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, 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.