Vice President (IPO)
Dark Alpha Capital — Independent Sponsor
Location: Remote-first (U.S. time zones; periodic travel for diligence, teach-ins, roadshow)
Employment Type: Full-time
Function: Capital Markets / IPO Readiness (supporting DAC portfolio companies)
Reporting To: Head of Capital Markets
About Dark Alpha Capital
Dark Alpha Capital is an independent sponsor focused on lower-middle-market acquisitions and value creation in Industrials, Industrial Services, Business Services, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, and Information Technology. We partner with strong operators to execute proprietary buyouts and position portfolio companies for optimal exits—including public listings. This role drives the IPO readiness and execution pathway for our growing portfolio, building repeatable public-company infrastructure.
Role Summary
The Vice President (IPO) owns the end-to-end IPO readiness and execution program for DAC portfolio companies. You will stand up disclosure controls, lead S-1 drafting through SEC effectiveness, coordinate banks/underwriters/auditors/counsel, pressure-test equity stories and valuations, deliver governance/listing readiness, and transition issuers to a sustainable public operating cadence. This high-stakes, cross-functional leadership role ensures clean, on-time listings while embedding durable controls and processes.
Key Responsibilities Program Leadership
- Own the comprehensive IPO workplan, day-by-day calendar, weekly standups, decision logs, and timeline guardrails.
- Set disclosure controls; escalate tradeoffs with clear options to CEO/CFO/GC.
- Establish and drive drafting cadence (S-1 chapters, MD&A, risk factors); resolve SEC comments to closure.
SEC Filings & Disclosure
- Lead S-1 strategy (confidential submission, public amendments, acceleration requests) through effectiveness.
- Manage SEC comment letters: track issues/owners, deliver high-quality response packages.
- Develop non-GAAP policies, guidance frameworks, and Reg FD-compliant earnings templates/processes.
Accounting, Financials & SOX
- Orchestrate audited/interim financials, pro formas, carve-outs, EPS/segment reporting.
- Lead SOX 302/404 readiness: scoping, control design, testing coordination, remediation oversight.
- Align with auditors on key judgments (ASC 606/842/718), SAB topics, and materiality thresholds.
Underwriters & Advisors
- Manage bank selection, fee/role negotiations, diligence workstreams, book-build coordination.
- Coordinate company/underwriter counsel, auditors, tax advisors, comp consultants, financial printers.
- Prepare management for diligence sessions, KOL calls, teach-ins; resolve RFIs rapidly.
Equity Story, Valuation & Marketing
- Pressure-test comps, valuation frameworks, use-of-proceeds; maintain sensitivities/scenarios.
- Lead prospectus summary, business narrative, KPIs/cohorts/unit economics.
- Drive TTW/roadshow readiness (deck, Q&A bank, speaker notes) and full rehearsals.
Governance & Listing
- Deliver listing readiness: board composition, committee charters, codes/policies, insider lists.
- Implement equity plan updates, D&O insurance, blackout/insider trading protocols.
- Manage exchange applications (Nasdaq/NYSE), ticker selection, and pricing logistics with syndicate.
IR & Public-Company Operations
- Build pre-IPO IR infrastructure (targeting, calendar, earnings process, disclosure committee).
- Conduct two full mock earnings cycles (press release, script, Q&A, 8-K).
- Transition to steady-state 10-Q/10-K pipeline and disclosure control environment.
Data, Systems & Security
- Implement Workiva (or equivalent), EDGAR/XBRL production, and centralized data rooms.
- Enforce MNPI handling, access controls, audit trails across all IPO materials.
Team & Vendor Management
- Scope and manage resourcing (internal + contractors) for drafting, SOX, analytics; oversee budget.
- Set SLAs with printers, research tools (Intelligize), cap table platforms (Carta), IR vendors.
Must-Have Qualifications
- 5–9 years in equity capital markets, IPO readiness/execution, SEC reporting, or equivalent.
- Led ≥2 U.S. IPOs end-to-end (S-1 draft to pricing) as internal lead or senior advisor.
- Deep mastery of SEC filings (S-1/S-3/10-K/10-Q/8-K), EDGAR/XBRL, MD&A/risk-factor drafting.
- Strong GAAP fluency (ASC 606/842/718, EPS/segment reporting); pro forma/carve-out expertise.
- SOX 302/404 leadership: control design, testing, remediation.
- Proven underwriter/syndicate management (selection, diligence, valuation, book-build).
- Expertise in listing rules (Nasdaq/NYSE), governance build-out, charters/codes.
- Non-GAAP policy and Reg FD earnings discipline.
- Cross-functional leadership across Finance, Legal, IR, HR/Comp, Ops.
- Exceptional judgment on MNPI, quiet periods, disclosure controls, insider protocols.
- Tools proficiency: Workiva (or similar), Intelligize/SEC research, EDGAR/XBRL, Carta.
Nice-to-Haves
- Prior ECM banking, Big 4 technical accounting/ICS, or in-house SEC leadership.
- Analyst teach-ins, investor days, pre-IPO IR build.
- International listings (F-1), cross-listings, or SPAC de-SPAC experience.
- Equity comp/CD&A/Proxy readiness.
- MBA/CPA/JD a plus; strong operating track record valued.
Work Style & Fit
- Outcome-driven operator who owns complex calendars and hits tight pricing windows.
- Systems thinker building durable controls and processes.
- Clear communicator with board presence, banker/auditor credibility, and pressure execution.
Logistics & Compliance
- Remote-first (U.S. time zones); occasional travel for key milestones (diligence, TTW, roadshow).
- Strict MNPI/Reg FD adherence, insider lists, disclosure controls; annual training/certification.
How to Apply
Email careers@darkalphacapital.com with subject: “VP (IPO) – [Your Name]” Include:
- Resume
- Brief note highlighting IPOs led (your role, dates, exchange, banks involved)