Vice President of Finance

Company Description

Founded in 2019 by Elina Sofia Wang as a reflection of her wellness journey, ESW Beauty is a clean skincare brand inspired by healthy living. Our mission is to offer playful skincare with clean, vegan formulas that are both cruelty-free and sustainable. Our hero products include the Raw Juice Sheet Masks and Smoothie Lip Treatments and can be found in over 8,500 doors including major retailers such as Target, Walgreens, Whole Foods Market, Meijer, American Eagle, and more.

Role Description

The Vice President of Finance will be responsible for financial planning, budget and cash flow management, financial statement preparation, investor relations management, and financial reporting on a day-to-day basis.

As our VP of Finance, you will be critical in shaping and executing our financial strategy. This is a role for someone who is strategic-minded but also willing to be very hands-on on a day-to-day basis. We are looking for someone who can lead and build out the finance team with us together as we grow.

Our ideal VP of Finance is someone who is eager to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the growth of our brand. This is not a typical 9-to-5 role; it requires a high level of dedication, flexibility, and a strong work ethic.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cash Flow Management: Stay on top of our cash flow to ensure we have the funds we need to run operations and grow. Review large expenditures and revenue inflows, making sure we're keeping things on track.
• Expenditure & Revenue Monitoring: Regularly review major expenses and large incoming payments, ensuring they align with our forecasts and financial goals.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare monthly financial reports-including Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss (P&L), and Cash Flow statement-giving the leadership team clear insight into the company's financial health.
• Budget Review: Lead monthly budget meetings with the team to ensure we're meeting financial goals and make adjustments when needed.
• Create/Review Budget: Develop and review our budget each month, ensuring that it reflects our goals, priorities, and any changes in our growth strategy.
• Marketing & Trade Spend: Help us track and manage marketing spend, from advertising and trade promotions to product sampling and development.
• Budget Adjustments: Revisit our quarterly budget to ensure we're on track and adjust based on any changes in revenue, expenses, or growth opportunities.
• Collaborating on Hiring & HR: Work with the CEO and HR to ensure compensation, bonuses, and other people-related expenses are managed within budget and aligned with our growth needs.
• Financial Modeling: Build and refine financial models that help project revenue and expenses, assisting in forecasting the company's growth.
• Dashboards & Reporting Tools: Help build and maintain financial dashboards so we can easily track key performance metrics and make informed decisions.
• Corporate Strategy: Advise on any changes to our corporate structure or financial strategy as we grow.
• Controller Duties: Set up and refine expense classifications for accurate financial reporting. Help optimize our general ledger and ensure that all expenses (especially marketing and product development) are properly classified. Manage and classify COGS (Cost of Goods Sold), including product purchasing and related expenses. Oversee revenue recognition processes, ensuring we account for sales, distributor claims, and other financial elements correctly.
• Finance Team Support: With a small team, you'll wear multiple hats and be involved in all aspects of finance, providing guidance where needed while ensuring operational efficiency.
• Team Building: As we grow, you'll play a key role in helping us hire and build out our finance team, ensuring we have the right people in place to support our growth.
• Process Optimization: Identify opportunities to streamline our financial processes, improve systems, and create efficiencies, so we're ready to scale smoothly.

Qualifications:

• 8-10+ years of experience in finance, accounting, and/or financial operations, ideally in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Previous experience with investment banking, FP&A, consulting, or similar fields is preferred but not mandatory. Ultimately, we are looking for a self-starter eager to take initiative, learn, and grow alongside the company as we scale.
• Experience with or passion for the beauty industry is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles (GAAP) and financial regulations.
• Proficient in financial tools and software (ERP systems, financial modeling tools, Excel).
• Excellent communicator, with the ability to present complex financial information in a way that's easy to understand for both financial and non-financial stakeholders
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; CPA, MBA, or CFA preferred.
• A get-it-done mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment.
• Passion for building and optimizing systems from the ground up.
• Strong business acumen with a focus on growth and profitability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, balancing day-to-day operations with strategic planning for the future.

Compensation:

• Base salary starts at $120,000, with the final salary determined by the candidate's experience and qualifications.
• The compensation package also includes performance-based bonuses

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits
• 401(k) with 4% equivalent employer match
• 80 hours of PTO
• Volunteer Time Off
• Employee Discount