Finance & Strategy Manager

Kai is the AI company rebuilding cybersecurity for the machine-speed era. Founded by second time founders and trusted by Fortune 500 enterprises, Kai is building a future where security has no categories, no silos, and no human speed bottlenecks. The Kai Agentic AI Platform replaces fragmented, human-limited workflows with agentic AI systems that continuously contextualize, assess, reason, and execute security work at machine speed - making human defenders, superhuman.

Why Join Kai

• Well-funded: With $125M raised, we have the capital, runway, and resolve to rebuild cybersecurity from first principles.

• Proven: We've earned the trust of Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, and we're just getting started. Their confidence in Kai reflects what we've built: an AI-powered cybersecurity platform that performs at the scale and speed the enterprise demands.

• Experienced founders: Our founding team consists of second-time entrepreneurs, each with over 20 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry. Their proven expertise and vision drive our ambitious goals.

• World-class leadership team: Our Heads of AI, Engineering, and Product bring extensive experience from some of the world's most influential companies, ensuring top-tier mentorship, direction, and vision.

• Frontier AI Applied Research Team: Our researchers operate at the leading edge of agentic AI systems, translating breakthrough capabilities into real-world cybersecurity applications.

• Generous compensation: We offer highly competitive salaries, equity options, and a supportive work environment. Your contributions will be valued and rewarded as we grow together.

We are seeking a highly analytical, strategic, and detail-oriented Corporate Finance & Strategy Manager to join our finance team. This role is critical in driving our financial strategy, ensuring robust financial health, and supporting key business decisions.


The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation from either a Big 4 accounting firm, corporate finance or an investment banking background, combining rigorous financial modeling skills with a deep understanding of corporate finance. This is a 5-day per week, in office role in our San Jose, CA location.

Why This Role Matters


As a Corporate Finance & Strategy Manager at Kai, you will be the cornerstone of our financial forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning processes during a period of hyper-growth. You will partner closely with cross-functional leaders to develop and track Go-To-Market (GTM) metrics, manage headcount planning, and ensure our financial models accurately reflect the dynamic nature of our rapidly scaling business. Additionally, you will play a pivotal role in liaising with external auditors and tax professionals to support compliance and regulatory requirements as we expand our enterprise footprint.

What You'll Do

• Financial Forecasting and Budgeting: Lead the end-to-end annual budgeting and ongoing forecasting processes. Develop comprehensive, dynamic financial models that project revenue, expenses, and cash flow, serving as the single source of truth for financial performance expectations.

• Go-To-Market (GTM) Metrics and Forecasting: Partner with sales and marketing to design, implement, and monitor key GTM metrics (e.g., CAC, LTV, pipeline velocity, sales productivity).

• Headcount Planning and Resource Allocation: Collaborate with HR and department heads to manage the company's headcount plan. Forecast personnel costs, evaluate the financial impact of hiring decisions, and track actual headcount against budget to ensure alignment with strategic priorities.

• Tax and Audit Support: Act as a key liaison for external audits and tax requests. Prepare necessary financial schedules, ensure data integrity, and collaborate with the accounting team to address inquiries from auditors and tax advisors, ensuring smooth compliance.

• Strategic Business Partnering: Provide actionable insights and variance analysis to senior leadership, translating complex financial data into clear recommendations that drive strategic business decisions.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in relevant finance roles (ideally investment banking, accounting, or corporate finance).

• Exceptional financial modeling skills with advanced proficiency in Excel. Ability to build complete, dynamic models from scratch. Experience with modern Finance ERP systems highly desirable.

• Deep understanding of GAAP, financial statements, and corporate finance principles. Familiarity with SaaS or enterprise software GTM metrics is a strong plus.

• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. A proactive, problem-solving mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. CPA or CFA designation is a plus (but not necessary).