VP of Strategic Finance

About Pursuit

Pursuit is a social impact organization building the future of economic mobility in the age of AI.

For over a decade, we’ve transformed lives through immersive training programs that propel adults from low-income backgrounds - often without college degrees - into high-growth tech careers. Our graduates have already generated nearly $1 billion in lifetime wage gains. We’ve also pioneered the Pursuit Bond, an innovative outcomes-based financing model that aligns investor returns with long-term economic mobility, allowing us to scale impact in a financially sustainable way. 

Now, as AI reshapes every industry, Pursuit is evolving into an AI-native organization. We’re training AI-native talent, embedding AI into our operations, and building scalable software to extend our impact. From grassroots partnerships to national policy, we’re not just filling jobs - we’re rethinking how economic opportunity works at scale.

About the Role

Pursuit is hiring a VP of Strategic Finance to lead Pursuit’s finance function across our nonprofit (.org), our Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and our innovative Pursuit Bond. This opportunity offers the chance to shape the financial infrastructure, models, and systems that will power Pursuit’s long-term growth and sustainability. 

As VP of Strategic Finance, you’ll serve as the financial architect of Pursuit’s next chapter, shaping our financial strategy, partnering with leadership to evaluate new opportunities, and developing innovative funding and operating models that blend philanthropy, earned revenue, and mission-aligned capital. This role will require both strategic and hands-on leadership: you’ll build and refine the core financial models, run scenarios, manage liquidity and capital structure, and ensure we have the visibility and rigor required to execute with confidence.

This is an ideal role for someone coming from startup finance, FP&A, investment banking or strategic finance who wants to apply their skills to a mission with real economic and systems impact. The VP of Strategic Finance will report to the COO and be a critical leader in unlocking Pursuit’s next phase of growth and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy and planning by setting annual and multi-year budgets, aligning financial goals with organizational priorities, and building the core models that drive decision-making across Pursuit.
• Advise the executive team on business strategy by providing financial insights to inform decisions on new programs, scaling operations, and capital allocation.
• Oversee all financial operations, ensuring efficient management of budgets, cash flow optimization, and compliance with regulatory requirements across both nonprofit (501(c)(3)) and Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) entities.
• Own forecasting, modeling, and cash management, including rolling revenue and expense forecasts, scenario planning, and liquidity oversight to ensure Pursuit has the visibility and stability to operate and grow.
• Drive revenue operations and financial systems to ensure we have alignment  on projected vs. actuals re: collections
• Build financial reporting and organizational visibility for internal leadership and external stakeholders, including Board meetings and funder deliverables.
• Manage and develop the Finance Manager who oversees day-to-day accounting, payroll processing, monthly closes, and financial operations.
• Manage capital, bond, and investment strategy, including bond repayment modeling, debt and capital structure recommendations, investment decisions for reserves, and compensation modeling to support organizational planning and sustainability.

About you: 

• Strategic and innovative finance leader with 10+ years of experience in startup, investment banking, FP&A, or corporate finance, with a strong track record of driving growth and operational efficiency in fast-paced environments.
• Expert in financial planning and strategic finance, with deep experience in modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, risk management, and capital structuring.
• Hands-on financial operator who can build and refine models yourself, while also developing a team and designing systems that scale.
• Startup-minded and entrepreneurial, able to navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and build scalable processes in a lean, high-growth environment.
• Experience with or strong interest in nonprofit finance, including accounting, audits, government contracts, philanthropic funding, and mission-driven financial structures; exposure to PBCs is a plus.
• Comfortable leading revenue operations, connecting pipeline to projections to collections, and ensuring financial rigor across a growing organization.
• Experienced in debt financing and capital management, including innovative funding structures, capital markets, and investor relations.
• Strong executive presence, with experience partnering directly with CEOs, Boards, investors, and strategic partners, and the ability to communicate financial insights clearly to diverse stakeholders verbally and through written reports.
• Cross-functional leader who can influence strategy across finance, operations, legal, external affairs, and program teams.
• Mission-Driven: You care deeply about equity, tech access, and expanding opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Pursuit offers: 

• An opportunity to work at the intersection of tech and social impact, and make a direct impact on the communities of those we serve.
• Competitive compensation in base, plus bonus and a full benefits package
• 401k Match
• Unlimited PTO and an all-Pursuit summer break the last week of August and a week-long holiday the last week of December
• Hybrid workspace: Tu - Th on site in Long Island City, Monday and Friday work from anywhere policy
• Catered lunches once a week and delicious snacks
• Dedicated time to build in AI and hone your AI skills

Salary & Benefits:

The expected salary range for this role is $150,000 - $170,000 base + incentive compensation.

The compensation above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate.

Pursuit values diversity: 

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we value the richness that diversity brings to our organization. We welcome new perspectives and affirm that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, familial or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuit is an equal opportunity employer.