About Us:

The following is what we at Censys call our DNA Derivatives. It is fundamental to the job that you align with them. Please review them before applying. Thank you and we look forward to seeing your applications!

Censys Technologies DNA Derivatives

5 Areas of Excellence: Steward resources with excellence | Obsess over customers | Create new technologies | Improve continuously | Communicate with excellence

4 Core Values: Steadfast Customer Service | Quality | Integrity | Love

3 Fundamental Beliefs

• We believe enrichment comes when technology enables problem solving.
• We believe our natural order is to achieve our maximum potential as individuals and as an organization to make the world wiser.
• We believe omniscience of humanity’s assets is the cornerstone of value creation.

2 Pillars of Identity

• Strength – capacity to withstand great force and pressure
• Courage – the ability to name fear and not give it a foothold

1 Mission: Enrich lives through asset intelligence technology.

The Opportunity

As CFO, you won’t just be managing numbers—you’ll be architecting the financial infrastructure that powers innovation, growth, and long-term impact. We’re seeking a strategic, mission-aligned financial leader to oversee FP&A, drive successful fundraising campaigns, secure multi-million-dollar federal grants, and prepare the company for a potential public offering within the next 18 months.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the next chapter of a high-impact organization—and take it to the public markets with confidence, clarity, and capital strength.

Core Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)   Leadership:

• Build and refine financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes that enable agile, data-driven decisions
• Translate strategy into numbers with monthly dashboards, scenario modeling, and ROI analysis
• Partner with department leads to develop KPIs and financial insights that drive performance

Fundraising & Capital Strategy:

• Spearhead capital raise efforts—including equity, debt, and hybrid structures—aligned with our growth trajectory
• Act as lead financial storyteller, crafting compelling investor narratives and materials
• Negotiate term sheets and liaise with financial partners, legal counsel, and advisors

Federal Grants & Public Funding:

• Identify high-value public funding opportunities, including grants from federal agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOE, DoD)
• Lead the full lifecycle of federal grant applications—collaborating with technical teams and ensuring compliance
• Build robust internal systems to track, manage, and report on federal awards

IPO Readiness & Public Markets:

• Develop and execute a roadmap for IPO preparedness within 18 months—including financial controls, audit readiness, investor relations, and compliance frameworks
• Partner with legal, banking, and regulatory advisors to lead the IPO process from strategy to listing
• Serve as the financial face of the company to public market stakeholders, analysts, and investors

Operational Finance:

• Oversee treasury, cash flow, audits, accounting, and financial controls with a balance of precision and pragmatism
• Lead the evaluation, selection, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of an ERP system to support scalable operations and financial visibility
• Evaluate and evolve the finance tech stack to scale with company needs and regulatory demands
• Support M&A or strategic partnerships with due diligence, modeling, and integration planning

Executive Partnership:

• Be a core thought partner to the CEO, translating financial insight into strategic and tactical guidance
• Represent the company at investor meetings, board sessions, and high-stakes negotiations
• Contribute to overall organizational leadership, culture, and cross-functional alignment to achieve excellence in stewardship

Who You Are

• Aligned with Censys’ DNA Derivatives
• 10+ years of senior financial leadership, including CFO or VP Finance-level experience
• PCAOB audit experience
• Proven track record with FP&A, fundraising (venture and/or institutional), and government grants
• Experience preparing a company for IPO—or operating at the public company level—is a strong plus
• Thrives in high-growth, dynamic environments with evolving complexity
• Skilled communicator with the ability to inspire confidence across stakeholders—from board members to regulators
• Passion for building systems, teams, and structures that unlock scale

Preferred, but Not Required

• Prior experience in a grant-intensive or federally funded environment
• Executive leadership experience through an initial public offering process
• Familiarity with indirect cost rates, FAR compliance, and audit readiness
• CPA, CFA, or MBA credentials