Director, Finance & Accounting

Join us at Gradient, where our purpose is to revolutionize home comfort while championing environmental sustainability. Our mission is to combat the escalating challenge of climate change by redefining how homes are heated and cooled. Today, the environmental impact of heating and cooling systems surpasses that of the entire transportation sector, and without intervention, this trend is set to escalate drastically. At Gradient, we believe that ensuring comfortable living spaces shouldn’t come at the cost of our planet. We envision a future where every individual can enjoy the luxury of a comfortable home without contributing to carbon emissions. Our high-efficiency, low-carbon heat pump is just the beginning of our journey toward fully decarbonizing buildings. By joining Gradient, you’ll be at the forefront of a movement to make sustainable living accessible to all, ensuring healthier communities and a brighter, greener future.

As the Director of Finance & Accounting, you will be the most senior finance executive in our organization, reporting directly to the COO. This is a unique opportunity to shape our financial strategy while managing day-to-day operations. You will play a critical role in guiding our financial planning, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that our financial health aligns with our mission to drive clean technology forward.

This is a hybrid role with 2-3 days in our San Francisco (Mission District) based headquarters.

The estimated salary range for this role is $150,000 - $168,750 per year + equity. Individual salaries vary on a number of factors including but not limited to geography, skills, education, experience and unique qualifications where applicable.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement financial strategies that support the company's growth objectives and align with our mission.
• Own the Corporate forecasting and budgeting processes, including Annual Planning as well as monthly and quarterly forecast processes.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management to optimize resources.
• Own operational accounting management, month-end closing, audit collaboration and reporting.
• Prepare and present financial reports to the executive team, board of directors, and investors, providing insights and recommendations.
• Manage financial model and provide financial data and insights to support fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze revenue models and assess financial performance for both pre-revenue and post-revenue phases. Develop and own a strategic asset allocation framework for measuring ROI of spend.
• Build out systems and processes: ERP, including order management, purchasing module, inventory and costing, etc.
• Lead financial audits and ensure compliance with regulations and accounting standards.
• Research technical accounting issues, draft white papers and policies.
• Manage company 401k plan and administer employee stock option plan.
• Coordinate tax accounting firm on compliance and tax planning.
• Mentor and manage one direct report, fostering their professional growth while ensuring high-quality output.
• Forecast future growth needs in the finance department & scale for growth as needed.

Desired Qualifications:

• 10+ years of strategic finance and accounting experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a hardware company; familiarity with cleantech is a plus.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks advanced, other SaaS applications (A/P, T&E, PO, Equity).
• Broad and in-depth experience with operational accounting---GL, Cost and Inventory, Revenue and A/R, A/P, Equity and toolsets.
• Intermediate to advanced excel skills.
• Demonstrated success working with both pre-revenue and post-revenue business models, showcasing adaptability in diverse financial landscapes.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute tactical plans efficiently.
• Strong leadership skills coupled with a collaborative mindset, capable of inspiring teams across the organization.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience in early-stage (Series A or earlier) startup in accounting and finance.
• Experience leading an accounting function, with the demonstrated capability to mentor, train, and develop a diverse team.
• A track record of grants management, especially related to compliance and reporting.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive company. We seek to create a culture where everyone can belong because we believe that people do their best work when they can show up every day as their authentic selves. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Gradient is an equal opportunity employer. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

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