Director of Finance

FleetPulse • Chicago, IL

22h • Onsite

About The Position

This is a high-impact, first-in-seat finance role at FleetPulse, an inflection-point company. The Director of Finance will be responsible for building the finance function from scratch, owning the end-to-end monthly close process, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, tax and compliance, forecasting and budgeting, and finance systems and infrastructure. The role requires a strategic partner to the CEO, involved in business model decisions, commercial deal structures, board preparation, and investor reporting. The ideal candidate will be a builder, energized by creating structure and process, and will set the direction for how finance operates at FleetPulse for years to come. The company has strong investor backing and major OEM distribution partnerships, indicating a steep growth trajectory.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive finance experience, including direct ownership of accounting close, financial reporting, and FP&A functions.
• Prior experience as the senior-most finance resource at a startup or growth-stage company; ideally SaaS or technology.
• Hands-on experience owning tax compliance and working with external tax advisors.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or managing an ERP migration (QuickBooks Online Advanced, or similar).
• Strong financial modeling skills; advanced Excel or Google Sheets proficiency required.
• Strong perspective on leveraging AI in Finance function.
• Based in Chicago, IL.
• Equally comfortable closing the books and building a five-year model; doesn’t wait to be asked and doesn’t outsource what can be done in-house (Full-Stack Finance Ownership).
• Has a strong point of view on how finance operations should run, the tools that support them, and the discipline to implement improvements without needing a large team (Systems & Process Builder).
• Can work through complexity in financial data, identify what’s driving variances, and communicate insights clearly to non-finance stakeholders (Analytical Rigor).
• Has operated in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment and understands the trade-offs between speed, rigor, and scale (Startup Fluency).
• Comfortable at the CEO’s side for board prep, investor conversations, and business model discussions—not just reporting on what happened, but shaping what comes next (Strategic Partner).
• Brings an uncompromising standard to financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance—without letting perfect be the enemy of good (High Integrity).
• “Let’s figure it out!!” attitude — bias for action and relentless problem-solving.
• Builder mentality — energized by creating structure and process where there isn’t any yet.
• Humble, low-ego, curious, and resilient.
• Energized by ambiguity; motivated by hard problems and real ownership.
• Resonates with FleetPulse’s mission to unlock the full profit potential of every trailer.
• Deep care about accuracy, integrity, and doing things right the first time.
• Fits into a fast-moving, collaborative culture that values debate, accountability, and kindness.

Nice To Haves

• CPA strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end monthly close process—managing journal entries, account reconciliations, and variance analysis—and deliver accurate financials to leadership on a consistent, predictable schedule.
• Prepare and present monthly and quarterly financial packages for the CEO and board, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and KPI dashboards.
• Establish and enforce accounting policies and internal controls appropriate for a high-growth SaaS company.
• Own and continuously improve the AR process: invoicing, collections, aging management, and customer billing reconciliation.
• Reduce DSO and ensure cash collection keeps pace with revenue growth.
• Own the AP process: vendor onboarding, invoice approval workflows, payment runs, and expense management.
• Drive efficiency while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
• Identify process gaps and implement improvements—whether through better tooling, automation, or tightened workflows—to scale AR and AP without proportional headcount growth.
• Manage all federal, state, and local tax filings (income tax, sales tax, payroll tax) in coordination with external tax advisors; ensure FleetPulse is fully compliant across all jurisdictions.
• Maintain corporate records and manage audit readiness; coordinate annual audits or reviews with external accountants.
• Stay ahead of tax planning opportunities relevant to a venture-backed SaaS company (R&D tax credits, state nexus, etc.).
• Lead the annual budget process: partner with department heads to build a bottoms-up operating plan that is realistic, aligned to strategic priorities, and board-ready.
• Maintain a rolling 12-month financial forecast, updating assumptions based on actuals and business developments; surface risks and opportunities proactively.
• Own cash flow forecasting and runway visibility; keep the CEO informed of treasury position at all times.
• Build and maintain financial models that support strategic decisions—pricing, headcount, new customer economics, and capital allocation.
• Evaluate, select, and implement an ERP system that scales with FleetPulse’s growth—owning the full lifecycle from vendor selection through migration and go-live.
• Define and manage the broader finance tech stack (billing, expense management, payroll, etc.) to support a lean, automated operation.
• Serve as the internal owner of financial data integrity and reporting infrastructure.
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO on business model decisions, commercial deal structures, board preparation, and investor reporting.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Customer Success, and Operations to ensure financial processes support (rather than impede) the business.
• Support future fundraising processes, including data room preparation, financial due diligence, and investor communications.

Benefits

• Opportunity to build a function from scratch at an inflection-point company.
• Direct access to the CEO and full context on strategy, customers, and roadmap — no layers, no politics.
• Strong investor backing and major OEM distribution partnerships put FleetPulse on a steep growth trajectory.
• Work with a team that moves fast, balances ambition with sustainability, and makes room for diverse perspectives (no hierarchy).
• Real ownership: you’ll set the direction for how finance works at FleetPulse for years to come.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed