Head of Finance & Operation | Semiconductor/ AI Hardware | Salary: $220k - $312k

Head of Finance & Operation | Semiconductor/ AI Hardware | Salary: $220k - $312k + equity

Zanda is an Executive Search partner working exclusively with high‑growth start‑ups and scale‑ups as they strengthen their organisations with senior talent. Zanda partners with VCs, Founders, CEOs, and CFOs to deliver critical leadership appointments, on both an interim and permanent basis, at pivotal moments of growth.

Who Is The Business

We are partnering with a fast‑scaling AI hardware and deep‑tech business at the frontier of next‑generation compute, headquartered in the US. Backed by top‑tier investors and moving quickly from early‑stage to growth‑stage, the company has built strong technical credibility and is now investing heavily in the operational and financial backbone needed to support its next chapter. Finance sits at the centre of that story, and this hire will play a pivotal role in shaping how the business plans, forecasts, and scales.

What You’ll Do

You will lead the company’s FP&A function, driving financial planning, forecasting, modelling, budgeting, and reporting for a fast‑moving, engineering‑led organisation. This is a working‑manager role rather than a purely strategic one: you will oversee finance and accounting operations, including internal team members and external accountants handling accounts payable and receivable, while also rolling up your sleeves on the operational detail.

You will hone the company’s financial processes, systems, and internal controls, building the discipline and accountability the business needs without slowing down a fast‑moving engineering culture.

Working closely with cross‑functional leaders, you will bring financial clarity to decisions around hiring, purchasing, and team development, ensuring finance is felt as a partner rather than a blocker. You will also contribute to the company’s capital and equity strategy, including project finance and debt facility considerations, and support investor relations by ensuring Board and investor reporting is accurate and delivered on time.

As the finance function scales alongside the business, you will translate complex financial data into insights that non‑financial leaders can act on, presenting on financial health to the wider company where needed, and you will mentor and develop the team around you as it grows.

Experience Required

• 10+ years of experience in relevant finance roles
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• Startup experience and fluency in modern FinOps practices and systems
• Experience leading a team, or serving as a right hand to a CFO or senior finance leader
• Comfortable operating with both strategic oversight and hands‑on tactical execution
• MBA, CPA, or CMA a plus
• Experience supporting an engineering‑driven, hardware, or deep‑tech organisation a plus