Operations Manager

Operations Manager — Banyan Ventures

Location: Remote Type: Independent contractor Reports to: Sam Awrabi, Founder & General Partner

About Banyan Ventures

Banyan Ventures is a venture capital firm (~$120M AUM) investing exclusively in AI-native technology, with a deep focus on AI infrastructure that improves watt-per-dollar efficiency at scale. Fund I ($10M, closed 2025) backs pre-seed and seed AI-native companies and tracks in the top decile of its vintage. Banyan is run by a solo GP, which means the firm operates lean, moves fast, and every hire has outsized impact.

The Role

As Banyan's first operations hire, you'll build and own the operational and financial backbone of the firm — everything that keeps two funds, a growing portfolio, and an active fundraise running smoothly. You'll work directly with the GP and take real ownership from day one, freeing the GP to focus on investing and LP relationships. This is a remote contract engagement with direct reporting to the GP.

What You'll Do

Fund Accounting & Finance

• Serve as the firm's in-house accounting and finance lead, coordinating with the fund administrator (Aduro Advisors) on capital accounts, NAV, capital calls, distributions, and quarterly LP statements
• Own the annual cycle with fund counsel and the firm's outside accountant: audits, tax filings, and K-1 delivery
• Review management company financials, fee calculations, expense allocations across entities, and distribution waterfalls

Fund Operations

• Manage closing mechanics for Fund II: subscription documents, side letters, and LP onboarding
• Track fund-level compliance and regulatory items (Delaware entity filings, Form D/ADV-adjacent items as applicable)
• Maintain clean books and records across the GP, management company, and fund entities

LP Relations & Fundraising Support

• Maintain the LP CRM and data room (DocSend), including NDAs and the co-investment policy workflow
• Prepare LP updates, quarterly letters, and ad hoc performance reporting (TVPI, DPI, IRR, MOIC)
• Support the Fundraising
• Be responsible for insight letters and investor updates

Portfolio & Deal Operations

• Maintain the portfolio tracking system across 24+ companies (valuations, follow-ons, key metrics, document management)
• Manage deal execution logistics: wire instructions and verification, signature workflows, document filing
• Track SAFEs, convertible loan agreements, side letters, and pro-rata rights across vehicles

Who You Are

The ideal candidate looks like a fund accountant or public-accounting alum who grew into investment firm operations — for example, someone who started in Big 4 tax or audit, earned their CPA, and then moved into an operations manager, assistant controller, or controller seat at a fund manager.

• CPA required, with a foundation in public accounting (Big 4 or equivalent — tax or audit)
• 5+ years of combined experience across public accounting and investment management operations
• Direct venture capital exposure required — whether at a VC firm, a fund administrator serving VC clients, or a public accounting practice with VC fund clients
• Fluent in fund structures and mechanics: capital calls, LPAs, side letters, management fees, carry, distribution waterfalls
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented — you catch the wire-instruction typo before it goes out
• Self-directed and comfortable as the only ops person; you'd rather build the process than inherit it
• Discreet and trustworthy — you'll handle sensitive LP and portfolio information daily
• Bonus: experience supporting an emerging manager or solo GP; exposure to AI/infrastructure companies
• Bonus++: Desire to handle all operations, in addition to being a generalist, helping the firm scale

Engagement Terms

Remote, independent contractor. Hours and compensation structure to be discussed based on scope and availability.