Part-Time CFO / Controller – GenLab Venture Studio

• Location: Hybrid (San Francisco preferred; remote acceptable for exceptional candidates)
• Commitment: 10–20 hours per week (with potential to expand as portfolio grows)
• Compensation: Competitive part-time retainer + performance and equity participation

 

About GenLab

GenLab is a venture studio and investment platform building AI-native and deeptech companies across cybersecurity, aerospace, materials science, and critical infrastructure.

We operate at the intersection of venture capital, applied R&D, and strategic defense innovation, with anchor LPs in Japan (Digital Garage) and Germany (DCSO), and a growing ecosystem of industrial and sovereign capital partners.

Our model blends:

• Venture Studio Execution: building and spinning out category-defining companies in emerging sectors such as Physical AI, Sovereign AI, and AI Security.
  
  
• Fund + HoldCo Management: operating multi-jurisdictional entities, managing equity participation, and supporting spinout capitalization.
  
  
• Capital Discipline: ensuring every investment and studio initiative is structured for resilience, transparency, and long-term compounding value.
  
  

We’re now seeking a part-time CFO / Controller to bring rigor, foresight, and financial storytelling to a fast-moving, high-signal environment.

 

The Role

The Part-Time CFO / Controller will serve as GenLab’s financial anchor — responsible for ensuring clarity, control, and confidence across all financial operations.

You’ll oversee accounting and capital structure, manage due diligence for investors and portfolio companies, and provide strategic guidance on growth and financing.

You’ll work directly with the Managing Partner, coordinate with portfolio founders, and engage regularly with LPs, auditors, and legal counsel in the U.S., EU, and Japan.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Capital Planning

• Build and maintain GenLab’s multi-entity financial architecture (HoldCo, Fund, and Studio-level).
  
  
• Develop forward-looking cash flow models, scenario plans, and capital allocation frameworks.
  
  
• Support fundraising and investor relations, including financial modeling, LP reporting, and data room management.
  
  
• Lead capital planning and fund administration with external accounting, audit, and legal teams.
  
  
• Optimize cross-border entity structure and compliance across U.S., Germany, Japan, and EU operations.
  
  

Operational Finance & Controls

• Oversee bookkeeping, reconciliations, and intercompany transfers (QuickBooks, Carta, and banking platforms).
  
  
• Implement budgeting, expense controls, and reimbursement systems for each studio and project.
  
  
• Manage SAFE, convertible note, and equity documentation in coordination with legal and compliance teams.
  
  
• Prepare audit-ready financials, tax packages, and reporting materials for LPs and regulators.
  
  

Due Diligence & Governance

• Lead financial due diligence for all portfolio companies — ensuring data room completeness, clean records, and audit traceability.
  
  
• Prepare and manage investor due diligence for GenLab and its studios, including responses, documentation, and narrative consistency.
  
  
• Maintain due diligence checklists for fundraising, M&A, and partnership reviews.
  
  
• Ensure corporate governance alignment across GenLab, subsidiaries, and spinouts.
  
  
• Collaborate with legal and compliance partners to ensure all sensitive materials are secure, accurate, and up to date.
  
  

Advisory & Portfolio Support

• Support portfolio CEOs and co-founders on financial modeling, pricing, and runway planning.
  
  
• Advise on fundraising strategy, valuation, and investor engagement for spinout companies.
  
  
• Champion capital efficiency and financial transparency as core principles across all GenLab initiatives.
  
  

 

Qualifications

Required:

• 8–15+ years of progressive finance leadership (Controller, VP Finance, or CFO) in venture-backed or multi-entity environments.
  
  
• Deep understanding of venture finance mechanics: SAFEs, convertible notes, LP/GP structures, and equity waterfalls.
  
  
• Demonstrated success managing due diligence for fundraising, M&A, or audits.
  
  
• Proficiency with QuickBooks, Excel financial modeling, and Carta (or equivalent).
  
  
• Strong communication skills — able to translate complex structures into clear investor and board narratives.
  
  

Preferred:

• Prior experience with venture studios, family offices, or fund administration.
  
  
• Familiarity with deeptech, cybersecurity, or defense-adjacent sectors.
  
  
• Comfort operating in global, regulated, or dual-use environments (U.S./EU/Japan).
  
  

 

Why Join GenLab

• Work directly with world-class founders and investors shaping frontier technology.
  
  
• Help architect the financial foundation of a next-generation venture studio.
  
  
• Participate in studio equity upside and share in portfolio value creation.
  
  
• Join a team that treats finance as strategy — not overhead.
  
  

 

How to Apply

Send your background, a short note on your approach to financial discipline in high-innovation environments, and relevant case examples to: