About Company

This is a venture-backed technology company in the cleantech space, headquartered in California. The company is mission-driven with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

Role Overview 

The Director of Strategic Finance & Operations will own the company's financial operating system, integrating financial planning & analysis with accounting execution. This leader will own the financial model, forecasting, budgeting, and performance tracking while overseeing core accounting functions including close, billing, and cash management.

Reporting to the COO, this role serves as the primary finance partner to the business, driving financial rigor, accountability, and visibility as the company scales.

What You’ll Do 

Strategic Financial Leadership: 

• Own the company’s financial model, including all core assumptions, drivers, forecasts, and scenario analyses, serving as the single source of truth for company financial performance

• Partner with the COO and leadership team to align financial planning with operational goals, including service delivery, cost structure, and unit economics

• Translate operational performance into financial insights, identifying opportunities to improve margins and optimize cash flow

• Lead scenario planning and decision support across growth initiatives, pricing, and capital allocation

Accounting & Compliance Oversight: 

• Own the company’s accounting function, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting in compliance with GAAP

• Manage the month-end and year-end close processes and work with external auditors on annual audits

• Ensure alignment between financial model assumptions, revenue recognition, and actual accounting outputs

• Oversee billing, invoicing, accounts receivable/payable, and cash collection processes

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations and reporting requirements

Financial Planning & Analysis: 

• Own budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring full alignment with the company’s financial model and underlying business drivers

• Monitor financial performance and KPIs, delivering clear variance analysis and forward-looking projections

• Develop KPI frameworks tied to company OKRs and operational performance

• Partner with functional leaders to drive accountability against financial and operational targets

Systems & Process Optimization: 

• Improve and scale the company’s financial infrastructure (systems, workflows, and controls) to ensure the financial model, accounting outputs, and operational data remain fully integrated and reliable

• Automate workflows across expense management, accounts receivable/payable, and cash flow tracking

• Establish robust internal controls and financial policies to support scalability and operational efficiency

Capital Management & Fundraising Support: 

• Manage cash flow, working capital, and treasury functions to ensure financial stability

• Accountable for the development and coordination of monthly and quarterly Board materials, including financial reporting, KPIs, and forward-looking insights

• Partner with the COO and CEO to translate financial and operational performance into clear, investor-ready narratives

• Support Series B fundraising by preparing financial models, materials, and data required for investor diligence

What You’ll Bring 

Required Skills 

• 7+ years of experience across FP&A and accounting, with demonstrated ownership of both strategic finance and financial operations

• Proven ability to own and operate a company-level financial model, including building, maintaining, and using it to drive strategic decisions

• Experience in a high-growth startup or venture-backed environment, ideally having built or scaled finance functions

• Experience preparing Board materials and supporting investor engagement

• Strong understanding of GAAP, revenue recognition, and financial controls

• Experience implementing financial systems and scaling financial operations

• CPA, CFA, or MBA is a plus, but not required

Personal Attributes: 

• Strategic thinker with the ability to navigate ambiguity and provide clarity. 

• Hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present financial data to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Comfortable operating as a hands-on leader in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, balancing strategic thinking with executional ownership