Financial Operations [AQ-25775]

Aquent; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a seasoned FP&A leader to transform how financial resources are planned and governed within a cutting-edge engineering environment. You will drive budgeting, forecasting, vendor management, and data-driven decision making across multiple projects.

You will build automated data pipelines, deliver executive-ready insights, and mentor engineering leaders to shift spend accountability. This role offers high impact, collaborative culture, and significant opportunity to shape

Qualifications

• 10+ years of FP&A or financial operations experience.
• Hands-on proficiency in Python and SQL, with ability to build automated data pipelines and reporting systems.
• Experience managing vendor and contingent workforce spend, including SOWs and POs.
• Track record redesigning workflows and automating manual tasks.
• Ability to synthesize ambiguous data into a single source of truth and deliver executive-ready insights.
• Experience handing off functions and playbooks to internal teams.
• Strong executive communication skills with high self-direction.
• BS/MS in Finance, Accounting, Business, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and vendor management framework.
• Provide insights on project effort data and OpEx.
• Deliver automated data pipelines and spend data single source.
• Shift spend accountability to engineering managers.
• Document the operational framework and playbooks.

Skills

Executive communication

Self-direction

Change management

Vendor management

Workflow redesign

Education

BS/MS in Finance, Accounting, Business, or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

Partnering with Aquent opens the door to working with a globally recognized leader in innovation and technological advancement. In this dynamic role, you will have the unique opportunity to transform how financial resources are planned, tracked, and governed within a cutting-edge engineering environment. By driving critical financial operations, optimizing workflows, and building automated data pipelines, your work will directly influence strategic initiatives and leave a lasting legacy of operational excellence.

About The Partner And The Role

Aquent is partnering with a premier, globally recognized innovator known for shaping the future of technology and delivering groundbreaking products. This organization thrives on excellence and collaborates with some of the brightest minds in the world. As a key financial professional, you will step into a pivotal position designed to revolutionize financial operations, bringing clarity, efficiency, and automated solutions to complex engineering projects.

What You Will Do

In this role, you will lead the evolution of financial resource management, establishing a sustainable framework for budgeting, forecasting, and vendor management. You will empower engineering leaders by shifting accountability and simplifying processes to drive high-impact business outcomes.

• Baseline budget, forecast, headcount, and vendor/contractor spend to ensure investments align perfectly with key strategic projects.
• Lead contractor conversion and vendor consolidation efforts, guiding the process from leadership authorization through successful execution.
• Build an automated, single source of truth for spend data paired with a continuous, structured review cadence.
• Deliver high-quality, decision-grade insights regarding project effort data and operating expenses (OpEx).
• Simplify purchase requisition and budgeting processes to significantly reduce turnaround times and documentation overhead.
• Shift spend accountability, including Statements of Work (SOW), procurement, and documentation, to engineering managers to align incentives and increase visibility.
• Fully document the operational framework and playbooks, ensuring a seamless handoff to internal team members.

What You Bring (Required Qualifications)

• 10+ years of experience in FP&A or financial operations (budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis), ideally within a large engineering or technology organization.
• Hands-on proficiency in Python and SQL, with a proven ability to build automated data pipelines and reporting systems independently.
• Deep expertise managing vendor and contingent workforce spend, including SOWs, POs, contractor conversions, and vendor consolidations.
• Demonstrated track record of redesigning workflows, automating manual tasks, and driving behavioral change across management teams.
• Proven ability to synthesize ambiguous data into a clear, single source of truth and deliver executive-ready insights.
• Experience successfully handing off established functions, playbooks, and processes to internal team members.
• Strong executive communication skills coupled with high self-direction and initiative.
• BS/MS in Finance, Accounting, Business, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Experience with enterprise-grade finance, procurement, and internal issue-tracking or project management systems.
• Experience applying LLM (Large Language Model) or agent-based tooling to finance and operational workflows.

Client Description

Our client is a global leader in consumer technology, renowned for redefining the intersection of hardware, software, and services. Known for their uncompromising commitment to world-class design and user experience, they create products that have become essential to daily life. You will be joining a team that values craftsmanship and simplicity, working on high-impact projects that reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide.