Director, Finance & Accounting

Director, Finance & Accounting

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Finance is responsible for owning all aspects of financial operations at Parallel. You will manage FP&A, oversee accounting operations, and prepare the company for financial audits. You will also function as the key interface with banks, insurance brokers, and stock-based compensation platforms.   The ideal candidate will be experienced in creating workflows and introducing new financial tools. This is a role at an early-stage technology company and we’re looking for a trusted partner that works well in uncertainty and can help build our organization. 
 
The role is based on site in Los Angeles, CA. 

Responsibilities: 

• Manage all accounting operations including accounts payable, receivables, payroll, and taxes. 
• Lead the company financial planning and analysis and own the company’s long-term financial model, ensuring it can withstand investor and lender scrutiny. 
• Model cash flow scenarios and financials to establish capital needs. 
• Manage tools and processes for expense management, billing, and accounting. 
• Coordinate the preparation of annual, and monthly financial reports 
• Develop KPIs to monitor operational and financial performance of the company. 
• Conduct audits of company expenditures, liabilities, and assets.  
• Drive audit process in timely and efficient manner. Partner with executive team to raise capital. 
• Partner with the CEO to raise capital, including building investor materials, supporting fundraising diligence, and attending investor meetings. 
• Support the Company’s Board of Directors with financial projections and analysis 
• Secure and manage federal and state grants 
• Acquire and maintain compliance with debt opportunities. 
• Build relationships with banking institutions, venture capital, and government organizations. 
• Ensure company compliance with tax laws. 
• Manage financial risks and opportunities. 
• Prepare invoices for customers and government agencies in compliance with federal regulations. 
• Serve as a thought partner across the business, diving into technical program assumptions to ensure the financial model reflects the company’s operating reality. 

What Success Looks Like: 

• After 30 Days: You will be familiar with all business systems (including QuickBooks, Bill.com, Fyle, ODOO, Carta, Rippling Payroll, and bank credit card systems), developed a working relationship with offshore resources that perform transactional accounting, and understand how your role supports each functional area including Executive, Sales, Engineering, Operations, IT and HR. You will be familiar with the project plan to integrate ODOO with QBO and support 3-way match control and have reviewed the company’s existing long-term financial model to begin refining ownership of it. 
• After 60 Days: You will have successfully closed at least one fiscal month and reviewed and approved all financial statements, key account reconciliations, and submission to investor portals. You will have submitted cost reimbursement invoices to the DOE VIPER systems in compliance with grant regulations. You will have full ownership over the company’s financial model and drive though leadership on refinement where necessary. 
• After 90 Days: You will understand the debt and working capital agreements. You will have performed the stock-based compensation expense calculation in Carta. You may have participated in an equity raise, posted the transaction, and reconciled the GL to the Cap Table as part of each quarter-end closing process. You will be the clear owner of the company’s long-term financial model, ensuring it serves FP&A, fundraising, and strategic decision-making needs. 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field. 
• Prior financial audit experience. 
• 8+ years of experience in accounting, budgeting, and financial modeling. 
• Experience with manufacturing, inventory, and working capital management. 
• Prior experience with finance in a startup environment. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with manufacturing cost accounting & subscription revenue accounting. 
• 3+ years of investment banking experience (or equivalent modeling-intensive role). 
• Experience raising venture capital or debt. 
• Experience with mergers and acquisitions. 
• Experience with strategic partnerships. 
• Excel wizardry: ability to build and defend models from scratch. 
• Previous exposure to U.S. Government programs (grant or contract-based).