Employers
Chief financial officers are employed by venture capital firms (there are more than 1,000 in the U.S.), the portfolio companies of VC firms, and accounting firms that provide services to VC funds. In addition, CFOs work for other businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Starting Out
Since it’s so difficult to land a job at a venture capital firm, many aspiring CFOs begin their careers working as accountants and auditors at accounting firms (preferably at one of the Big Four) that have VC practices, portfolio companies of VC firms, regulatory agencies such as the Securities & Exchange Commission, or the accounting/internal auditing departments of corporations. After obtaining a few years of experience, they can transition to entry-level accounting or auditing jobs at a VC firm.
You can learn about job openings by networking online (via LinkedIn, discussion boards of professional associations, etc.) and by attending in-person events held by trade organizations, your school’s career service office, and casual networking groups that list events on Web sites such as MeetUp.com.