Finance Lead

Surf Search; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Search presents a leadership role in a rapidly growing biotech startup, driving financial strategy and business operations. The role connects financial planning with operational execution across scientific and corporate teams while building scalable infrastructure to support disciplined growth in an early-stage environment.

The candidate will lead budgeting, forecasting, and modeling, partner across functions, and prepare leadership materials for internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in financial planning, strategic finance, or business operations.
• Experience in life sciences or R&D-driven environments preferred.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling background.
• Able to operate strategically and tactically in a fast-paced setting.
• Cross-functional collaboration with technical, legal, and admin teams required.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles aligned across departments.
• Analyze financial performance with variance reporting and insights.
• Develop long-term financial models and cash planning scenarios.
• Partner with technical and functional teams to align ops with financial plans.
• Prepare materials for leadership reporting and external stakeholders.
• Oversee relationships with external providers for finance, HR, and admin functions.
• Ensure accuracy, compliance, and scalable financial and operational processes.
• Support valuation, fundraising, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Maintain equity tracking, compensation structures, and related docs.
• Collaborate with legal on governance and corporate matters.
• Coordinate with IP partners on filings, timelines, and budgets.
• Partner with HR on compensation planning and internal processes.
• Oversee expense management, purchasing workflows, and vendor spend control.

Skills

Forecasting

Financial Modeling

Cross-functional

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

MBA preferred

Job description

A rapidly growing biotech start up client of ours is seeking a highly analytical and experienced leader to drive financial strategy and business operations. This individual will play a central role in connecting financial planning, operational execution, and cross-functional collaboration across scientific and corporate teams. The position offers the opportunity to build scalable infrastructure, translate complex initiatives into financial insight, and support disciplined growth in an early-stage environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles, ensuring alignment across departments
• Analyze financial performance, including variance reporting and actionable insights
• Develop long-term financial models and cash planning scenarios
• Partner with technical and functional teams to align operational goals with financial plans
• Prepare materials for leadership reporting and external stakeholders
• Oversee relationships with external service providers supporting finance, HR, and administrative functions
• Ensure accuracy, compliance, and scalability across financial and operational processes
• Support valuation exercises, fundraising efforts, and strategic planning initiatives
• Maintain equity tracking, compensation structures, and related documentation
• Collaborate with legal advisors on governance and corporate matters
• Coordinate with intellectual property partners on filings, timelines, and budgets
• Partner with HR on compensation planning and internal processes
• Oversee expense management, purchasing workflows, and vendor spend control

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in financial planning, strategic finance, or business operations
• Prior experience in life sciences or a technical, R&D-driven environment preferred
• Strong background in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced setting
• Experience working cross-functionally with technical, legal, and administrative teams
• High level of analytical rigor, judgment, and ​…