?
At 1848 Ventures, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the financial future of a venture studio dedicated to innovation. We operate with speed, intention, and a deep commitment to results. If you’re looking to apply your financial leadership to a fast-moving, high-growth environment, let’s talk.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
1848 Ventures celebrates diversity and is committed to inclusion. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Top Skills
What We Do
Big challenges. Passionate people. Smart solutions. This is what you’ll find at 1848 Ventures. We help business owners manage uncertainty and discover opportunity in risk. We’re not aiming for incremental improvement – we’re breaking new ground. And when we see opportunity for innovation, we have the freedom, resources, and culture to make it happen.
We’re champions of business owners everywhere. After all, it’s this startup ethos and entrepreneurial spirit that 1848 Ventures – and our parent company, Westfield – was founded on. Westfield, a leading provider of commercial insurance, established 1848 Ventures in 2018 to expand beyond conventional property and casualty insurance products and address the broader risks small business owners face every day. We meet our customers where they are, partnering together to deliver digital solutions that improve their bottom line.
We know that in order to succeed, we need the right people to make it happen. We start by building a team with a diverse set of voices, backgrounds, and experiences. We’re looking for the innovators. The pioneers. The change agents. The people who aren’t afraid to ask, “What if…?” and try it anyway. This is the place for self-starters, go-getters, and anyone who wants to see a good idea become a great reality.
At 1848 Ventures, we help people build careers. Based in Northeast Ohio near Cleveland, our team members grow their creative and commercial skill sets, applying their talents to a wide range of portfolio concepts. And who we are drives what we do – our values empower a thriving culture that allows for true innovation, learning, and growth.
