Overview

We are looking for a highly strategic and execution-focused Head of Finance to join HappyRobot during a critical phase of growth. This role will be instrumental in shaping our financial strategy, building scalable systems, and enabling data-driven decision-making across the company. As a core member of the leadership team, you will lead all aspects of financial planning, analysis, and operations, ensuring alignment between financial goals and business objectives.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Financial Leadership – Partner with the leadership team to define and execute on financial strategy, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.


• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) – Lead the design of scalable FP&A processes, building models and dashboards that provide actionable insights and support business decisions.


• Business Partnering – Act as a strategic partner to department leads, helping them manage budgets, evaluate initiatives, and optimize spend.


• Operational Finance – Oversee core finance operations including accounting, treasury, payroll, and compliance, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and control.


• Investor & Board Engagement – Own financial reporting and analysis for board meetings, investor updates, and fundraising processes.


• Systems & Infrastructure – Identify and implement financial tools, systems, and processes that support growth and improve visibility.


• International Expansion Support – Provide financial leadership on new market entry, local entity setup, and international compliance, in close partnership with legal and operations.


• Risk & Compliance – Establish internal controls and ensure compliance with relevant tax, audit, and regulatory standards across geographies.

Must Have

• 6+ years of experience in corporate finance, investment banking, or in a senior finance role at a high-growth startup or tech company


• Proven leadership in scaling finance functions through growth, ideally across multiple markets or regions


• Deep expertise in financial modeling, analysis, and strategic planning


• Experience with board reporting, fundraising, and investor relations


• Strong systems thinking with a track record of implementing finance tools and processes


• Ability to communicate complex financial topics clearly and confidently to executive and non-financial stakeholders


• High integrity, ownership mindset, and a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude


• Fluent in English; other European languages are a bonus

Why join us?

• Opportunity to work at a high-growth AI startup, backed by top investors.


• Fast Growth - Backed by a16z and YC, on track for double-digit ARR.


• Ownership & Autonomy - Take full ownership of projects and ship fast.


• Top-Tier Compensation - Competitive salary + equity in a high-growth startup.


• Comprehensive Benefits - Healthcare, dental, vision coverage.


• Work With the Best - Join a world-class team of engineers and builders.

Operating Principles

• Extreme Ownership – We take full responsibility for our work, outcomes, and team success. No excuses, no blame-shifting — if something needs fixing, we own it and make it better. This means stepping up, even when it’s not “your job.” If a ball is dropped, we pick it up. If a customer is unhappy, we fix it. If a process is broken, we redesign it. We don’t wait for someone else to solve it — we lead with accountability and expect the same from those around us.


• Craftsmanship – Putting care and intention into every task, striving for excellence, and taking deep ownership of the quality and outcome of your work. Craftsmanship means never settling for “just fine.” We sweat the details because details compound. Whether it’s a product feature, an internal doc, or a sales call — we treat it as a reflection of our standards. We aim to deliver jaw-dropping customer experiences by being curious, meticulous, and proud of what we build — even when nobody’s watching.


• We are “majos” – Be friendly & have fun with your coworkers. Always be genuine & honest, but kind. “Majo” is our way of saying: be a good human. Be approachable, helpful, and warm. We’re building something ambitious, and it’s easier (and more fun) when we enjoy the ride together. We give feedback with kindness, challenge each other with respect, and celebrate wins together without ego.


• Urgency with Focus – Create the highest impact in the shortest amount of time. Move fast, but in the right direction. We operate with speed because time is our most limited resource. But speed without focus is chaos. We prioritize ruthlessly, act decisively, and stay aligned. We aim for high leverage: the biggest results from the simplest, smartest actions. We’re running a high-speed marathon — not a sprint with no strategy.


• Talent Density and Meritocracy – Hire only people who can raise the average; ‘exceptional performance is the passing grade.’ Ability trumps seniority. We believe the best teams are built on talent density — every hire should raise the bar. We reward contribution, not titles or tenure. We give ownership to those who earn it, and we all hold each other to a high standard. A-players want to work with other A-players — that’s how we win.


• First-Principles Thinking – Strip a problem to physics-level facts, ignore industry dogma, rebuild the solution from scratch. We don’t copy-paste solutions. We go back to basics, ask why things are the way they are, and rebuild from the ground up if needed. This mindset pushes us to innovate, challenge stale assumptions, and move faster than incumbents. It’s how we build what others think is impossible.

Privacy & Data

The personal data provided in your application and during the selection process will be processed by HappyRobot, Inc., acting as Data Controller. By sending us your CV, you consent to the processing of your personal data for the purpose of evaluating and selecting you as a candidate for the position. Your personal data will be treated confidentially and will only be used for the recruitment process of the selected job offer. In relation to the period of conservation of your personal data, these will be eliminated after three months of inactivity in compliance with the GDPR and legislation on the protection of personal data. If you wish to exercise your rights of access, rectification, deletion, portability or opposition in relation to your personal data, you can do so through security@happyrobot.ai subject to the GDPR. For more information, visit https://www.happyrobot.ai/privacy-policy. By submitting your request, you confirm that you have read and understood this clause and that you agree to the processing of your personal data as described.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance and Sales

Industries

• Software Development

Location: San Francisco, CA