Finance Manager

Magrathea Metals•Oakland, CA

26d•$120,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Magrathea, a global leader in critical mineral production technology based in Oakland, California, is seeking a Finance Manager to join their mission of rebuilding the magnesium metal supply base. The company utilizes a next-generation electrolytic process to produce magnesium metal from seawater and brines, aiming for industrial independence and environmental cleanliness. Magrathea is backed by prominent investors and the U.S. Department of Defense. This role is for individuals energized by challenging, consequential problems who want to make a lasting real-world impact. The Finance Manager will be a hands-on operational finance professional responsible for maintaining accurate and organized internal finances, ensuring smooth daily operations. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the role involves managing payments, financial records, and reporting, utilizing platforms like QuickBooks, Rippling, and Ramp. Key responsibilities include managing accounting workflows, payroll, expenses, cash administration, overseeing a fractional controller and external bookkeeping team, collaborating with a fractional CFO, and coordinating government grant reporting, invoicing, audits, and board financial information. The role will also involve close collaboration with the CEO on fundraising and strategic finance initiatives. The ideal candidate will be proactive, possess sound judgment, and approach details with a friendly, practical mindset.

Requirements

5+ years in operational finance, accounting, or finance operations, with direct responsibility for the day-to-day financial processes of a growing organization
Experience managing cash operations or financial workflows involving large dollar values (e.g. >$50M+) with clear approval controls and accurate records
Strong hands-on bookkeeping skills, including account reconciliations, transaction coding, financial reports, and month-end close
Hands-on experience using Rippling for payroll and employee administration, and Ramp for corporate cards, expenses, and bill payments
Comfort administering business banking and treasury platforms such as J. P. Morgan and Schwab, including payments, statements, cash balances, and access permissions
Experience coordinating a controller, external bookkeepers, and senior finance advisers, setting deadlines and reviewing their work for accuracy and completeness
Experience with government grant reporting, invoicing, and supporting records strongly preferred, particularly Department of War, Department of Energy, or similar federal awards
Experience coordinating financial or grant audits, organizing supporting documents, responding to auditor requests, and following findings through to resolution
Strong Microsoft Office skills, with the ability to reconcile data across systems and prepare clear cash, spending, and budget reports
Strong practical fluency with AI tools is essential for this role, including using them to analyze financial data, draft reports, investigate discrepancies, and improve everyday workflows
Demonstrated experience using AI to save time or improve work quality, with the judgment to verify outputs and recognize when accounting expertise or further investigation is needed
Working knowledge of accounting fundamentals, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and internal controls; able to investigate discrepancies and ask good questions
Comfort working in person with our Oakland team and communicating clearly with colleagues, vendors, accountants, auditors, and government contacts

Nice To Haves

Experience in a startup, manufacturing, hard technology, or an R&D organization, including project cost tracking or accounting across multiple entities

Responsibilities

Own the daily finance calendar and workflows, keeping payroll, accounts payable and receivable, expenses, close, and reporting on schedule
Manage our fractional controller and external bookkeeping team: set priorities, review deliverables, resolve open items, and hold partners accountable for quality and timeliness
Keep our books accurate and current; coordinate month-end close, review reconciliations, and resolve unsupported, unusual, or uncategorized transactions promptly
Manage vendor onboarding, invoices, purchase documentation, and payment preparation; verify payment details and obtain the required independent approvals before funds move
Administer payroll and related finance workflows in Rippling, coordinating employee changes with the Chief of Staff and reconciling payroll records with accounting
Manage Ramp card and expense workflows, collect supporting receipts, review coding and policy compliance, and resolve outstanding items with colleagues
Monitor cash and account activity; maintain a near-term cash forecast and execute treasury transactions within approved policies and authorities
Maintain payment approval workflows, appropriate system access, separation of duties, and audit trails
Prepare and coordinate government grant financial reports, invoices, and reimbursement requests; track award budgets, deadlines, supporting costs, and receivables
Work with technical leads and the controller to document labor, project expenses, cost allocations, and required cost share, and verify that billed costs meet award requirements
Manage recurring Department of War grant audits and other financial reviews: maintain organized evidence, coordinate responses, track requests, and follow corrective actions to completion
Prepare accurate financial information for leadership and board reporting, including cash balances, spending, budget variances, and grant status, tied back to source records
Coordinate with external finance advisers on tax filings, insurance renewals, and other financial administration; maintain complete records and a reliable deadline calendar
Support with purchasing, vendor coordination, process improvements, and other operational projects as needed, while keeping core finance commitments on track
Use AI to support transaction review, reconciliations, spending analysis, and identification of unusual activity, checking findings against underlying financial records
Develop repeatable AI-assisted workflows and practical automations that reduce manual data entry, document chasing, and repetitive reporting; document these processes so others can use them
Prepare straightforward financial analyses for hiring, equipment purchases, vendor proposals, and other operating decisions