VP, Finance

Fusion Energy Base; Livermore (CA); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plans

Vision plans

Company-paid holidays

Matching 401k

Job summary

Inertia is seeking a VP, Finance to lead the company’s finance function and build the financial foundation for growth. This hybrid role requires partnering with the executive team to drive strategy, planning, and zero-to-one scaling of FP&A, treasury, and accounting.

You will own budgeting, long-range planning, monthly and quarterly reporting, external audits and compliance, and the selection of ERP/ FP&A tools, working across science, engineering, operations, and talent teams in Livermore, CA.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of finance and accounting leadership in a high-growth tech or capital-intensive environment.
• CPA preferred; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
• Strong US GAAP, financial reporting, and technical accounting foundation.
• Experience building FP&A processes including budgeting, forecasting, and board reporting.
• Experience managing external audit, tax compliance, and relationships with outside firms.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and cross-functional partnership skills; hands-on leader with a 0->1 mindset.

Responsibilities

• Own FP&A, budgeting, long-range planning, and rolling forecasts aligned to strategic priorities.
• Build the finance function from the ground up with systems, processes, controls, and reporting rhythms.
• Lead monthly and quarterly reporting and communicate performance drivers and tradeoffs to leadership.
• Oversee accounting and financial reporting, including external partners for close, tax, and audits.
• Strengthen financial systems and internal controls to support growth.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, treasury operations, and capital planning for R&D and commercialization roadmap.
• Partner with Science, Engineering, Operations, and Talent Acquisition on funding, capex, and vendor decisions.
• Evaluate and implement ERP and FP&A tools to meet evolving needs.

Skills

Financial leadership

Forecasting

FP&A

Board reporting

External audit

Cross-functional partnership

Strategy

Attention to detail

Communication

CPA

Education

Bachelor's in Finance/Accounting

MBA

Tools

ERP systems

FP&A platforms

Job description

Overview

Inertia is seeking a VP, Finance to lead the company’s finance function and build the financial foundation for our next phase of growth. This is a ground-floor opportunity to shape the systems, processes, team, and financial strategy that will support Inertia on its path toward commercializing fusion energy. Reporting to the Head of Business, you’ll work closely with the executive team and leaders across the company, bringing financial rigor and insight to the strategic and operating decisions that matter most. You’ll be both a strategic partner and a hands-on builder, creating a finance organization designed to scale alongside the company. This is a hybrid position, with regular in-office collaboration expected.

What You’ll Get to Do

• Own financial planning and forecasting, including annual budgeting, long-range capital planning, and rolling forecasts that connect Inertia’s financial resources to its strategic priorities.
• Build the finance function from the ground up, establishing the systems, processes, team, controls, and reporting rhythms needed to support a rapidly scaling company.
• Turn financial data into actionable insight, leading monthly and quarterly reporting and helping leadership understand performance, key business drives, opportunities, and tradeoffs.
• Lead accounting and financial reporting, overseeing outsourced accounting partners across the general ledger, close, financial statements, tax, and audit activities.
• Build and continuously strengthen financial systems, processes, and internal controls to support Inertia's growth.
• Manage cash flow forecasting, treasury operations, and capital planning to support Inertia's long-term R&D and commercialization roadmap.
• Partner cross-functionally with Science, Engineering, Operations, and Talent Acquisition teams, providing financial guidance on hiring plans, capital expenditures, and vendor and contract decisions.
• Evaluate and implement financial systems and tools, including ERP and FP&A platforms, to support Inertia’s evolving needs.

What You Bring to Inertia

• 15+ years of finance and accounting experience, including meaningful leadership experience in a high-growth technology, energy, deep-tech, or similarly complex environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• A strong foundation of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and technical accounting, with the ability to establish a rigorous financial foundation.
• Proven track record building and scaling FP&A processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and board-level reporting, in a fast-growing or capital-intensive environment.
• Experience managing external audit, tax compliance, and relationships with outside accounting and advisory firms.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and cross-functional partnership skills, with the ability to operate as a hands-on leader with a 0->1 mindset.
• High integrity, discretion, and sound judgment when handling sensitive financial and strategic information.
• Bonus Points CPA.
• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
• Experience at a VC backed, capital intensive startup, particularly in fusion, energy, hard tech, advanced manufacturing, or hardware.
• Experience supporting fundraising and investor relations.

Salary & Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $250,000 - $280,000; The pay range provided is an estimated base range for this role. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and education.

• Medical plans
• Dental plans
• Vision plans
• Company-paid holidays
• Matching 401k
• and more!

About Inertia

Inertia is taking the most direct, scientifically-proven path to commercializing fusion, leveraging the only successful achievement of fusion ignition, using a process that was pioneered at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). With groundbreaking innovation, transformative technology, and multi-year investment, Inertia is committed to commercializing fusion energy in the next decade.

Government Clearance Requirement

This position requires access to technology, software and other information that is subject to governmental access control restrictions, due to export controls, security classification and/or designation as Controlled Unclassified Information. Employment in this position is conditioned on the candidate’s eligibility for, obtaining and maintaining appropriate government authorization to access technology or information, to the extent required, including without limitation a security clearance, export license, or other documentation required to establish authorization to receive access to such items technology or information.