Fractional Chief Financial Officer

About the role

A fractional CFO supports executive management and project sponsors across a portfolio of ten US projects, leading financial management, financial modelling and strategic transaction execution. The role covers valuation frameworks, linked financial models, internal controls, PCAOB-registered audits and financial readiness for potential Nasdaq direct listings. It is a flexible, part-time remote position of 10-15 hours per week, aligned with regular US business hours (5pm-12pm SAST), and includes overseeing external accounting, taxation and audit providers and negotiating IP licences and deals with universities, research institutions and enterprises.

Key responsibilities

• Build DCF, comparable transactions and risk-adjusted NPV models, including development risks, dilution and sensitivity scenarios, to support licensing and acquisition decisions.
• Lead outreach and commercial negotiations with IP owners to structure and execute licences, assignments, acquisitions, options and joint ventures.
• Build linked income statement, balance sheet and cash flow forecasts with R&D, clinical and engineering milestones, and maintain 13-week cash flow tracking.
• Manage ledgers, bookkeeping, reconciliations, intercompany balances, payment controls and US GAAP reporting to hit a 10-day monthly close.
• Appoint and supervise tax preparers for federal, state, franchise, payroll, contractor and foreign-ownership filings.
• Sourcing PCAOB-registered audit firms, keeping auditors independent, preparing audit schedules and resolving queries on IP, R&D and share-based compensation accounting.
• Oversee financial preparation for US public listings with SEC counsel and listing advisers, including cap tables, transaction accounting and SEC filing calendars.
• Accept director, officer or manager appointments for portfolio entities where separately agreed, supporting governance, budgeting and stakeholder communication.

Required profile

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification or recognised equivalent, or CA (SA).
• Proven track record in US GAAP compliance, SEC reporting and advanced financial modelling.
• Experience building valuation and forecasting models and preparing issuers for US public listings or registrations.
• Strong experience evaluating and negotiating IP licences and acquisitions with universities, research institutions or commercial enterprises.
• Ability to manage external professional service providers and deliver executive recommendations.
• Remote availability aligned to US business hours.

Required skills

• US GAAP and SEC reporting
• Detailed financial modelling in Microsoft Excel
• Desirable: direct experience with US public direct listings, early-stage biotechnology or energy finance, and director/officer experience across several entities