Finance Manager

Overview

This role is a full-time Finance Manager position with location options of Remote (global) or in person in Berkeley, CA or London, UK.

Compensation is $80,000 - $130,000, depending on experience and location. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

As Finance Manager, you will manage the organization’s financial record-keeping and budget monitoring as the organization transitions from fiscal sponsorship to an independent legal entity. Key responsibilities include:

• Month-End & Day-to-Day Accounting
  • Maintain accurate books in Xero, including bank reconciliations, transaction coding, and month-end close
  • Ensure all financial data is recorded accurately
• Accounts Payable & Spend Management
  • Manage accounts payable using Ramp and Mercury, including bill processing, payment runs, expense reviews, and reimbursements
• Reporting & Analytics
  • Prepare monthly/quarterly management accounts, board packs, and financial dashboards
  • Analyze variances to support strategic decisions
• Budgeting & Grant Tracking
  • Lead annual budgeting and forecasting
  • Track funder compliance and produce financial reports for restricted grant funds
• Audit & Compliance
  • Own external audit preparation across jurisdictions (US)
  • Maintain regulatory/tax compliance and collaborate with external advisors
• Controls & Automation
  • Maintain internal financial controls
  • Document standard procedures
  • Implement automations for routine bookkeeping tasks

Requirements

• Excited to take a rapidly growing organization through professionalization of accounting by building scalable processes so scientists can focus on their work while finance handles the rest
• Proactive in identifying issues and creating systems that support growth
• Prioritize impact over “how things were done before,” with an understanding of the needs of a rapidly growing, impact-focused organization
• Concerned about AI risks and able to use AI responsibly to improve systems, or interested in learning to do so
• Must have:
  • Strong working knowledge of US non-profit financial compliance, including tax and regulatory requirements
  • A licence as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the US (equivalent certifications may be suitable, ideally focused on US regulations)
  • 3+ years’ experience in public accounting or internal accounting in a role with a wide variety of responsibilities
  • Experience managing restricted and unrestricted grant budgets, producing funder reports, and maintaining accurate grant schedules
  • Ability and comfort owning the finance function end-to-end (this is a sole finance role and you will be the primary point of accountability for financial operations and reporting)
  • Strong attention to detail and clear written communication
  • An operations mindset: identifying issues, prioritizing, generating solutions, and efficiently implementing new ideas

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Xero or a comparable accounting platform (e.g., QuickBooks or Sage), including hands-on bookkeeping, financial reporting, reconciliations, and fund accounting
• Familiarity with financial compliance obligations such as Form 990, state registrations, CT600, 1099s, W-9/W-8 collection
• Experience with Ramp or a similar AP/expense platform (Concur, Airbase, Airwallex)
• Prior experience leading or closely supporting an external audit
• Experience improving finance workflows, implementing new tools, or building controls from scratch
• Hands-on payroll experience in the US

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $80,000 - $130,000 depending on experience and location
• Time Off: 25 days paid vacation annually
• Flexible Working Hours: distributed organization with employees in a variety of locations and flexible working hours
• Team Retreats: occasional in-person team retreats