Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Chief Funding Officer
Executive Leadership Position
The Leader NU Institute, LLC (LNU)
Location: Hybrid / Austin, Texas (Remote considered for exceptional candidates)
Compensation: Performance-Based Executive Compensation (Percentage of Funds Raised) + Executive Incentive Program
Position Overview
The Leader NU Institute (LNU) is seeking an accomplished executive to serve as our Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Chief Funding Officer.
This executive will be responsible for building and leading the organization's financial strategy while securing the capital necessary to rapidly expand one of the nation's emerging leadership and AI implementation organizations. This is not a traditional salaried CFO position. Compensation is directly tied to performance through a negotiated percentage of successfully secured funding, investments, grants, strategic partnerships, and financing. As the organization grows, compensation will transition into a long-term executive package with an annual compensation ceiling of $250,000, at which point the board and executive leadership will renegotiate a long-term executive agreement.
About The Leader NU Institute
The Leader NU Institute develops leaders who successfully implement Artificial Intelligence throughout organizations.
Our mission is simple:
Leadership is a Lifestyle.
Our programs combine:
- Leadership Development
- AI Implementation
- Organizational Transformation
- Workforce Development
- Executive Coaching
- Process Improvement
- Corporate Training
- Nonprofit Leadership
- Government Workforce Initiatives
Position Summary
The CFO/Chief Funding Officer serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and has complete responsibility for the financial operations of the organization. The successful candidate will build the financial infrastructure necessary to support rapid organizational growth while aggressively pursuing funding opportunities from:
- Banks
- Private Investors
- Venture Capital
- Angel Investors
- Government Grants
- Foundation Grants
- Corporate Sponsors
- Strategic Partnerships
- Lines of Credit
- SBA Programs
- Economic Development Organizations
- Philanthropic Organizations
Primary Responsibilities
Executive Financial Leadership
Develop and execute LNU's complete financial strategy.
Create annual operating budgets.
Develop financial forecasting models.
Manage cash flow.
Maintain banking relationships.
Develop financial reporting systems.
Present executive reports to ownership.
Develop financial KPIs.
Monitor profitability.
Develop long-term financial growth strategies.
Capital Development
Lead all fundraising efforts.
Secure organizational financing.
Prepare funding presentations.
Develop investor relationships.
Create investment proposals.
Negotiate funding agreements.
Identify grant opportunities.
Prepare financial documents required for funding.
Coordinate due diligence.
Manage lender relationships.
Develop strategic financial partnerships.
Financial Operations
Develop accounting systems.
Implement financial controls.
Manage bookkeeping oversight.
Develop purchasing policies.
Create expense approval systems.
Develop reimbursement procedures.
Oversee payroll processes.
Manage vendor relationships.
Develop financial dashboards.
Monitor organizational financial health.
Human Resources Leadership
Oversee the financial division.
Hire financial personnel.
Terminate employees when necessary.
Conduct executive performance reviews.
Develop succession plans.
Create onboarding systems.
Develop departmental training.
Establish departmental KPIs.
SOP Development
Develop Standard Operating Procedures for:
- Accounting
- Payroll
- Purchasing
- Budget Management
- Financial Reporting
- Grant Administration
- Investor Relations
- Expense Management
- Procurement
- Contract Review
- Risk Management
- Compliance
- Audit Preparation
- Internal Controls
Compliance
Ensure compliance with:
- IRS regulations
- State regulations
- Federal regulations
- Grant requirements
- Banking requirements
- Financial reporting standards
Qualifications
Minimum of 10 years of executive financial leadership experience. Demonstrated success securing significant organizational funding. Experience raising capital through multiple funding sources.
Strong banking relationships preferred. Grant writing and grant management experience preferred.
Experience with nonprofit and for-profit financial structures is highly desirable. Experience working with executive leadership teams. Exceptional communication skills. Executive presentation skills. High level of integrity. Professional executive presence.
Ability to represent LNU before:
- Investors
- Government agencies
- Banks
- Corporate executives
- Foundations
- Strategic partners
Financial Qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Excellent personal financial responsibility
- Strong credit history (preferred)
- Ability to successfully represent the organization in financial negotiations
- History of ethical financial stewardship
Note: LNU may conduct appropriate background, reference, and financial responsibility checks as permitted by applicable law and only where relevant to the duties of the role. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
Preferred Experience
Executive leadership
Corporate finance
Grant management
Investment fundraising
Capital campaigns
Strategic planning
Board presentations
Business development
Mergers and acquisitions
Financial modeling
Government contracting
Nonprofit finance
Workforce development funding
Higher education funding
AI and technology companies
Compensation
Performance-based compensation consisting of a negotiated percentage of successfully secured funding.
Compensation is earned only upon successfully completed funding transactions. Upon reaching annual executive compensation of $250,000, executive compensation will be reviewed and renegotiated with ownership for long-term organizational growth.
Additional long-term incentives may include:
- Executive bonus opportunities
- Profit-sharing (subject to future plan adoption)
- Long-term incentive compensation
- Equity or phantom equity consideration (if adopted by the company in the future)
Personal Characteristics
The ideal executive is:
- Highly ethical
- Strategic
- Results-oriented
- Entrepreneurial
- Relationship-focused
- Financially disciplined
- An exceptional negotiator
- Calm under pressure
- Mission-driven
- Passionate about leadership development and AI transformation
Why Join LNU?
This is an opportunity to help build a nationally recognized leadership and AI implementation organization from the ground up.
You will work directly with the Founder and CEO to shape the financial future of an organization dedicated to transforming leaders, organizations, and communities through practical leadership and artificial intelligence.
If you have the vision, experience, and relationships to secure transformational funding while building world-class financial operations, we encourage you to apply.
The Leader NU Institute, LLC
Leadership is a Lifestyle™
What You DO is Who You ARE!
This position offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact while helping scale an innovative organization at the intersection of leadership development and AI implementation.
