About the job
Zanda is an Executive search partner that works exclusively with high growth start-ups as they look to scale their business with senior talent. Zanda partners with VC’s, Founder’s, CEO’s and CFO’s when it comes to successfully delivering on key senior appointments.
Who’s the business
Zanda is partnering with a market leading, profitable and international EdTech startup as they look to identify a game changing COO to bring into the business. The business has recently undergone a successful strategic reset and is now focused on driving profitability and maximising enterprise value ahead of a planned exit in the near term. With a strong customer base, established market presence, and improving financial fundamentals, the business is entering a critical phase of disciplined growth and operational optimisation.
They are now seeking a COO with a strong operational lens to partner closely with the CEO and leadership team through this next chapter. This role will lead lean teams that cover finance, business operations, people and RevOps. The ideal candidate will have led cross functional teams in previous roles and understand the OKRs and metrics that drive great SaaS businesses.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Act as the CEO’s key partner, combining financial leadership with operational oversight.
- Own financial strategy, forecasting, and cash management with a sharp focus on runway and efficiency.
- Drive commercial discipline and support revenue growth through strong SaaS metrics and unit economics.
- Lead company-wide planning processes, including annual strategy and quarterly execution cycles.
- Improve operational effectiveness across teams, ensuring alignment, accountability, and performance.
- Support board and investor reporting, including preparation for strategic events and potential exit.
- Oversee accounting, audit, tax, and financial operations.
- Lead organisational design and people-related initiatives, ensuring the business is structured to scale.
- Run core business rhythms (planning cycles, reviews, reporting) and translate strategy into execution.
- Act as a problem-solver across the business, unblocking cross-functional challenges and driving key initiatives.
What experience you should bring
- Proven experience as a CFO or COO within a VC or PE backed SaaS or recurring revenue business. Ideally with experience leading on a exit process.
- Strong understanding of SaaS metrics, unit economics, and commercial drivers.
- Experience operating beyond finance, with exposure to COO-level responsibilities.
- Track record of working in high-growth, turnaround, or performance-focused environments.
- Strong financial modelling, forecasting, and cash management expertise.
- Comfortable working hands-on in lean, fast-paced environments.
- Experience working closely with CEOs, boards, and investors.
- Familiarity with tools such as Xero, Salesforce, and modern data/reporting platforms.
Ideal profile
- Commercially minded and operationally focused, not purely accounting-driven.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to make decisions quickly and pragmatically.
- Strong communicator, able to influence across all levels of the organisation.
- Highly organised with a natural ability to bring structure and clarity.
- Resilient, adaptable, and effective under pressure.
- A true business partner who can challenge, support, and execute alongside the CEO.
Why this role?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a pivotal, high-impact role at a defining moment in a company’s journey. You’ll play a central role in shaping strategy, driving performance, and ultimately helping deliver a successful outcome for the business and its stakeholders. There is also the strong potential for this role developing into a CEO position.