Finance Associate

Location: Los Angeles, CAReports to: Chief Operating OfficerType: Full-TimeAbout PheratechPheratech Systems is building the coordination layer for the next generation of autonomous systems. Our technology enables heterogeneous robots to reason, coordinate, and operate together as decentralized teams in complex and communications-degraded environments.We are a small, fast-growing team working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and national security. As we scale our technical organization, government programs, manufacturing capabilities, and commercial operations, we are building the financial infrastructure required to support that growth.We are looking for a Finance Associate to help build and operate that infrastructure from the ground up.The RoleAs Pheratech’s Finance Associate, you will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and CEO across nearly every aspect of the company’s finances.This is not a narrowly defined accounting role. You will help manage the company’s financial operations, build budgets and forecasts, track program economics, support government contracting, improve financial systems and controls, and provide leadership with the information needed to make better decisions.Because Pheratech is an early-stage company, the scope will be broad. On any given week, you might update our company forecast, analyze spending against a government program budget, work with our accounting firm to close the books, reconcile procurement data, prepare materials for leadership or investors, or build a financial model for a new initiative.You’ll have an unusual amount of responsibility and visibility into how an early-stage deep-tech company is built.What You'll DoFinancial Planning & AnalysisMaintain and improve company budgets, forecasts, and financial modelsTrack actual performance against budget and investigate material variancesMaintain cash and runway forecastsDevelop departmental and program-level financial reportingBuild models to support hiring, purchasing, manufacturing, facilities, and other major operating decisionsProduce recurring financial reporting for company leadershipFinancial OperationsHelp manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense management, reimbursements, purchasing, and financial workflowsMaintain accurate financial records and supporting documentationCoordinate with external accountants, tax advisors, payroll providers, and other financial partnersSupport monthly and quarterly close processesImprove internal financial controls and approval processesHelp build scalable finance systems as the company growsGovernment Program FinanceTrack budgets, expenditures, and financial performance across government contracts and R&D programsMaintain program-level cost tracking and forecastsSupport invoicing, financial reporting, and documentation requirementsWork with program and contracting functions to ensure costs are appropriately tracked against contractual requirementsSupport proposal budgets, cost volumes, ROMs, and pricing exercisesHelp develop systems capable of supporting increasingly complex government contracting requirementsStrategic FinanceConduct financial analysis for major company decisionsEvaluate investments in headcount, infrastructure, manufacturing, equipment, and new programsDevelop scenario and sensitivity analysesSupport company-level operating and long-range planningHelp leadership understand the financial implications of strategic decisionsCorporate Finance & ReportingSupport preparation of financial materials for leadership, the Board, and investorsMaintain key company financial metrics and reportingAssist with capitalization and equity-related financial administrationSupport financing, diligence, insurance, audit, tax, and other corporate finance processes as neededHelp maintain organized and diligence-ready financial recordsBuild the FunctionIdentify gaps in our financial processes and fix themAutomate repetitive reporting and financial workflowsEstablish documentation and processes that allow the finance function to scaleTake ownership of ambiguous financial and operational problems that do not come with a playbookWho We're Looking ForWe’re looking for someone who is analytical, meticulous, curious, and unusually comfortable taking ownership.You might come from investment banking, consulting, FP&A, accounting, corporate finance, defense contracting, or an early-stage startup. We care less about having followed a particular career path than whether you can understand a complicated problem, work through the details, and produce something leadership can rely on.You should have:Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, engineering, or another analytically rigorous field0-3 years of relevant professional experienceStrong financial modeling and analytical skillsExcellent Excel or Google Sheets skillsStrong quantitative reasoning and attention to detailAbility to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance teammatesAbility to independently organize and execute ambiguous projectsStrong judgment and discretion when handling confidential informationA willingness to work across both strategic questions and unglamorous operational detailsGenuine interest in startups, robotics, aerospace, defense, or other technically complex businessesNice to HaveExperience with government contracting, FAR/DFARS environments, or government contract accountingFamiliarity with indirect rates, allowable costs, cost-plus contracts, fixed-price contracts, or government invoicingExperience with financial planning and forecastingExperience with QuickBooks, Unanet, Ramp/Rho, Rippling, or similar financial and operating systemsExperience supporting audits, diligence, or financial closeExperience building dashboards or automating financial workflowsAccounting coursework, CPA-track experience, or familiarity with GAAPExperience in aerospace, defense, robotics, manufacturing, or another hardware-intensive industryWhat Success Looks Like:Within your first year, we want you to become the person who can answer:What are we spending? Where are we spending it? How are we performing against plan? What will our financial position look like six or twelve months from now? How are individual programs performing financially? And what does leadership need to know to make the next decision?You will help take Pheratech from startup finance being something managed through spreadsheets, outside providers, and executive attention to a repeatable financial operating system capable of supporting a rapidly scaling company and increasingly complex government programs.Why PheratechThis is an opportunity to join early enough that you will not simply inherit a finance organization. You will help build one.You’ll work directly with company leadership, gain exposure to decisions that would typically sit several levels above an associate role, and develop experience spanning startup finance, government contracting, strategic planning, manufacturing, and company operations.As Pheratech grows, we expect the sophistication and scale of the finance function to grow with it.--This position will require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). Please note that any offer for employment will be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.