CFO / Finance Director - AltX Research (JSC)

Japan Smart Chain (JSC) is the foundational Japan-sovereign blockchain platform, fully compatible with Ethereum and validated entirely by domestic industry leaders. It is engineered as a compliance-first Layer 1, embedding blacklist enforcement and transaction prioritization. This makes it trusted infrastructure for regulated digital-asset services, delivering regulatory integrity without sacrificing usability.

The company was founded by Russell Cummer and Joi Ito. Russell is the founder and former Executive Chairman of Paidy, Japans leading buy-now-pay-later service, which was acquired by PayPal in 2021 for US$2.7 billion. Joi is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and scholar known for his work at the intersection of technology, society, and innovation. He previously served as Director of the MIT Media Lab and is currently President of the Chiba Institute of Technology.

Website: https://japansmartchain.com/en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/altx-research/posts/?feedView=all
(AltX Research is the Lab Company that develops JSC.)

Role Overview

We are seeking a Finance Director to join our Japan leadership team. This is a hands-on individual contributor role suited to someone who thrives in the ambiguity of a startup environment and is excited to build financial infrastructure from the ground up.

You will report directly to the CEO and take full ownership of the Japan P&L, while acting as a key bridge to investors and stakeholders.

While this is currently an individual contributor position, there will be an opportunity to expand the Finance/Accounting team as the company grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Operations and P&L Management
• Full P&L ownership, including budgeting, forecasting, and monthly and quarterly reporting.
• Direct oversight of J-GAAP compliance, tax filings, and local audit requirements. You will be expected to work closely with the books, while an accounting firm covers day-to-day operations.
• Manage cash flow, optimize working capital, and maintain local banking relationships.
• Investor Relations and Strategic Support
• Serve as the primary point of contact for existing investors, providing clear, data-driven updates on financial performance and growth metrics.
• Partner with leadership on fundraising, manage potential investors, lead financial due diligence, and prepare high-impact pitch decks and data rooms.
• Build complex financial models to simulate business scenarios, tokenomics (if applicable), and expansion plans.

Blockchain and Crypto

• Monitor evolving crypto regulations in Japan, including FSA guidelines, to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Ideally manage digital asset accounting.

Required Qualifications

• Native-level Japanese and fluent English. You must be able to negotiate with Japanese banks and auditors while collaborating with an international team.
• Comfortable being the first or only person in the finance department, with a strong preference for building processes rather than following existing ones.
• 8+ years of experience in finance, including at least 2–3 years in a high-growth startup or fintech environment.
• Strong understanding of J-GAAP. CPA or CFA qualification is a strong advantage.
• Proven experience managing investor relations or participating in Series A or B funding rounds.
• While crypto expertise is a plus, genuine interest in blockchain technology and willingness to learn the regulatory landscape is highly valued.

Benefits

• Hybrid or remote work style. The office is located in Roppongi, Tokyo.
• Competitive compensation, including token allocation for employees.