Head of Strategic FP&A

About the role

Substack is seeking an experienced and strategic financial leader to develop, lead, and execute our long-term financial planning initiatives. This role is critical in shaping the company's financial future, building an AI-driven finance team, and overseeing the budgeting and forecasting processes. You will work closely with the executive leadership team to define the business model for independent media, ensuring financial strategies align with overall company goals. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in finance, strategic planning, and team management, with a focus on leveraging automation and modern data workflows to enhance financial operations. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence the company's growth trajectory and operational efficiency through innovative financial practices.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Build and lead a high-performing FP&A team, establishing a strong organizational culture and clear career development pathways, while actively participating in strategic initiatives.
• Design and implement an AI-powered, technologically advanced FP&A organization that utilizes automation and modern data workflows to improve financial modeling, reporting, and analysis.
• Oversee Substack's annual budget cycle, including the development of detailed budgets and quarterly re-forecasts, working collaboratively with department heads to ensure operational budgets are aligned with strategic objectives.
• Implement spending discipline by establishing monthly budget vs. actuals reporting, analyzing variances, and proposing risk mitigation strategies to maintain financial health.
• Maintain and continuously improve Substack's multi-year corporate financial model, translating strategic objectives into detailed financial plans and forecasts.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of platform economics, including creator monetization, subscription rates, payment margins, and other key metrics, to inform pricing strategies and investment decisions.
• Prepare comprehensive financial reports and presentations for executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and investors, supporting potential capital raises and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline planning processes, ensuring data accuracy and consistency across all financial reports and models.
• Lead efforts to incorporate automation and AI workflows into financial planning and analysis, increasing efficiency and allowing the team to focus on strategic problem-solving.
• Support the company's growth by providing insights and recommendations based on financial data, helping guide decision-making at the highest levels.
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in FP&A, continuously seeking ways to innovate and improve financial processes.

Requirements

• 5-10 years of experience, beginning with a top-tier investment bank (Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs), private equity firm, or management consulting firm (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), followed by strategic finance or FP&A experience at a fast-growing technology company.
• Preferred top-tier undergraduate or MBA degree (HBS, Stanford, Wharton).
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, manage, and mentor quantitative talent, setting high operational standards and scaling teams efficiently.
• Strong interest and experience in leveraging AI workflows, automation, and modern tools to increase team efficiency and focus on strategic analysis.
• Proven experience building and managing company-wide annual budgeting cycles, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and streamlining planning processes.
• Advanced financial modeling skills, with the ability to manipulate large datasets and translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of translating complex financial data into clear, persuasive recommendations for executive leadership and the Board.
• Experience working in or understanding of the media, content platform, or independent publishing industry is a plus.
• Familiarity with international trade considerations or ITAR regulations is advantageous but not required.

Nice to have

• Experience working with Snowflake, Looker, Python, R, or other modern FP&A tools.
• Knowledge of AI applications in finance or automation workflows.
• Prior experience in a high-growth tech environment with a focus on scaling finance teams.
• Understanding of the creator economy and platform economics.
• Experience working with international teams or global financial operations.

Skills & tools

• Financial Modeling
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Variance Analysis
• Data Manipulation
• AI Workflows
• Automation
• Strategic Planning

Practical notes

Substack offers a competitive salary package, including equity options for all full-time employees, along with comprehensive benefits. The final offer amount will be determined based on the candidate's experience, skills, and fit for the role. The company values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. The role is based in San Francisco at the company's headquarters, and the position is on-site. Substack encourages candidates to apply who are eager to make a significant impact on the company's financial strategy and growth.