Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Stax Engineering Inc; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mission-driven organization

Exposure to board-level financials

Cross-functional collaboration

Growth opportunities

Travel to sites and client locations

Job summary

STAX seeks a senior FP&A leader in Santa Barbara, CA, to oversee budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis for a growing clean-tech maritime company. The Head of FP&A will develop financial models, guide capital allocation, and provide strategic insights partnering with the CFO and executives.

The role emphasizes independent judgment, GAAP knowledge, and a strong ability to translate complex data into actionable recommendations for cross-functional leaders and the board.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in FP&A or financial leadership roles.
• At least 4 years in FP&A or Controller roles with responsibility for financial systems, controls, reporting structures, and performance analysis.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and variance analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on significant financial matters.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for executives, operational leaders, and non-finance teams.
• Experience influencing leadership decisions through financial analysis, business insight, and strategic recommendations.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, financial reporting, and audit procedures.
• Experience designing or improving financial systems, controls, reporting structures, and performance management frameworks.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to financial accuracy, integrity, and consistency.
• Ability to independently evaluate financial results, identify risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend corrective actions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across departments and levels of leadership.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other finance leaders, auditors, executives, and operational teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in a growing organization where priorities and business needs may evolve quickly.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field required.

Responsibilities

• Lead company-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and performance management processes.
• Develop and maintain financial models that support strategic planning, operational decisions, growth initiatives, and capital allocation.
• Analyze financial performance and provide meaningful variance analysis against budgets, forecasts, and business expectations.
• Determine the significance of financial variances, identify potential risks or performance concerns, and recommend appropriate corrective strategies.
• Exercise independent judgment when interpreting financial data and recommending actions related to profitability, cost control, financial performance, and business strategy.
• Lead high-level review of financial information to assess data integrity, materiality, risk exposure, and areas requiring corrective action.
• Review and challenge financial results to ensure they accurately reflect business performance and economic reality.
• Evaluate accounting treatment and financial outputs for consistency with financial and economic objectives.
• Own and continuously improve the company’s KPI reporting framework and measurement methodologies in partnership with leadership.
• Design and implement financial and operational reporting systems that provide leadership with timely and actionable information.
• Partner with department leaders to evaluate the financial impact of operational performance, initiatives, and business decisions.
• Provide financial insight and analytical support during monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycles.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of financial controls from both a financial and operational perspective.
• Prepare board-level financial presentations, performance narratives, reporting packages, and executive-level financial analysis.
• Review and interpret financial outputs to support executive and board-level decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis and business insight in support of audit processes while partnering with the Controller, auditors, and other finance leaders.
• Support long-term financial planning and help leadership evaluate risks, opportunities, and financial implications associated with STAX’s continued growth.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Variance analysis

GAAP knowledge

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

NetSuite

Sage Intacct

Microsoft Dynamics

Oracle

SAP

Job description

Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Santa Barbara, California

Compensation:

$165,000 - $190,000

The final compensation offered will be based on relevant experience, education, qualifications, financial leadership background, and overall alignment with the role.

About STAX

STAX is helping transform the maritime industry through innovative emissions capture technology that improves air quality and reduces environmental impact at ports throughout California.

We are seeking a Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to serve as a senior financial leader supporting STAX’s continued growth and expansion. This role is ideal for an experienced finance professional who combines strong financial planning and analytical expertise with the ability to translate complex financial information into actionable business insight.

The Head of FP&A will lead financial planning, forecasting, performance analysis, KPI reporting, financial modeling, and strategic decision support across the organization. This position will work closely with the CFO, Controller, executive leadership, and operational teams to evaluate financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and help guide decisions related to growth, capital allocation, operational efficiency, and long-term business planning.

This role is highly forward-looking and strategic. It is designed for a finance leader who can independently evaluate financial results, challenge assumptions, interpret business performance, and provide leadership with a clear financial perspective on decisions that materially impact the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead company-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and performance management processes.
• Develop and maintain financial models that support strategic planning, operational decisions, growth initiatives, and capital allocation.
• Analyze financial performance and provide meaningful variance analysis against budgets, forecasts, and business expectations.
• Determine the significance of financial variances, identify potential risks or performance concerns, and recommend appropriate corrective strategies.
• Exercise independent judgment when interpreting financial data and recommending actions related to profitability, cost control, financial performance, and business strategy.
• Lead high-level review of financial information to assess data integrity, materiality, risk exposure, and areas requiring corrective action.
• Review and challenge financial results to ensure they accurately reflect business performance and economic reality.
• Evaluate accounting treatment and financial outputs for consistency with financial and economic objectives.
• Own and continuously improve the company’s KPI reporting framework and measurement methodologies in partnership with leadership.
• Design and implement financial and operational reporting systems that provide leadership with timely and actionable information.
• Partner with department leaders to evaluate the financial impact of operational performance, initiatives, and business decisions.
• Provide financial insight and analytical support during monthly, quarterly, and annual close cycles.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of financial controls from both a financial and operational perspective.
• Prepare board-level financial presentations, performance narratives, reporting packages, and executive-level financial analysis.
• Review and interpret financial outputs to support executive and board-level decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis and business insight in support of audit processes while partnering with the Controller, auditors, and other finance leaders.
• Support long-term financial planning and help leadership evaluate risks, opportunities, and financial implications associated with STAX’s continued growth.

What We're Looking For:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis, business finance, or financial leadership.
• At least 4 years of experience serving in an FP&A or Controller role with responsibility for financial systems, controls, reporting structures, and performance analysis.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and variance analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on significant financial matters.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for executives, operational leaders, and non-finance teams.
• Experience influencing leadership decisions through financial analysis, business insight, and strategic recommendations.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, internal controls, financial reporting, and audit procedures.
• Experience designing or improving financial systems, controls, reporting structures, and performance management frameworks.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to financial accuracy, integrity, and consistency.
• Ability to independently evaluate financial results, identify risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend corrective actions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across departments and levels of leadership.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other finance leaders, auditors, executives, and operational teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in a growing organization where priorities and business needs may evolve quickly.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or equivalent advanced financial credential.
• Prior experience in public accounting or internal audit.
• Experience working in a growth-stage or rapidly scaling organization.
• Experience within green technology, manufacturing, logistics, maritime, industrial operations, or a related environment.
• Experience working in tandem with Controllers, finance executives, auditors, and operational leadership.
• Experience with ERP and financial planning systems such as NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, SAP, or similar platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with business intelligence, reporting, dashboarding, and financial visualization tools.
• Experience developing executive or board-level financial presentations and performance narratives.

Physical Requirements:

This is primarily a financial leadership and office-based role that may require travel and occasional support at company, client, investor, or board locations, including:

• Sitting, typing, reviewing financial information, and working at a computer for extended periods.
• Frequently using a computer, keyboard, telephone, and standard office equipment.
• Communicating effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone.
• Occasionally lifting or moving boxes, materials, or office items weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to travel between company locations and attend off-site meetings as needed.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours periodically to support budgeting cycles, board reporting, financing activities, or other business needs.

Travel:

This position is based onsite at STAX’s Santa Barbara office.

Travel to STAX work sites, client locations, investor meetings, and board meetings will be required based on business needs. Travel locations may include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, and ports throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, with travel potentially occurring multiple days per week.

Why Join STAX?

• Join a mission-driven organization improving air quality and environmental sustainability.
• Help support the future of clean maritime technology.
• Serve as a key financial leader during an important period of company growth and expansion.
• Partner directly with executive leadership to influence strategic and operational decision-making.
• Help build and strengthen the financial planning, reporting, and performance management infrastructure of a growing organization.
• Work cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Leadership, and other teams across the organization.
• Play an important role in helping STAX evaluate growth opportunities, financial performance, operational efficiency, and long‑term business strategy.

If you’re an experienced financial leader who enjoys building financial frameworks, analyzing business performance, challenging assumptions, and translating financial data into strategic insight, we’d love to hear from you.