SAN FRANCISCO — After a yearslong search, Uber has finally found a chief financial officer as it advances toward an initial public offering.

The ride-hailing company said Tuesday that it had hired Nelson J. Chai, 53, a former executive at Merrill Lynch and CIT Group, to be its new chief financial officer. The appointment fills a prominent void in Uber’s executive suite: The job had been vacant since Brent Callinicos departed in 2015.

Picking a chief financial officer is crucial for Uber because the company has said it plans to go public by the end of 2019, in what is likely to be one of the biggest-ever technology I.P.O.s. Uber is already one of the most highly valued private companies in the world, at $62 billion. Wall Street typically likes to see experienced finance executives helping to helm companies that are going public.

Yet Uber’s financial picture may deter some investors. While the transportation colossus is growing quickly, it has been highly unprofitable and has burned through money. Last week, Uber posted a loss of $891 million for the second quarter, which was slightly narrower than a year earlier.