Chief Financial Officer

THE ORGANIZATION

Hoverlink Ontario Inc., based in St. Catharines, is launching North America's first large-scale hovercraft transit service, connecting Toronto and the Niagara Region in under 30 minutes. With up to 48 daily crossings and year-round operation, Hoverlink is redefining sustainable regional mobility through speed, accessibility, and environmental responsibility.

After more than a decade of planning and collaboration, Hoverlink is poised to transform transportation in the Golden Horseshoe. The company's hovercrafts, powered by Rolls-Royce MTU engines, offer safe, low emission travel while avoiding traffic gridlock and protecting sensitive shorelines.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Hoverlink Incorporated is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer to join its Executive Leadership Team. The CFO will be responsible for driving financial planning, budgeting, and reporting to support sustainable growth and operational excellence. This role will partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and other senior leaders to align financial strategies with broader business objectives.

The successful candidate will oversee capital structure, investor relations, and compliance, enabling Hoverlink to maintain financial agility within a regulated and dynamic market. The Chief Financial Officer's expertise will be essential to translating strategic initiatives into measurable financial outcomes that underpin the company's mission to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable transit solutions.

YOUR ROLE AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Capital Raising & Financial Structuring

• Developing and executing capital-raising strategies, including equity, debt, and hybrid financing.

• Preparing comprehensive investor-ready materials such as pitch decks, financial forecasts, business models, and data rooms.

• Managing relationships with investment banks, venture capital/private equity firms, government funding bodies, and infrastructure-focused investors.

• Supporting due diligence and legal review processes tied to financing rounds.

• Structuring the capital stack to balance growth, control, and financial health.

Financial Planning & Strategic Forecasting

• Driving robust financial forecasting tied to key milestones (e.g., vessel delivery, site readiness, passenger capacity).

• Developing scalable financial systems that support workforce growth, operational costs, and infrastructure investment.

• Aligning budget planning with vessel commissioning timelines, recruitment cycles, and ridership projections.

Operational Finance & Controls

• Leading the design and implementation of financial controls, audit processes, and risk management systems.

• Overseeing the accounting function, cash flow management, payroll, procurement, and financial reporting.

• Building out finance and accounting teams to support pre-launch, soft launch, and full operations.

Support for Strategic Partnerships and Contracts

• Lead financial negotiation and oversight of key vendor contracts (e.g., vessel manufacturers, site developers).

• Support public-private partnerships (P3s), government funding applications, and infrastructure grants.

• Conduct ROI analysis for route expansion, ticketing strategies, and fleet optimization.

Governance and Reporting

• Ensuring board and shareholder reporting meets governance and transparency standards.

• Supporting valuation discussions and readiness for future liquidity events.

• Preparing the organization for potential IPO or strategic exits, if aligned with long-term goals.

YOUR EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Education & Certifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation is required.

• A MBA or advanced degree is strongly preferred.

• Executive leadership or governance training is considered an asset.

Skills & Experience

• 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience, including executive oversight of complex financial operations.

• Demonstrated success in early-stage or high-growth startup environments, with a track record of building financial infrastructure, systems, and controls from the ground up.

• Experience supporting capital raise strategies including equity, debt, and public/private funding, with active involvement in investor relations, financial modeling, and due diligence processes.

• Proven executive experience in transportation, logistics, infrastructure, or other service-based industries, with direct sector exposure in marine transportation, mobility-as-a-service, large-scale infrastructure projects, or government-regulated service delivery considered a strong asset.

• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated experience overseeing P&L, budget development, capital planning, and cost control in dynamic environments.

• Deep understanding of financial reporting, compliance, risk management, and regulatory frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to align short-term financial execution with long-term strategic objectives. Capable of translating vision into actionable financial plans and structures.

• Skilled in mobilizing and motivating cross-functional teams to achieve high-priority financial and operational goals.

• Proven ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships with investors, financial institutions, partners, and regulators.

• Highly collaborative with a low-ego leadership style, focused on collective success and organizational alignment.

• Passionate about continuous improvement and developing robust financial systems, processes, and operational performance measurement frameworks.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage teams, inspire action, and represent the organization with professionalism and clarity.

• High integrity, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and ethical leadership.