Head of Strategic Finance

About the role

This Head of Strategic Finance role involves overseeing all aspects of financial planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will work closely with the CFO and Investor Relations to prepare materials for fundraising, investor communications, and board reporting. This position requires evaluating key business initiatives and providing financial analysis for strategic decisions such as M&A, partnerships, and capital market transactions.

The role demands a leader who can provide executive management with recommendations based on both financial and strategic implications of investment decisions. Identifying business drivers and risks, then presenting these to the Executive Team, is a core responsibility. This includes constructing detailed ad-hoc analyses like scenario modeling and sensitivity analyses to support internal investment decisions and fundraising efforts.

Success in this position means effectively managing the long-term planning process, focusing on operational and financial benchmarking, and coordinating with the FP&A team. The individual will be instrumental in implementing finance governance frameworks and controls within a rapidly scaling environment, ensuring financial rigor and strategic insight for a company at the forefront of enterprise AI.

The listed salary range for US candidates is between $330,000 and $410,000 USD, with actual compensation depending on factors like location, skills, and experience.

Skills that matter here

• Strategic Finance: This role requires leading all strategic financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities.
• SaaS or similar technology organization: Experience in this environment is crucial for understanding market dynamics and sales cycles relevant to Cohere's business.
• AI/ML market dynamics: Understanding this specific market is important for developing pricing strategies and evaluating business opportunities.
• Excel and financial modeling: Exceptional skills are needed for M&A, capital markets, valuation, and fundraising modeling.
• Investor relations and capital raising: The role involves assisting with fundraising strategy development and preparing investor materials.
• Executive level presentation & communication: This is essential for presenting complex financial concepts and recommendations to senior leadership and non-financial stakeholders.

Who this role suits

• A seasoned finance professional with at least 15 years of leadership experience in strategic finance.
• Someone who has built and scaled finance teams within high-growth technology companies.
• An individual adept at translating complex financial data into clear, actionable business insights for executives.
• A leader capable of fostering trust across an organization and mentoring team members while implementing robust financial governance.

From the employer

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, and assist in fundraising strategy development.
• Partner with the CFO and Investor Relations to assist to prepare materials for fundraising, investor relations, and board reporting. Partner with senior leadership to evaluate key business initiatives.
• Lead and perform financial analyses for a variety of strategic decisions, including Annual Operating Plan, M&A, strategic investments, partnerships, capital market transactions, and fundraising opportunities.
• Provide recommendations to executive management based on both financial and strategic implications of investment decisions. Identify business drivers and risks and present them to the Executive Team.
• Construct detailed ad-hoc analyses (scenario modeling, sensitivity analyses, and contingency planning) to support internal investment decision-making and fundraising efforts.
• Manage the long-term planning process with a focus on operational and financial benchmarking, coordinating with the FP&A team.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years of leadership experience in Strategic Finance, including a track record of building and scaling finance teams in high-growth environments.
• Experience operating in a SaaS or similar technology organization, coupled with an understanding of AI/ML market dynamics, pricing strategies, and enterprise sales cycles.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise-level financial planning systems and experience with data visualization tools. Proven track record of implementing finance governance frameworks and controls in a rapidly scaling environment.
• Exceptional Excel and financial modeling skills, including M&A, capital markets, valuation, and fundraising modeling experience. Experience with investor relations and capital raising activities.
• Executive level presentation & communication skills. Experience building relationships with cross-functional partners, inspiring trust across the organization while providing mentorship to team members.
• Track record of success translating complex financial concepts into actionable business insights for non-financial stakeholders.

Compensation:

Cohere is committed to fair and transparent pay practices. The salary range listed for this role reflects the expected base compensation. Actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

For candidates in the US, the Compensation Range is: $330,000 – $410,000 [USD]

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AT COHERE ENJOY THESE PERKS:

• A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency for lunch.
• Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget for mental health.
• RRSP matching, 401K, Pension Scheme.
• 100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months, for either parent.
• Annual enrichment benefits:
• Arts & culture, fitness/wellness, quality time, and a workspace improvement credit.
• Education & learning stipend for conferences, courses, and coaching.
• 6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days!)
• Budget for traveling to other offices if you are remote, plus an annual company offsite.