What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Finance Associate | FP&A / Financial Modelling | Own the Finance Function position at Optimal?
Senior Finance Associate | FP&A / Financial Modeling | Own the Finance Function | On-site SLC or San Mateo
Salary: $90,000 - $120,000 base competitive equity
Contract: Permanent - No sponsorship
Start: ASAP
Working model: On-site 5 days p/w in Salt Lake City, UT (preferred) or San Mateo, CA
Required: 1-5 years in FP&A, investment banking, PE or controller roles startup/scaleup experience (Non-Negotiable)
🚨 Non-Negotiables - Please only apply if you have ALL of the following 🚨
Core Experience
- 1-5 years in FP&A, investment banking, PE or a controller role
- Built financial models from scratch (operating models, unit economics, forecasting)
- Hands-on experience managing or supporting a month-end close
- Advanced Excel/Google Sheets financial modeling
Environment
- Proven experience thriving in a fast-paced startup or scaleup
- Comfortable being the sole finance hire and owning the function end-to-end
- Happy operating with autonomy, ambiguity and high ownership
- Willing to do the modeling yourself without a team behind you
Key Skills
- Advanced financial modeling (operating models, unit economics, margin analysis)
- Strong grasp of month-end close and working with external accountants
- Production cost modeling and unit economics
- Razor-sharp attention to detail with numbers and invoices
- Willing and able to work on-site 5 days a week
Role Overview
We're partnered with a fast-growing, VC-backed life sciences business on a genuinely rare opportunity: own the entire finance function from day one, reporting directly to the CEO.
You'll take a full cutover from an outgoing consulting CFO and become the go-to person for everything finance - from closing the books to building the cost models that shape pricing and operational decisions. This is a ground-floor role with a clear path to Head of Finance as the business scales.
Not a back-office seat. You'll shape strategy, investor relations and board reporting from the start.
Key Responsibilities
- Own monthly close, runway forecasts and profitability reforecasts
- Build and maintain production cost models to understand true cost-to-serve
- Prepare board packages, investor updates and fundraising materials
- Manage AP/AR and oversee the outsourced bookkeeping firm for accuracy
- Take on lateral ops as the company scales (supply forecasting, comp modeling, cap table)
Nice to Have
- Investment banking or PE analyst/associate background
- FP&A or controller experience at a stable, well-run company
- AI tool fluency for automating finance workflows
If you tick every box, want real ownership, and can be on-site ASAP, we'd love to hear from you. Fast process for the right person. Relocation support available.
Salary : $90,000 - $120,000