Director of Finance

Kelly Services; Woburn (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Motion Recruitment Partners in MA is seeking a Director of Finance for a venture-backed robotics and manufacturing startup in Woburn. This senior hands-on role reports to the COO and CFO, with a hybrid schedule 3–4 days onsite.

The ideal candidate is a CPA with startup experience in robotics or hardware, capable of building finance systems, controls, and scalable processes from the ground up while partnering with executives and investors.

Qualifications

• Active CPA license required.
• Startup experience is essential.
• Experience in robotics, manufacturing, or hardware.
• Progressive finance and accounting background, preferably in growth-stage companies.
• Strong GAAP knowledge, accounting, and internal controls.
• Experience owning monthly close, reconciliations, and management reporting.
• Ability to build finance systems, processes, and controls from the ground up.
• Experience with budgets, financial models, cash forecasts, and plans.
• Solid cash management and expense controls.
• Ability to communicate financial information to senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance and accounting functions to support growth.
• Assess and define the finance systems, tools, and workflows.
• Build and document policies, procedures, and controls.
• Own monthly close, balance sheet reconciliations, and reporting.
• Develop annual budgets, operating plans, models, and cash forecasts.
• Provide visibility into cash runway, spending, and variances.
• Partner with executives to understand costs and trade-offs.
• Establish scalable treasury and cash management practices.
• Oversee external accounting relationships, audits, and tax compliance.
• Support equity administration and governance activities.

Skills

CPA license

Startup experience

Robotics industry

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Finance systems

Financial modeling

Cash management

Executive communication

Hands-on leadership

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

$180000 - $225000

We are seeking a Director of Finance for an innovative, venture-backed robotics and manufacturing technology startup located in Woburn, MA. This is a senior-level, hands‑on finance leadership role reporting to the COO and CFO. The position follows a hybrid schedule, with 3–4 days per week onsite. The ideal candidate will be a CPA with experience working at a startup and a background in robotics, manufacturing, hardware, or another physical-product environment.

This is an opportunity for a finance leader who wants to build and shape a finance function during a critical stage of company growth. You will take ownership of financial operations while defining and implementing the systems, processes, reporting structures, and controls needed to support commercialization and future expansion. The company needs someone who can move between strategic planning and hands‑on execution, establish scalable financial infrastructure from the ground up, and work closely with executive leadership and investors. Startup experience, an active CPA, and the ability to independently determine which finance systems and processes the business needs are essential for success.

Required Skills & Experience

• Active CPA license is required.

• Previous experience working at a startup is absolutely required.

• Experience in robotics, manufacturing, hardware, automotive technology, or another physical-product business.

• Progressive finance and accounting experience, ideally in a venture‑backed or private‑equity‑backed organization.

• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, technical accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.

• Experience owning monthly financial close, account reconciliations, and management reporting.

• Demonstrated ability to build and implement finance systems, processes, and controls from the ground up.

• Experience developing budgets, financial models, cash forecasts, and financial plans.

• Strong understanding of cash management, working capital, and expense controls.

• Ability to work directly with executive leadership and communicate financial information to senior stakeholders.

• Comfortable operating in a hands‑on environment where strategic leadership and day‑to‑day execution are both required.

• Ability to work onsite in Woburn, MA, 3–4 days per week.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience as a Controller, Director of Finance, VP of Finance, or similar senior finance leader at a startup.

• Experience supporting a company through a major funding round, commercialization, or rapid growth.

• Background in robotics, industrial technology, automotive technology, hardware, or manufacturing operations.

• Experience preparing for external audits and managing relationships with outside accounting firms.

• Familiarity with equity administration, cap table management, 409A valuations, and investor reporting.

• Experience implementing or improving ERP, accounting, billing, expense management, and financial planning systems.

• Experience with sales tax, revenue recognition, R&D tax credits, and other areas relevant to a growing technology business.

• Experience hiring, mentoring, or restructuring a finance or accounting team.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead the company's finance and accounting functions, establishing the processes and infrastructure needed to support continued growth.

• Assess existing financial systems and independently define the systems, tools, and workflows the organization should implement.

• Build and document financial policies, accounting procedures, internal controls, and approval processes.

• Own the monthly financial close, balance sheet reconciliations, financial statements, and management reporting.

• Develop and maintain annual budgets, operating plans, financial models, and rolling cash forecasts.

• Provide leadership with visibility into cash runway, spending, budget variances, working capital, and business performance.

• Partner with the COO, CFO, engineering, operations, and commercial teams to understand costs, evaluate financial trade‑offs, and improve accountability.

• Establish scalable treasury and cash management practices.

• Oversee external accounting relationships, audit preparation, tax compliance, and financial reporting requirements.

• Support equity administration, cap table accuracy, 409A valuations, and corporate governance activities.

• Develop financial reporting packages for executive leadership, the Board, investors, and lenders.

• Support future fundraising efforts by preparing financial models, diligence materials, and supporting documentation.

• Evaluate the current finance team structure, strengthen capabilities, and establish the right organizational model for future growth.

• Prepare the finance function for increased operational complexity, commercial expansion, and future executive leadership needs.

Tech Breakdown

• 25% – Financial systems, accounting infrastructure, and internal controls

• 25% – Financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cash management

• 20% – Monthly close, GAAP accounting, and financial reporting

• 15% – Audit, tax, compliance, and equity administration

• 15% – Executive partnership, investor reporting, and strategic planning

Daily Responsibilities

• 30% – Managing financial operations, accounting processes, and monthly close activities

• 25% – Building financial models, budgets, cash forecasts, and management reporting

• 20% – Defining and implementing finance systems, processes, and internal controls

• 15% – Partnering with executive leadership and operational teams on financial decisions

• 10% – Coordinating audit, tax, compliance, and investor‑related requirements

The Offer

• Senior finance leadership opportunity with a growing, venture‑backed technology startup.

• Direct partnership with the COO and CFO.

• Opportunity to build and define the company's finance systems and infrastructure.

• Significant influence over financial strategy, reporting, and operational decision‑making.

• Hybrid schedule with 3–4 days onsite per week in Woburn, MA.

• Competitive compensation package, potentially including base salary, performance bonus, and equity, depending on the final offer.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full‑time basis now and in the future.

Motion Recruitment Partners (MRP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants must be currently authorized to work on a full‑time basis in the country for which they are applying, and no sponsorship is currently available. Employment is subject to the successful completion of a pre‑employment screening. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under MRP’s Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.