Director of Strategic Finance

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Strategic Finance based in the United States. We are seeking a hands-on strategic finance leader to build and own the financial planning and analysis function at a growing, profitable, data-driven business. This role offers end-to-end responsibility for financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and cash flow visibility, with a direct impact on leadership decisions and long-term business performance. You will transform manual, spreadsheet-heavy workflows into automated, reliable financial systems in close partnership with engineering and accounting teams. Combining financial modeling with SQL-driven analysis, you will turn complex data into actionable recommendations for executives and the Board. This is an individual-contributor leadership role designed for someone who enjoys building processes from the ground up and taking full ownership of the work. As the business scales, you will have the opportunity to establish the foundations of a more efficient, insight-driven finance function.

Own financial planning and forecasting: Lead the annual operating plan, develop departmental operating expense and headcount templates, consolidate business inputs, and build a driver-based financial plan. Manage the operating model: Maintain an integrated model covering revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, headcount, EBITDA, working capital, and cash, alongside a three- to five-year long-range plan. Drive regular forecasting and performance reviews: Update rolling forecasts, conduct monthly budget-versus-actual reviews with department leaders, identify variances, and explain performance trends before they affect quarterly outcomes. Lead cash flow planning: Own short- and long-term cash flow forecasts, incorporating collection patterns, payment timing, and other working capital drivers. Prepare executive and Board reporting: Develop monthly financial reporting packages and Board materials in partnership with the Head of Finance, translating results and variances into clear explanations and recommendations. Automate finance operations: Replace manual spreadsheet processes with integrated, system-to-system workflows, including database-to-invoicing integrations and automated partner payout calculations. Collaborate on finance technology: Work with engineering partners to define requirements, design business logic, validate financial outputs, and conduct user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure solutions meet finance needs. Improve financial data and general ledger structure: Establish detailed cost coding by team, function, and initiative, collaborate with accounting on data cleanup, and maintain consistent classification practices. Evaluate and implement tools: Assess finance platforms and automation opportunities, selecting solutions that deliver measurable efficiency and accuracy improvements. Apply AI and automation thoughtfully: Use AI tools for tasks such as variance commentary, data validation, and recurring reporting where they meaningfully reduce manual effort. Deliver decision-oriented analysis: Measure sales investment payback by enterprise and mid-market teams, and develop advertiser and partner cohort, retention, and spend-distribution analyses. Turn business questions into recommendations: Define appropriate analytical methodologies, document assumptions, model new business opportunities, evaluate campaign performance, and communicate findings to executives and investors. Build independent analytical capabilities: Write SQL queries against production data with read access and develop finance-specific data structures without relying on a dedicated data team for routine analysis. Establish a scalable finance function: Take ownership of the operating model and annual plan within the first 90 days, deliver an actively used driver-based plan and rolling forecast by month six, and build dependable cash forecasting, cost visibility, and recurring commercial analysis by the end of the first year. Requirements At least 7 years of experience in FP&A or strategic finance. Investment banking or transaction advisory experience may be relevant when followed by direct ownership of planning and forecasting within an operating company. Strong, hands-on SQL skills, including querying, joining, and reconciling complex or inconsistent datasets independently. Familiarity with AI-assisted query writing is welcome but does not replace a sound understanding of query logic. Demonstrated ownership of planning for an entire profit-and-loss statement (P&L), either at a smaller company or within a division operating with substantial business autonomy. Thorough understanding of the three financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, including how they connect. Proven experience building or substantially improving finance capabilities, such as financial models, reporting pipelines, planning processes, or automated workflows. Ability to translate detailed financial and operational analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership and Board stakeholders. Strong financial modeling, forecasting, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial findings in a concise, business-oriented manner. A self-directed, hands-on approach and the ability to build solutions from the ground up in an environment where processes and systems may still be developing. Comfort working cross-functionally with engineering, accounting, department leaders, and senior executives. Preferred: Experience in performance marketing, advertising technology, marketing technology, e-commerce, consumer businesses, SaaS, or other data-intensive businesses with variable cost structures. Preferred: Experience with cohort analysis, retention, customer lifetime value (LTV), and unit economics. Preferred: Exposure to finance systems projects involving invoicing, payables, planning platforms, or ERP implementations, including collaboration with engineers and UAT. Preferred: Experience preparing Board reporting or investor materials. A specific degree or educational institution is not required; practical experience and demonstrated capabilities are the priority. Willingness to operate as an individual contributor initially, owning execution directly rather than managing a team from day one. Team expansion may become possible as the function grows. Interest in operational finance, planning, and business decision support rather than a role primarily focused on accounting operations, transaction execution, or M&A. Benefits Work arrangement: Remote position within the United States. Meaningful ownership: Opportunity to establish and lead strategic finance planning, forecasting, reporting, and automation processes. Access to technical resources: Dedicated engineering partnership and budget for finance tools to support systems improvements and automation. Executive exposure: Direct collaboration with the Head of Finance and involvement in Board reporting, financial strategy, and business performance discussions. Professional development: Opportunity to broaden strategic finance expertise while building scalable processes in a growing business. Hands-on impact: Freedom to shape financial models, data infrastructure, reporting practices, and automation workflows. Compensation and additional benefits: Salary range, healthcare coverage, paid time off, retirement benefits, and other specific perks are not disclosed in the provided job description.