Chief Financial Officer (Pasadena)
Scratch Financial (“Scratch”) is a late stage venture-backed financial technology business based in Pasadena, California. At Scratch, everything starts and ends with our mission: being the payment partner of choice for veterinary practices and helping pet parents access the care their animals need without financial barriers. Driven by our award-winning technology, Scratch has become the fastest growing financing provider in veterinary care, with a partner network of 15,000 practices across the U.S. and Canada. Scratch has 2 main products: Scratch Pay: Point-of-sale client facing lending, including a BNPL offering and longer-term payment plans Scratch Checkout: Payment processing that is integrated with the veterinary practice management software We are a company built on the foundation of transforming the way pet healthcare payments are done, and we are looking for innovators who share our commitment to shaping the future of veterinary care financing. If putting compassion first, helping tell the story of groundbreaking products and continuously learning & refining to achieve exceptional outcomes sounds like you, then we encourage you to apply. Position Overview We're looking for a CFO who has been here before — someone who has managed complex lending facilities, built relationships with debt capital providers, and guided a company through a significant exit. This isn't a role for someone looking to learn what a credit facility is or experience their first M&A process. We need a seasoned operator who can hit the ground running, earn the trust of our board and investors quickly, and build the financial infrastructure to support the next chapter of Scratch's growth. You'll report directly to the CEO and lead a team of 5 across FP&A, accounting, and finance operations. You'll be a key voice in company strategy and the primary financial partner to the executive team, board, and external capital providers. What You'll Own Capital Strategy & Debt Facility Management Own all relationships with debt capital providers — warehouse lenders, forward flow partners, and other structured finance counterparties Manage covenant compliance, borrowing base reporting, and facility utilization across existing lending facilities Lead negotiations for new or expanded credit facilities as the portfolio grows Develop and maintain the capital plan, ensuring the business has adequate liquidity to fund origination volume at target economics Exit Readiness & Strategic Finance Serve as the company's primary financial lead on any M&A, recapitalization, or exit process Maintain financial reporting, data room materials, and management presentations in a state of ongoing readiness Build and maintain the financial model used for board reporting, investor updates, and transaction diligence Partner with the CEO and board to evaluate strategic alternatives and assess transaction structure FP&A Own the annual budget and quarterly forecast process, with clear accountability from business unit owners Partner closely with the commercial team on revenue forecasting, pipeline modeling, and GTM investment decisions Work alongside the SVP of Product to build rigorous ROI frameworks for new product line development and technology investments — ensuring capital is allocated to the highest-value opportunities Partner with the CEO to maintain the company's OKR framework, ensuring KPIs have clear definitions, measurable targets, and accountability from business unit owners Own the integrity of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements across GAAP reporting, lender compliance, and management reporting Build and improve financial controls, accounting policies, and operational finance processes Manage relationships with external auditors and tax advisors Oversee tax, audit, and regulatory financial reporting Investor & Board Relations Serve as primary financial point of contact for existing equity investors and board members Own board meeting materials, investor updates, and financial narrative Build relationships with prospective strategic and financial acquirers as part of ongoing exit readiness Manage the annual audit process and relationships with external auditors Directly manage a team of 5 spanning FP&A, accounting, and finance operations Set clear expectations, develop team members' skills, and build a high-trust, high-output culture Identify gaps and make strategic hires as the company scales Be a resource to the team on complex accounting, modeling, and process questions What We Are Looking For Must-Haves Direct, hands‑on experience managing lending facilities and debt capital relationships — you've negotiated term sheets, managed covenants, and worked through facility amendments; you can speak to the details Experience leading or co‑leading a $100M exit process (M&A, acquisition, or recapitalization), with $200M strongly preferred — you know what diligence feels like from the inside and have the scars to prove it Track record of building or materially improving financial infrastructure at a growth‑stage company Strong communicator who can translate complex financial concepts for board members, debt investors, and internal non-finance stakeholders alike Experience managing a finance team, with a demonstrated ability to develop people and hold a high bar for output Nice-to-Haves Background in consumer lending, fintech, or marketplace lending Experience with structured finance, securitization, or forward flow agreement negotiation CPA, CFA, or investment banking background Familiarity with the regulatory reporting requirements of a licensed lender Experience working with PE- or VC-backed boards What Success Looks Like in Year One Existing debt facilities are well‑managed, covenant compliance is clean, and you've established strong working relationships with all capital providers The board and investors have confidence in the accuracy and clarity of financial reporting The company is exit‑ready: financial model is current, data room is organized, and management narrative is crisp FP&A and close processes run on time with minimal fire drills Your team of 5 is stronger, more capable, and better coordinated than when you arrived This Role Isn't for Everyone We want to be upfront: this is a player‑coach role, and that won't change as we grow. We're a lean team, and the CFO we're looking for is someone who is as comfortable building a debt facility model or reconciling a borrowing base certificate on a Wednesday afternoon as they are presenting to the board on Thursday morning. Specifically, this probably isn't the right role if you: Prefer to review work rather than do it, and see hands‑on finance tasks as below your level Need a fully built‑out team and established processes before you can be productive Are more comfortable in large‑company finance environments where specialization is the norm Measure your impact primarily by the size of your org chart If that sounds limiting, it should — we're being intentional about it. If it sounds like exactly what you're looking for, we'd love to talk. Why You'll Love Working Here The anticipated base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $400,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to; the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, the type and length of knowledge and skills for the position, education, training, etc. Scratch is a multi‑state employer and final compensation within this range could be impacted by work location. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Meaningful equity participation with upside tied to the company’s long term growth Scratch is a remote‑first company, giving ultimate flexibility to today's nomadic work style. For those who prefer a hybrid model, we do have an office space in Pasadena available for use (which is stocked with snacks & various beverages). We offer unlimited PTO, covered healthcare, 401k match, cell plan reimbursement, and monthly recognition opportunities. We also provide learning platforms and resources for all to keep growing. Not only that, but we have an equity retention policy to ensure you grow as the company grows financially, as well. And if your family is growing, we offer generous parental leave, too! Feel free to add any additional information or documents you believe are relevant to your application. We look forward to reviewing your application! *Our team will ONLY contact you from the domain @scratchpay.com or @ats.rippling.com * Our Commitment We’re innovators who care deeply about the lives of pets, their owners, and veterinary professionals. We believe diversity strengthens our team and drives better solutions. Scratch is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Scratch considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status
