Strategic Finance Lead (AI)

TL;DR

Strategic Finance Lead (AI): Establishing the founding strategic finance function to drive growth for an AI and physical sciences company with an accent on capital planning, financial reporting, and operational scaling. Focus on translating technical R&D roadmaps into financial plans and managing the financial complexities of physical lab infrastructure.

Location: Preferably based in Menlo Park or San Francisco, CA (some flexibility possible)

Salary: $220,000–$350,000 per year

Company

An AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and other scientific domains.

What you will do

• Lead short-term and long-range capital planning, translating technical R&D roadmaps into financial operating plans.
• Establish BvA and rolling forecast processes to manage burn, resource allocation, and report key metrics.
• Partner with leadership on financial strategy, pricing strategy, unit economics, and scenario planning.
• Implement finance infrastructure and tools, including ERP and AR/AP management systems.
• Own the monthly close process and ensure GAAP-compliant financial records, specifically for lab opex and capex.
• Prepare financial reports for the board and investors, and manage due diligence and data room preparation for fundraising.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in finance and accounting roles.
• Expertise in financial modeling and analysis within fast-paced, R&D environments.
• Experience with procurement, lab buildouts, or physical infrastructure.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Work authorization or eligibility for visa sponsorship.

Culture & Benefits

• Visa sponsorship provided with full legal support.
• Opportunity to be the founding member of the strategic finance function.
• High-impact role contributing to scientific breakthroughs using AI.
• Environment characterized by deep expertise, genuine ownership, and rapid growth.