Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley (“YMVSV”) exists to accelerate the efforts of teams driving disruptive change.  We have the resources and backing of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (“YMC”), but we also have the openness and agility of a startup.  We also manage the Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund, a $100M dedicated fund that invests in exploratory areas such as mobility, sustainability, robotics, agriculture, medicine, and aviation (the “FUND”).

The CFO is a member of the Executive Team responsible for leading and overseeing financial integrity and strategy for this complex organization as well as the Fund. The CFO must be a roll-up-sleeves “do-er” equally comfortable with daily details and global strategy.  This position will partner with the CEO and other leaders to ensure the overall success of the organization by proactively formulating creative solutions to complex finance-related challenges and opportunities that align with the organization's programmatic priorities, mission and core values. The CFO will report to the CEO and is eligible to receive carried interest in the Fund.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Partnering with the CEO, other members of the Executive Team and the broader Management Team, the finance department and staff, the CFO will focus on the following current priorities: 

• Lead financial systems improvements, maintain a robust financial infrastructure that enables actionable financial forecasting and strong data analysis to drive strategic decision making, efficient reporting, and integration of real-time finance and accounting information to sustain future growth. This will require exceptional project and change management skills and a collaborative, cross-functional work style.
• Fund management.
• Hire, train, motivate, manage and mentor a best-in-class finance and accounting team that can partner effectively with investment and project teams.
• Remain current with accounting and compliance requirements and regulations of a wide range of areas.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a trusted thought partner and advisor to the CEO, contributing to organizational strategy and supporting informed decision-making.
• Lead by example in advancing the mission and serve as a standard bearer of organizational integrity, technical competence and emotional intelligence.
• Bring strategic, collaborative thinking to the finance function; develop and implement innovative, financially sound initiatives in direct support of the company's mission and objectives.
• Build effective relationships across the organization, lead through influencing and explaining rather than an authoritarian approach.

FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

• Create and manage an annual budgeting process that supports the Executive Team to prioritize key core activities within available resources. Work with Executive Team to develop reasonable annual spending targets.
• Lead routine reforecasting of budgets throughout the fiscal year. Regularly provide progress reports utilizing predictive models, forecasting and financial analyses to inform planning and operational decision making. Recommend course-corrections.
• Lead financial policy development as a member of the Executive and Management teams.

ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING

• Ensure an effective and robust financial accounting and reporting infrastructure: manage accounting, maintain accounting systems and supervise staff and outside service providers.
• Safeguard the maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting; create the communication of monthly and annual financial statements and quarterly and annual consolidation reports for YMC.
• Coordinate audits and serve as primary point of contact on all audits (external and internal).
• Responsible for internal controls, ensuring accurate financial reports and compliance with laws and regulations, including GAAP.
• Remain up to date on audit best practices and state and federal law regarding operations.
• Identify and execute activities to improve and maintain accounting systems and functions that support YMVSV's current global business model and anticipated future growth in other countries.
• Ability to process accounts receivable, accounts payable, invoicing, purchase orders, journal entries and wiring needs.

FUND MANAGEMENT

• Participate in the financial due diligence process of prospective investment targets.
• Create detailed financial models, including optimal capital structures, valuations, investment prices, and exit scenarios.
• Ensure correct data entry and analysis for portfolio companies on an ongoing basis.
• Make recommendations for initial and follow-on investments in portfolio companies.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Manage cash flow planning and ensure availability of funds as needed.
• Control cash, investment, and asset management.
• Oversee financing strategies and activities; steward banking relationships.
• Manage outside vendors.

GOVERNANCE

• Partner with CEO and executive team colleagues to communicate effectively with the Board of Directors providing full accounting of YMVSV's fiscal position, performance and compliance.
• Prepare and deliver Board reports on a quarterly and as-needed basis, including actionable qualitative assessments and recommendations to accompany standard financial reports and presentations.
• Prepare and deliver portfolio performance reports on a quarterly and as-needed basis.
• Coordinate management requirements and response for external, internal and project audits.
• In collaboration with project leaders and the Executive Team, support the continued evolution and maintenance of YMVSV's global projects including in-country engagement and offices.
• Oversee reporting preparation and submission for government and regulatory purposes in the US and abroad, including quarterly and annual consolidation with YMC
• Global compliance with YMC's requirements.

THE PERSON:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Successful candidates will bring a range of experiences and qualifications including:

• A graduate degree in business, finance or accounting.
• 15+ years senior-level financial experience, including 5+ years managing the finance function of a public organization.
• Demonstrated ability to hire, lead, mentor and develop staff.
• A strategic thinker who applies analytical rigor and creativity to leverage our existing and future resources.
• Ability to adapt to a continually evolving organization and thrive in an autonomous and deadline-oriented environment.
• Management experience with international rules and regulatory environments affecting contracts, cooperative agreements, currency exchanges, etc.
• 5+ years serving as member of senior leadership team and/or serving as a proactive and collaborative business partner to the CEO.
• Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model.
• Tech-savvy with understanding of finance systems that support and meet complex organizational and finance needs.
• Working knowledge or IFRS and GAAP accounting standards and experience with external audits.
• An effective communicator at all levels within an organization, with strong oral and written skills and a willingness to share information.
• CPA or Chartered Accountant certification preferred.
• Ability to think critically and creatively, contributing to the success of the organization in areas that may lie outside of the strictly accounting function.

TRAVEL & LOCATION

Position is based in Palo Alto, CA.

Domestic and international travel of approximately 20-25% may be expected or required, particularly to areas such as Japan, Europe, and Australia.

Must be a local candidate. Relocation not available.

YMVSV is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

AT YAMAHA, WE ARE THE “KANDO” CREATING COMPANY

What is Kando you ask?  Quite simply, Kando is an emotion that is best described as the feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that we experience when we encounter something of exceptional value.  We create Kando for our customers by offering them the most exciting and highest quality products in our industry.  In order to achieve this, we need passionate people who believe in what we do.  Is that you?

ABOUT YAMAHA MOTOR VENTURES & LABORATORY SILICON VALLEY (“YMVSV”)

Our work encompasses venture capital investments, portfolio management, innovation projects, and strategic efforts in collaboration with Yamaha Motor's global operations.  We're active members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we value action-oriented efforts.  Some of the areas we explore include the future of mobility, sustainability, robotics, agriculture, medicine, and aviation.  YMVSV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.  For more information:  https://www.ymvsv.com/