Head of Strategic Finance
WFA Digital Insight
As the demand for strategic finance leaders in the AI sector grows, with a reported 25% increase in job openings in 2025, professionals with expertise in financial planning and analysis are in high demand. Cohere, a pioneer in security-first enterprise AI, is seeking a Head of Strategic Finance to drive financial growth and inform business decisions. With the global AI market projected to reach
Job Description
About the Role
The Head of Strategic Finance at Cohere will play a critical role in driving the company's financial growth and success. This leadership position will own financial planning, business forecasting, product pricing strategy, and assist in fundraising initiatives. As a key member of the finance team, the successful candidate will work closely with the CFO, Executive Team, and other stakeholders to inform business decisions and drive operational performance.Cohere is a global technology company co-headquartered in Toronto and San Francisco, with key offices in London, New York City, Montreal, Seoul, Germany, and Paris. The company is committed to building cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that solve real-world business problems. As a leader in the AI sector, Cohere is passionate about its craft and is seeking a like-minded professional to join its team.
The Head of Strategic Finance will lead a team of finance professionals and will be responsible for providing financial insights and analysis to support contract negotiations, growth opportunities, and corporate strategy. This is a unique opportunity to join a company that is revolutionizing the AI sector and to play a key role in shaping its financial future.
What You Will Do
- Lead strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, and assist in fundraising strategy development
- Partner with the CFO and Investor Relations to prepare materials for fundraising, investor relations, and board reporting
- Partner with senior leadership to evaluate key business initiatives and provide financial analysis and insights
- Lead and perform financial analyses for strategic decisions, including Annual Operating Plan, M&A, strategic investments, partnerships, capital market transactions, and fundraising opportunities
- Provide recommendations to executive management based on financial and strategic implications of investment decisions
- Identify business drivers and risks and present them to the Executive Team
- Construct detailed ad-hoc analyses to support internal investment decision-making and fundraising efforts
- Manage the long-term planning process with a focus on operational and financial benchmarking
- Coordinate with the FP&A team to ensure alignment and effective financial planning
What We Are Looking For
- 15+ years of leadership experience in Strategic Finance, with a track record of building and scaling finance teams in high-growth environments
- Experience operating in a SaaS or similar technology organization, with an understanding of AI/ML market dynamics, pricing strategies, and enterprise sales cycles
- Deep knowledge of enterprise-level financial planning systems and experience with data visualization tools
- Proven track record of implementing finance governance frameworks and controls in a rapidly scaling environment
- Exceptional Excel and financial modeling skills, including M&A, capital markets, valuation, and fundraising modeling experience
- Experience with investor relations and capital raising activities
- Executive-level presentation and communication skills, with experience building relationships with cross-functional partners and inspiring trust across the organization
- Track record of success translating complex financial concepts into actionable business insights for non-financial stakeholders
Nice to Have
- Experience with AI/ML technologies and their applications in business
- Knowledge of cloud-based financial planning and analysis systems
- Certification in finance, such as CPA or CFA
- Experience with data analytics and visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and bonus structure
- Equity options and stock ownership
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits
- Generous PTO and vacation policy
- Remote work stipend and flexible working arrangements
- Professional development opportunities and training programs
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals
How to Stand Out
- Develop a strong understanding of financial modeling and analysis, including experience with Excel and data visualization tools
- Build a portfolio of your work, including examples of financial plans, forecasts, and analyses you have developed
- Prepare to discuss your experience with fundraising, investor relations, and capital raising activities
- Be ready to provide examples of your ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders
- Research the company and its competitors to demonstrate your understanding of the AI sector and its financial dynamics
- Practice your presentation skills, including your ability to present financial data and insights to executive-level stakeholders
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