Chief Financial Officer

Critical Materials Recycling; Boone (IA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainable recycling startup in Boone, Iowa, is seeking a hands-on Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead financial strategy. This individual will manage financial operations, develop financial models, and support fundraising activities. The ideal candidate will have strong financial leadership experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, with preferred credentials including CPA or MBA. This role is critical for scaling operations and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

Qualifications

• Prior experience as CFO, VP of Finance, or senior finance leader.
• Hands-on experience with bookkeeping and financial controls.
• Experience in capital-intensive industries like cleantech or recycling.
• Strong modeling, forecasting and analytical skills; advanced Excel proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day financial operations including bookkeeping and payroll.
• Develop financial models and budgets for operational scaling.
• Support fundraising activities including equity raises and grants.
• Support fundraising efforts including equity raises, grants and non-dilutive funding.
• Ensure GAAP, tax compliance, and state/federal reporting.
• Design scalable financial systems and processes for growth.
• Partner with COO/CTO/CCO to align financial strategy with operations and commercialization.
• Identify financial risks and develop mitigation strategies.

Skills

Financial leadership experience

Fundraising skills

Financial modeling

Analytical skills

Proficiency in Excel

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field

CPA, CFA, or MBA

Tools

QuickBooks

NetSuite

Job description

Are you a hands‑on, mission‑driven finance leader looking to shape strategy while building the financial foundation of a growing startup? If so, read on!

About Critical Materials Recycling

Critical Materials Recycling, Inc. (CMR), is a startup based in Boone, Iowa, created to tackle the billions of pounds of e‑waste generated annually, where a large portion of rare earth elements go unrecovered. CMR is advancing sustainable recycling of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) through our patented Acid-Free Dissolution Recycling (ADR) technology. CMR’s environmentally friendly solution is poised to lead the world in rare earth element and critical materials recovery as the world’s need for critical materials increases.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and hands‑on Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the company’s financial strategy as we scale from pilot operations to a 1,000 metric ton Rare Earth Oxide (REO) facility by 2029. This role is critical to CMR’s near‑term execution and long‑term success.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and manage day‑to‑day financial operations, including bookkeeping, general ledger management, accounts payable/receivable, payroll oversight, cash management, and monthly close processes.
• Develop and maintain financial models, budgets, and forecasts to support operational scaling, capital planning, and strategic decision‑making.
• Track performance against key metrics and provide actionable reporting to the CEO/Board.
• Support all fundraising activities, including equity raises, strategic investments, grants, and non‑dilutive funding (e.g., DOE, DoD).
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, tax regulations, and state/federal reporting requirements.
• Design and implement scalable financial systems and processes to support growth from pilot to commercial operations.
• Partner closely with the COO, CTO, and CCO to align financial strategy with operations, technology development, and commercial agreements.
• Identify financial risks related to capital intensity, feedstock variability, pricing volatility, and regulatory changes, and develop mitigation strategies.

About You

• Progressive financial leadership experience, including prior experience as a CFO, VP of Finance, or senior finance leader in a startup or high‑growth environment.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with bookkeeping, accounting, and financial controls, especially in early‑stage or resource‑constrained companies.
• Proven track record of supporting fundraising efforts, including venture capital, strategic investors, and/or non‑dilutive funding sources.
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills, with advanced proficiency in Excel or similar tools.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; CPA, CFA, or MBA strongly preferred.
• Experience in capital‑intensive industries such as cleantech, recycling, manufacturing, energy, or materials processing is preferred.
• Familiarity with government grants, incentives, and compliance requirements (e.g., DOE, DoD, IRA‑related programs) is preferred.
• Experience implementing accounting systems and scaling financial infrastructure (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite, or similar) is preferred.