Company Overview

Axial is an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of small businesses. We connect exit-ready business owners — on their terms and timeline — with vetted, reputable, and competent M&A advisors and professional acquirers.

Founded in 2009, Axial has built a pioneering transaction platform that radically improves the speed, confidentiality, and success rate of small business M&A. The platform facilitates over $1B in annual transaction volume, serving thousands of professional acquirers, advisors, and business owners in the lower middle market.

Axial is a founder-led, profitable company based in New York City with a hybrid office culture. We’ve been profitable since 2020 and are the category leader in our market. We’re long-term oriented, values-driven, and focused on building a lasting company committed to member trust, operational excellence, and profitable long-term growth.

Role Overview: Vice President of Finance

Axial is hiring a Vice President of Finance to lead and mature the company’s finance function and provide executive oversight of the People team. Reporting to the CEO, this role is responsible for owning the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of our:

• Financial systems
• Accounting & monthly reporting
• Forecasting and FP&A
• Capital allocation
• Team development
• Compensation and HR strategy

Team Structure

This role manages a small but high-impact team: two finance contractors and one People Operations Manager. It's a hands-on, high-leverage leadership position for someone aligned with Axial’s long-term mission and values.

• Reports to: CEO
• Initial Direct Reports:
• 1 Full-Time Finance Contractor
• 1 Part-Time Finance Contractor
• 1 Full-Time Senior People Operations Manager

Key Responsibilities

Finance

• Lead all financial planning and reporting, including annual budgets, forecasting, and scenario modeling
• Manage monthly close, financial statements, and system reconciliations
• Own capital allocation strategy, cash management, and expense governance
• Oversee tax strategy, planning, insurance, and compliance (with external vendors)
• Support investor reporting, due diligence, and board-level discussions
• Lead revenue forecasting and collections; coordinate with Legal on contract terms
• Maintain and administer Axial’s capitalization table, option pool, and employee equity programs

People

• Provide executive oversight of People Ops via the People Operations Manager
• Support hiring, onboarding, and employee development initiatives
• Own Axial’s compensation strategy, equity planning, and benefits program
• Ensure HR compliance, maintain HR tech stack, and collaborate with Legal on policy and employee matters
  
  

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Multiple finance leadership roles, including 5+ years at the VP level or equivalent
• Proven experience leading teams and strategic workstreams in a growth-stage tech company
• Strong financial operator: fluency in accounting, forecasting, tax, and capital strategy
• Excellent strategic thinking and financial judgment
• Exceptional communication skills — clear, concise, and effective in both written and verbal forms
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing teams
• Strong coaching instincts and openness to giving/receiving feedback
• Cultural champion: committed to excellence, candor, curiosity, and continuous improvement
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
  
  

Location & Work Structure

• Location: New York City
• Travel: Occasional
• Schedule: Full-time

Compensation

The posted salary range represents the total On-Target Earnings (OTE) for this role, which includes both base salary and target incentive compensation. A candidate’s final package will be determined based on their location, skills, experience and market benchmarks.