Financial Planning & Strategy
Financial Planning & Strategy roles at AI companies build and run the financial planning function—forecasting models, KPI frameworks, planning and budget cycles, board and investor materials, and the cross-functional partnership that turns financial signal into operating decisions. The day-to-day is classical FP&A: building and maintaining models, running variance analysis, partnering with business owners on plans and reviews, and helping executives think through unit economics and capital allocation. Specific economic structure varies by business model—software-heavy AI companies focus on SaaS unit economics and pipeline-to-revenue conversion; infrastructure-heavy companies model GPU capacity, energy costs, and site deployments; vertical AI companies follow the financial pattern of the underlying industry. These roles typically sit within finance, reporting to a Head of FP&A or CFO, and partner across functions to ensure planning supports both day-to-day execution and longer-term strategy.
Skills
What companies are looking for in this role.
Building comprehensive financial models and forecasting frameworks to support business planning and decision-making
Establishing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with business strategy and operational goals
Conducting variance analysis and translating financial performance data into actionable insights for leadership
Managing annual, quarterly, and monthly planning cycles including budget development and forecast processes
Designing and maintaining financial dashboards and reporting infrastructure for executive visibility and decision support
Preparing board and investor materials including financial results packaging, narratives, and forward-looking analyses
Partnering with cross-functional business leaders to align financial planning with operational requirements and strategic initiatives
Analyzing and optimizing unit economics including customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, and payback periods
Developing go-to-market financial strategies including revenue forecasting, sales quota allocation, and capacity planning
Building driver-based financial models that connect operational metrics to financial outcomes
Managing headcount planning and operating expense budgeting across functional departments
Supporting M&A activities and strategic transactions through financial analysis and valuation support
Evaluating and structuring commercial deals and partnerships with financial modeling and ROI analysis
Implementing financial controls, governance frameworks, and compliance with reporting standards
Optimizing cost structures and identifying financial efficiency opportunities across the organization
Supporting accounting close processes and managing key financial operations responsibilities
Analyzing procurement, vendor evaluation, and contract negotiation to optimize company spending
Translating technical roadmaps and engineering initiatives into financial impact and investment decisions
Leveraging artificial intelligence tools to accelerate financial modeling, analysis, and process automation
Building scalable financial processes and systems that support rapid business growth and organizational scaling
Analyzing infrastructure and compute economics including capacity planning and cost optimization
Developing capital strategy and innovative financing structures for major infrastructure investments
Communicating complex financial information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Collaborating across departments including engineering, sales, marketing, and operations on integrated financial planning
Challenging assumptions and providing recommendations to drive better decision-making with data and analytical rigor
Driving process improvements and automation initiatives to enhance financial operations efficiency
Developing and mentoring team members while building scalable financial functions within the organization
Engaging with external stakeholders including lenders, investors, and capital providers on financing execution
Technology
The tools and technologies that define this role.
Open Jobs
107 open Financial Planning & Strategy jobs across 43 companies.
Other Finance roles
Performs general, cost, and fixed asset accounting including journal entries, reconciliations, and month-end close activities.
Manages revenue recognition, billing operations, and order management in accordance with ASC 606.
Provides guidance on complex accounting matters including new standards adoption, M&A accounting, and non-routine transactions.
Manages corporate tax compliance, planning, and strategy across direct and indirect taxes.
Oversees the accounting function including financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance.