Strategic Finance Director

About this role

As a member of our Strategic Finance / FP&A team, you will operate at the core of our finance organization, driving the financial strategy for major functional domains (e.g., Compute & Infrastructure, Go-to-Market, Product). You will build and maintain sophisticated financial models, analyze business performance and investment trade-offs, partner closely with leaders across the business, and deliver executive-level presentations to inform decision-making.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, has deep analytical rigor, strong business partnership skills, and is excited to make a meaningful contribution to scaling a technology business.

What you’ll do

• Develop, own and maintain financial models (P&L, operating model, scenario modelling) to support planning, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.

• Help us stand up a strong compute measurement and budgeting process to help plan the largest cost bucket

• Lead budgeting and quarterly/annual forecasting processes; analyze variances and translate them into actionable insight.

• Partner cross-functionally with business stakeholders (e.g., engineering, product, sales, marketing, infrastructure) to understand drivers, demand, capacity, against financial targets.

• Provide financial guidance on major investment decisions: build business cases (e.g., expand capacity, build vs. buy, launch new product, entering new market), quantify ROI, present recommendations to senior leadership and/or Board.

• Develop and monitor key metrics and dashboards (e.g., unit economics, cost trends, efficiency, productivity, capacity utilisation) and drive insights and optimization.

• Prepare high-quality executive & Board-facing deliverables including presentations, memos, and scenario summaries.

• Stay abreast of market and competitive dynamics (e.g., technology/infrastructure market, go-to-market channels, pricing models, business model shifts), and ensure financial strategy evolves accordingly.

• Partner with accounting and other finance functions to ensure alignment of financial planning with the broader company’s financial framework and strategy.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategic finance, corporate finance, FP&A, investment banking, consulting, growth/private equity, or an equivalent high-growth technology environment

• Proven expertise in financial modelling and forecasting; skilled at building detailed P&Ls, operating models, scenario analyses.

• Strong business partnering skills: ability to work with non-finance leaders, translate complex financial data into actionable business insights, influence leadership decisions.

• High comfort with ambiguity, rapid change, and scaling-up environments.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, able to craft compelling narratives and presentations for executives/Board.

• Familiarity with SQL, BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker) and advanced Excel/Google Sheets proficiency.

• Experience with AI or R&D-heavy companies is a major plus.

Logistics

• Location: This role is based in San Francisco, California.

• Compensation: Depending on background, skills and experience, the expected annual salary range for this position is $275,000 - $325,000

• Visa sponsorship: We sponsor visas. While we can’t guarantee success for every candidate or role, if you’re the right fit, we’re committed to working through the visa process together.

• Benefits: Thinking Machines offers generous health, dental, and vision benefits, unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, and relocation support as needed.