Senior Finance Associate
$135k - $165k USD
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.
Our Values
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Move Fast: We act with speed and precision, breaking down big challenges into achievable steps.
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Focus: We complete one goal at a time with care, collaborating as a team to deliver features with precision.
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Balance: Sustained performance comes from rest and recovery. We ensure a healthy work-life balance to keep you at your best.
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Craftsmanship: Innovation through excellence. Every detail matters, and we take pride in mastering our craft.
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Minimal: Simplicity drives our innovation. We eliminate complexity through discipline and focus on what truly matters.
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 either San Francisco or New York City with in-office requirements of 2 days per week. The salary range for this role is $135,000-$165,000.
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
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- 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)
Benefits and Perks
We offer competitive base salaries and equity with a 25% one year cliff and monthly vesting thereafter. For our international employees, we work with our EOR to pay you in your local currency and provide equitable benefits across the globe.
In the US, we offer:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Life and AD&D insurance
- Flexible paid time off including winter closure
- Paid family leave benefits
- $500 one time home office stipend
- $1,000 annual learning & development stipend
- 100% Citibike membership (NYC only)
- $45/month gym membership
- Additional various medical and mental health services
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.