Director, Strategic Finance
$184k - $255k USD
About Upstart
At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.
As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.
We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.
If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.
The Role:
Upstart is building innovative products that expand access to credit. The Finance team plays a critical role in shaping business decisions, aligning strategy with execution, and ensuring financial discipline as products scale.
This Director, Strategic Finance will serve as the primary day-to-day finance and strategy partner to the Small Dollar Loan leadership team, providing analytical insight, financial rigor, and cross-functional coordination as the business evolves. The role spans strategic planning, business analytics, financial performance management, and execution of high-impact initiatives.
You will operate at the center of decision-making—developing business cases, diagnosing performance trends, and helping translate strategy into action across Product, Engineering, Operations, Capital Markets, Analytics, and Go-To-Market teams.
How you’ll make an impact
Strategic Partnership & Business Leadership
- Serve as the primary finance and strategy partner to SDL business leaders, ensuring alignment between strategy, financial outcomes, and execution
- Act as a connective tissue across Product, Engineering, Operations, Analytics, Capital Markets, and GTM teams to drive clarity and accountability
- Facilitate structured prioritization and trade-off discussions to focus resources on the highest-impact initiatives
Strategy Development & Financial Analysis
- Identify, evaluate, and size strategic opportunities, growth initiatives, and investment decisions
- Build rigorous business cases, financial models, and scenario analyses to support go/no-go decisions
- Partner with cross-functional teams to scope initiatives, align stakeholders, and drive recommendations through execution
Business Performance Management & Insights
- Own ongoing financial and operational performance tracking for the SDL business
- Monitor key metrics, identify emerging trends or risks, and lead root-cause analyses when performance deviates from expectations
- Translate complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations for senior leadership
Financial Planning & Operational Rigor
- Support short- and long-term financial planning, forecasting, and budget management for the SDL business
- Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and transparency
- Improve reporting, tooling, and analytical infrastructure to support scalable decision-making
Minimum Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in Strategic Finance, FP&A, Corporate Finance, Business Operations, or a similar analytical role
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build and interpret complex financial and operational models
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and/or Google Sheets; experience with SQL and BI tools such as Looker, Tableau, or Mode
- Proven track record of partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Operations, and GTM teams
- Experience building business cases, evaluating investments, and managing performance through KPIs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment
- Comfort working in ambiguous, evolving environments and translating strategy into execution
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in fintech, lending, consumer finance, subscription, or technology-enabled marketplaces
- Experience with forecasting, cohort-based economics, unit economics, or credit-driven business models.
- MBA or advanced degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field.
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote
Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.
Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-Director
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).
United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range
$184,000—$255,000 USD
What you'll love
At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
- Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
- Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
- Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
- Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
- Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
- Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
- Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
- Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
- Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email candidate_accommodations@upstart.com