Senior Finance Associate

Lightning AI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity

401(k) matching

Unlimited PTO

Winter break

Parental leave

Professional development

Wellness stipend

Sabbatical program

Hybrid work

Job summary

Lightning AI, the company behind PyTorch Lightning, seeks a Senior Finance Associate to shape unit economics and guide investment decisions. You will partner across Sales, Marketing, Product, and Infrastructure to align financial planning with strategic priorities.

This hybrid San Francisco role offers high visibility, ownership of P&L, and a chance to influence revenue growth and capital allocation as Lightning expands.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in Strategic Finance, FP&A, investment banking, private equity, or venture capital, ideally focused on software/AI/cloud infra.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets; experience building complex financial models.
• Track record of cross-functional partnership.
• Analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Bias to action; startup environment experience.
• Experience with capital markets, M&A, or CapEx financing.
• Exposure to cloud/AI infra economics and data center capacity planning.
• Familiarity with FP&A systems and data tooling (e.g., NetSuite).

Responsibilities

• Support deal reviews with Sales and leadership and advise on pricing decisions.
• Partner with Marketing on spend allocation, pipeline efficiency, and unit economics analyses (LTV/CAC, payback).
• Partner with Product on ROI for software investments and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Infrastructure Operations on capacity planning and CapEx assessment.
• Model GPU financing structures and assess returns.
• Support lender and investor communications, materials, and data rooms.
• Monitor industry trends and the competitive landscape to identify risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to M&A sourcing and diligence models.
• Build and maintain driver-based P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow models.
• Prepare executive-level business reviews for leadership and board.
• Lead monthly and quarterly reporting, ensuring accuracy and highlighting key drivers.
• Develop forecast cycles and improve forecast accuracy with cross-functional partners.
• Support annual and long-range planning.
• Analyze KPIs, operational metrics, and business trends.
• Manage FP&A systems and data tooling and maintain data accuracy.

Skills

Excel

Financial modeling

Cross-functional partnership

Analytical thinking

Startup mindset

Capital markets / M&A

Cloud / AI infra economics

FP&A systems

Education

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

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Who We Are

Lightning AI is the company behind PyTorch Lightning. Founded in 2019, we build an end-to-end platform for developing, training, and deploying AI systems—designed to take ideas from research to production with less friction.

Through our merger with Voltage Park, a neocloud and AI Factory, Lightning AI combines developer-first software with cost-efficient, large-scale compute. Teams get the tools they need for experimentation, training, and production inference, with security, observability, and control built in.

We serve solo researchers, startups, and large enterprises. Lightning AI operates globally with offices in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and London, and is backed by Coatue, Index Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and Firstminute.

The Way We Work

The people who thrive here are builders who move fast, communicate openly, take ownership, and continuously improve themselves, their teams, and our company. Here's what that looks like in practice:

• Move with Urgency: We move quickly, make thoughtful decisions, and keep momentum. We value action over perfection and learn by shipping.
• Take Ownership: We own outcomes, not just our individual work. We make decisions that move the company forward and follow through.
• Communicate Openly: We communicate directly, seek to understand, and create clarity for others. Honest conversations help us move faster together.
• Build Great Teams: We lead by example, empower others, and create healthy teams where people can do their best work.
• Raise the Bar: We’re always improving ourselves. We learn from feedback, consistently challenge ourselves to grow, and focus on the work that matters most.
• Think Long-Term: We design for what’s next. We create scalable systems, simplify complexity, and use AI and automation to amplify our impact.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a Senior Finance Associate to drive priorities across strategic finance, corporate development, and FP&A as Lightning AI scales. You will partner with cross-functional stakeholders to shape unit economics, advise on deal pricing, and guide investment decisions. You will support GPU financing, fundraising, and investor relations to help Lightning AI acquire and allocate capital effectively. You will also build an operating cadence for P&L management, reporting, forecasting, and planning, turning data into decision‑ready insights for leadership.

The finance scope is deep, leadership visibility is high, and the work directly influences revenue growth, margin expansion, and capital allocation. If you want meaningful ownership, steep learning, and proximity to the decisions that shape an AI cloud, this role is for you.
This is a hybrid role based in our San Francisco with an in‑office requirement of 2 days per week.

What You’ll Do

• Support deal reviews with Sales and leadership and recommend pricing decisions
• Partner with Marketing on spend allocation, pipeline efficiency, and unit economics analyses (LTV/CAC, payback period)
• Partner with Product on ROI for software investments and strategic initiatives
• Partner with Infrastructure Operations on capacity planning and CapEx assessment
• Model GPU financing structures and assess returns
• Support lender and investor communications, materials, and data rooms
• Monitor industry trends and the competitive landscape to identify potential business risks and opportunities
• Contribute to M&A sourcing and diligence models
• Build and maintain a driver based model for P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement
• Prepare executive-level business reviews for leadership and board
• Lead monthly and quarterly reporting, ensuring accuracy and highlighting key business drivers
• Develop forecast cycles and strengthen forecast accuracy by partnering closely with cross‑functional stakeholders
• Support annual planning and long‑range planning
• Conduct rigorous analysis of key performance indicators, operational metrics, and business trends
• Manage FP&A systems and tooling and maintain data accuracy

What You’ll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field
• 4+ years in Strategic Finance, FP&A, investment banking, private equity, or venture capital, ideally with a focus on software, AI, and/or cloud infrastructure
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets and experience building complex financial models
• Track record of cross‑functional partnership
• Analytical and strong problem‑solving ability
• Team player with a growth mindset, positive attitude, and strong work ethic
• Bias to action and desire to work in a startup environment
• Experience with capital markets, M&A, or CapEx financing
• Exposure to cloud or AI infrastructure economics and data center capacity planning
• Familiarity with FP&A systems and data tooling (e.g., NetSuite)

We are committed to offering competitive compensation that reflects the value each team member brings to our mission. Final offers are based on factors such as experience, skills, geographic location, and role expectations. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package for eligible roles includes a discretionary bonus, a meaningful equity component, and comprehensive benefits.

The anticipated annual base salary range for this role is:

$135,000 - $165,000 USD

Benefits and Perks

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees’ health, well‑being, and long‑term success:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Meaningful Equity: RSUs that give employees a stake in the company's long‑term success.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) matching (U.S.) and pension contributions (U.K.).
• Flexible Time Off: Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and floating holidays to support work‑life balance.
• Company-Wide Winter Break: Two weeks of company closure each winter to disconnect and recharge.
• Paid Parental & Family Leave: Paid leave to support you and your family through life's important moments.
• Professional Development: Annual learning and development allowance to support your professional growth.
• Wellness Benefits: Wellness and work‑from‑home stipends to support your physical and mental well‑being.
• Sabbatical Program: Four weeks of paid sabbatical leave after four years of service.
• Flexible Work: Flexible schedules and a hybrid work model for our office‑based teams.
• In‑Office Meals: Complimentary meals at our office hubs.

Benefits may vary by location, team, and role.

At Lightning AI, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and create better products. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are dedicated to building a culture where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.