Strategic Finance Manager, R&D

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Strategic Finance Manager, R&D based in the United States.

This role sits at the intersection of finance, technology, and business strategy, supporting investment decisions for a rapidly scaling technology organization. You will serve as the dedicated finance partner for research and development teams, helping optimize significant investments in engineering, AI, and infrastructure. The position combines financial modeling, data-driven insights, and strategic partnership to improve operational efficiency and long-term growth. You will work closely with senior leaders to translate complex cost drivers into clear recommendations and actionable plans. Using advanced analytics and AI-powered tools, you will build scalable reporting processes and improve decision-making speed. This is an opportunity to influence how a high-growth organization invests in innovation while developing a world-class strategic finance function.

Accountabilities: As the Strategic Finance Manager, R&D, you will own financial planning, reporting, and decision support for research and development investments. You will partner closely with technical leaders and finance stakeholders to analyze costs, identify optimization opportunities, and create scalable models that support business growth.

Own financial modeling and forecasting for R&D investments, including engineering headcount, cloud infrastructure, AI, and compute-related costs.

Build and maintain models that help leadership evaluate resource allocation, hiring scenarios, and investment decisions.

Analyze cloud and infrastructure spending using data-driven insights to identify trends, efficiencies, and opportunities for cost optimization.

Partner with engineering, AI, infrastructure, recruiting, and accounting teams to provide financial guidance and strategic recommendations.

Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual planning processes, including reporting cycles and executive-level business reviews.

Create automated and scalable reporting solutions that improve visibility into R&D performance and reduce manual analysis.

Use AI-powered tools and financial systems to accelerate modeling, reporting, and decision-making workflows.

Support build-versus-buy evaluations and strategic initiatives related to technology investments and operational efficiency.

Translate complex financial and operational data into clear narratives for senior leadership and stakeholders.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate has strong strategic finance experience, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to operate as a trusted partner to technical teams in a fast-paced environment. You should be comfortable building financial models, leveraging AI tools, and turning complex data into actionable business insights.

5–8 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, consulting, strategic finance, or finance roles within high-growth technology companies.

Proven experience owning monthly, quarterly, and annual planning and reporting processes with limited guidance.

Advanced Excel and Google Sheets modeling skills with experience building scalable financial models.

Hands-on experience using AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or similar solutions to enhance financial analysis and workflows.

Ability to evaluate AI-generated outputs critically and apply strong business judgment when interpreting results.

Experience building automated reporting tools, scenario models, or financial planning systems such as Pigment or similar platforms.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to work with large datasets and translate findings into strategic recommendations.

Experience partnering with Engineering, Product, Data Science, Infrastructure, or other technical teams is highly preferred.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and explain complex financial topics clearly.

Comfortable working in a high-growth, rapidly changing environment with ambiguity and shifting priorities.

Benefits:

Competitive compensation package.

Opportunity to work on high-impact financial strategy within a rapidly growing technology organization.

Distributed-first work environment with flexibility across US time zones.

Collaboration with experienced leaders from high-growth startups, investment firms, and consulting backgrounds.

Exposure to advanced AI tools and innovative approaches to finance operations.

High ownership role with the opportunity to directly influence strategic decisions.

Mission-driven culture focused on solving meaningful global challenges.

Fast-paced environment that encourages experimentation, learning, and professional growth.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1