Founding Finance Lead

FINANCE ASSOCIATE

• Join our growing AI startup as a Finance Associate and become a strategic leader in driving our next phase of growth. This role is designed for ambitious finance professionals who want to go beyond traditional accounting and make a real impact on business strategy, investor relations, and financial decision-making.
• What You'll Get:
• - Work directly with founders to shape financial strategy and drive key business decisions - Own relationships with investors, vendors, and key stakeholders that directly impact company growth - Build the financial foundation of a scaling SaaS company with global ambitions - Develop expertise across finance, strategy, and business operations in a high-growth environment
• We're looking for a finance professional who wants to be more than just a number-cruncher—someone who can influence business outcomes, build strategic relationships, and grow with us as we scale.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

• Key Challenges You'll Solve:
• - Strategic Financial Leadership - Drive revenue optimization and business growth through data-driven financial insights - Stakeholder Relationship Management - Build and nurture relationships with investors, key vendors, and strategic partners - Business Scaling - Design and implement financial frameworks that support rapid growth and operational excellence
• This is an opportunity to have significant influence on our financial strategy while developing expertise across finance, strategy, and business development.

OUTCOMES EXPECTED

• Q2 Objectives: Optimize revenue collection processes, establish strategic vendor partnerships, and deliver investor-ready financial insights
• Year 1 Objectives: Drive financial strategy, build investor confidence through exceptional reporting, and establish yourself as a key business partner to leadership
• RESPONSIBILITIES

BUSINESS STRATEGY & FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP

• - Strategic Analysis - Lead P&L analysis and provide actionable insights that drive business decisions and growth - Financial Planning - Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation to support strategic initiatives - Business Intelligence - Create financial dashboards and reports that enable data-driven decision making across the organization - Growth Strategy - Partner with leadership on financial planning for scaling, fundraising, and strategic investments
• FINANCIAL EXCELLENCE & COMPLIANCE - Expert Coordination - Manage relationships with external accounting firms, legal advisors, and regulatory experts - Strategic Compliance - Ensure seamless regulatory compliance while optimizing for business efficiency and growth - Advisory Management - Coordinate with external experts to support business objectives and maintain operational excellence
• INVESTOR RELATIONS & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION - Investor Storytelling - Craft compelling financial narratives and reports that showcase company growth and potential - Board Engagement - Support board meetings with strategic financial insights and performance analysis - Strategic Planning - Collaborate with leadership on financial strategy and investor communication initiatives
• REVENUE MANAGEMENT & GROWTH - Revenue Optimization - Drive customer payment strategies and collection processes to maximize cash flow and minimize DSO - Growth Analysis - Analyze revenue trends and provide insights to sales and leadership teams for strategic decision-making - Customer Financial Partnership - Work with sales and customer success to optimize billing processes and customer financial experience
• STRATEGIC VENDOR PARTNERSHIPS - Cost Strategy - Manage vendor expenses and payment optimization to improve company margins and cash flow - Partnership Development - Build strategic relationships with key suppliers and negotiate win-win agreements - Financial Planning - Coordinate expense planning and approval processes to support business growth initiatives
• TALENT OPERATIONS & GROWTH SUPPORT - Team Scaling Support - Facilitate smooth financial onboarding for new talent and ensure seamless integration - People Operations - Support HR and leadership with employee financial processes and compliance requirements - Organizational Development - Contribute to creating positive employee experiences through efficient financial processes
• REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• - 2-4 years of experience in finance/accounting roles, in VC funded startups or SaaS companies - Demonstrated experience with accounts receivable/payable management and vendor negotiations
• EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance, or related field (B.Com http://B.Com, BBA Finance) - CA qualified or CMA/CFA certification is mandatory
• CORE SKILLS - Accounting Software Proficiency - Experience with Zoho Books, QuickBooks, Xero, or similar platforms - Advanced Excel Skills - Financial modeling, pivot tables, complex formulas for reporting and analysis - SaaS Metrics Understanding - Familiarity with ARR, MRR, churn rates, and subscription business models
• COMPETENCIES

FINANCIAL ACUMEN

• - Strong understanding of financial statements and accounting principles - Ability to analyze financial data and identify trends and opportunities - Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis - Knowledge of equity structures and cap table management
• OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE - Takes ownership of processes from setup to execution - Manages multiple deadlines and stakeholders effectively - Drives results through systematic approaches and attention to detail - Consistently delivers accurate work within tight timelines
• COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION - Strong written and verbal communication for investor and vendor interactions - Ability to explain financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders - Comfortable presenting financial reports to leadership and investors - Builds effective working relationships across the organization
• STARTUP ADAPTABILITY - Comfortable with the pace and ambiguity of a startup environment - Takes initiative to identify and solve problems proactively - Balances thoroughness with the need for speed and iteration - Thinks creatively about process improvements and cost optimization
• COMPLIANCE MINDSET - Detail-oriented approach to regulatory requirements and deadlines - Proactive about staying updated on changing regulations - Systematic approach to documentation and audit trails - Risk-aware thinking about financial processes and controls
• Ready to drive financial excellence? If you're excited about building robust financial operations in a fast-paced SaaS environment while working closely with leadership on strategic initiatives, we'd love to hear from you.
• This role offers the opportunity to leverage your finance background while gaining deep expertise in startup financial management, investor relations, and SaaS business operations.