SVP, Finance

About the Company 

The mining industry has steadily become worse at finding new ore deposits, requiring >10X more capital to make discoveries compared to 30 years ago. The easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have largely been found, and the industry has chronically under-invested in new exploration technology, relying on the manual techniques of yesteryear – even as demand accelerates for copper, lithium, and other metals to build electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers.

KoBold builds AI models for mineral exploration and deploys those models—alongside our novel sensors—to guide decisions on KoBold-owned-and-operated exploration programs. In the six years since founding, KoBold has become by far both the largest independent mineral exploration company and the largest exploration technology developer. Our data scientists and software engineers, who come from leading technology companies, jointly lead exploration programs with our renowned exploration geologists.

KoBold has proven its first discovery with materially less capital than the industry average and found one of the best copper deposits ever discovered: the copper is far more concentrated than the global average of copper mines, and this asset alone is expected to generate meaningful revenue for decades. KoBold has a portfolio of more than 60 other projects, each of which has the potential for another high-quality discovery.

KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Price and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, Durable Capital, StepStone, and Standard Investments; and natural resources companies Equinor, BHP, and Mitsubishi.

About the Role

KoBold is hiring a SVP of Finance to help prepare our global accounting, finance operations, and treasury functions for IPO. The right candidate will combine deep technical accounting expertise with strong strategic instincts and operational leadership. We are looking for someone who can build on existing systems, processes, and teams, working across many jurisdictions, without adding unnecessary complexity or bureaucracy.

Reporting to the CFO, the role will create and execute a roadmap for the company’s IPO, growing a finance function that can support a public company while staying as lean as possible. This will require building durable systems that allow small, highly capable teams to support an ever increasing scope. We are looking for someone who approaches problems with creativity and optimism, who looks to process improvements, automation, AI-enabled workflows, and better systems. 

The day-to-day environment at KoBold is dynamic. Success requires a leader who brings structure to complexity, holds teams accountable, and maintains momentum amid change.

The best candidate will continuously learn about and deeply understand KoBold's technology and operations, designing financial processes that enable the business.

Responsibilities

IPO-Readiness and Execution

• Create and execute a roadmap for KoBold IPO-readiness and eventually shepherd the company through an IPO
• Build a controls environment that supports both rapid growth and public company readiness
• Align external stakeholders on public company readiness, including auditors, legal advisors, and regulators in each of the jurisdictions where we operate

Systems, Automation, and AI-Enabled Productivity

• Drive modern operations across the team with a focus on automation and AI-enabled workflows that reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and increase team capacity
• Guide selection and deployment of finance technology systems (e.g., ERP/accounting systems, payables, expenses, procurement, travel, etc.) that support our anticipated growth
• Foster a culture that treats process improvement as essential work, building repeatable mechanisms to identify and eliminate bottlenecks

Accounting, Finance Operations, and Treasury 

• Oversee accounting financial statement preparation, and accounting policies
• Partner with FP&A to ensure clean financial data with a single source of truth
• Lead a lean, scalable finance operations team
• Oversee and scale global treasury operations including cash planning, cash controls, bank relationships, signatory policies, and overall cash governance

Leadership, Culture, and Business Partnership

• Develop a deep understanding of KoBold’s technology, operating model, and field activities, and translate that understanding into processes, controls, and insights
• Apply a commercial mindset to this function, understanding project goals, practical constraints, and the company’s broader objectives; then build operations that support those goals
• Maintain clear systems of accountability, measurable performance indicators, structured timelines, and a strong culture of ownership
• Partner cross-functionally with field operations, geoscience, engineering, G&A functions, and other executives to find ways to play an active role in improving business operations

Qualifications

 A great candidate:

• Brings experience preparing a company for an IPO 
• Can successfully guide the company through an IPO and oversee a public company finance function
• Has a track record managing lean and efficient teams, with experience integrating AI into traditional finance workflows
• Has significant leadership experience in accounting and finance operations, with significant technical accounting expertise 
• Is a creative problem solver who works hard, holds high standards, and treats people with respect and care
• Feels energized by KoBold's mission, bringing optimism that lifts the team and builds belief
• Has experience managing teams in dynamic, high-growth environments with a high degree of accountability and execution quality 
• Brings strong cross-functional communication and ability to align finance with commercial and operational needs
• Is curious to learn about all aspects of our business, including travel to exploration field operations and mine development operations
• Demonstrates integrity, strong judgment, and comfort operating with urgency and precision

KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity for people of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

This position is Full-time Exempt

The US base salary range for this full-time exempt position is $250,000 - $300,000 plus equity and benefits including 401k matching.

Location: KoBold is a remote-first workplace. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in one of the following countries: United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Finland, Sweden, or Botswana.