Head of Finance

At Vessev, we’re defining a new category of marine transport: hydrofoiling electric vessels that are genuinely better for people and the planet. 

To support the next stage of growth, we’re looking for a Head of Finance to be our first dedicated finance teammate. This is a role for someone who enjoys getting close to the details, learning how things actually work, and helping a diverse group of people make well-informed decisions. 

Vessev is at an inflection point. We’re moving from one-off vessels to repeatable production, expanding internationally, and building a long-term service business on top of our hardware. The decisions we make now will shape the economics and trajectory of the company for years. This role sits at the centre of that work, helping the company grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

What you’ll be working on

Owning Vessev’s financial modelling and planning

• Build and maintain the core financial model that informs our budget, hiring plans, pricing, manufacturing strategy, and fundraising. 
• Prepare materials and narratives for board meetings, investors, and strategic partners. 
• Support go-to-market with tools that help understand and evaluate the economics of significant opportunities. 
• Support strategic modelling of company opportunities and critical decision making.
• Develop financial strategies for supporting the business – debt vs capital 

Supporting development and production scale-up 

• Work with the teams designing and building our vessels to understand true COGS, production bottlenecks, and capital requirements. 
• Analyse decisions such as what to insource versus outsource, which investments unlock margin improvement, and working capital. 
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal purchasing to negotiate contract terms and monitor supplier performance.

Building lightweight processes from scratch 

• Create planning, budgeting, cost-tracking, and approval processes – designed to be helpful, not heavy. 
• Build clarity around spend so teams can move quickly with confidence. 
• Identify and recommend cost-effective solutions and improvements to optimise expenditure.

Keeping the finances running smoothly

• Coordinate with our external bookkeeping and accounting team to ensure payroll, accounts payable, and month-end processes are accurate and predictable. 
• Support tax compliance, RDTI work, and other operational obligations.

What success in this role looks like

• Cashflow, margin expectations, and runway feel understood and predictable. 
• Teams across Vessev use your work to make clearer, faster decisions. 
• Financial conversations become grounded in shared models and assumptions. 
• Production and GTM plans become easier to evaluate and adapt. 
• Internal processes exist, but remain lightweight and supportive.

About you

You don’t need to be an expert in marine, hydrofoiling, or electric transport. What matters most is that you’re intelligent, willing to muck in, and care about doing meaningful work.

You’re energised by building from first principles. You’re comfortable building something from the ground up – creating the models, processes, and routines that help a complex startup scale. You are a great collaborator and team player, and can translate technical complexity into financial clarity.

We’re looking for someone with

• A Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field. A Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in finance or accounting.  
• Strong knowledge of financial principles, accounting standards, and financial regulations.
• Proficiency in financial software and Google and Microsoft Office Suites, particularly Sheets and Excel.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Essential skills

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

• Organisational excellence: Managing multiple priorities while keeping processes clear and efficient.
• Attention to detail: Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and professionalism.
• Adaptability: Staying calm and resourceful in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Leadership qualities: The confidence to guide, motivate, and support others when needed.

About us

We’re here to set a better world in motion – cleaner air, better commutes, and deeper connections with nature and each other. Our hydrofoiling electric vessels use up to 90% less energy than traditional boats, unlocking entirely new opportunities.

We’re backed by top-tier investors including Blackbird Ventures, and our team includes talent from the America’s Cup, SpaceX, Rocketlab, Halter, Apple, and leading climate startups. But titles don’t matter here – what matters is how we show up: with purpose, humility, and a restless optimism for what’s possible.

We’re office-first but not office-only. We believe in building together, in person, where the real magic happens. That said, we trust our team to do what’s right and we know life isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Why our people love Vessev

• We’re building something different – from how we move on the water to the kind of team and workplace we’re creating
• The chance to work on technology that can drive real, lasting impact in the world
• A team of hugely talented and collaborative people
• 20 weeks fully paid parental leave for primary caregivers, and 4 weeks for secondary (conditions apply)
• Competitive salaries that reflect the value of the work
• Being on the water is part of our job – from trips on our vessels to our offices that border the Tamaki River
• And if the water’s where you want to be, you’ll be in good company. You’ll find no shortage of boaters, beach goers, sailors, foilers, surfers, and kiteboarders here.

Apply now

To apply, send us your CV and a short cover letter that gives us a sense of who you are and why this role feels like the right fit.

Research shows that women and other under-represented groups often only apply when they meet every requirement – even though they could be an excellent fit. If you see yourself doing great work here, but don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you. We’re building a team where everyone has the chance to do their best work.