Head of Finance & Operations

Emerald AI • Washington, DC

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Emerald AI is seeking a Head of Finance & Operations to serve as the company’s senior financial and operational leader. This role will be responsible for owning the financial health, operational infrastructure, and internal scaling systems of the business as we grow rapidly in the AI and energy technology space.
You will be partnering closely with the CEO and leadership team to drive disciplined growth, capital efficiency, and operational excellence. You will be responsible for building and scaling the finance and operations function to support Emerald AI’s next phase of growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; CPA, CMA, MBA, or equivalent preferred.
• 8–12+ years of experience in finance and operations.
• Proven experience owning financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting in a venture-backed startup environment.
• Hands-on experience with fundraising, investor relations, and VC-backed company operations.
• Strong understanding of startup financial management, including burn, runway, unit economics, and scaling considerations.
• Experience designing and scaling operational processes and systems.
• Knowledge of compliance, risk management, and corporate governance best practices.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and moving quickly in a fast-paced startup environment.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience as a first or early finance leader at a Seed–Series B startup, including building finance and operations functions from scratch.
• Previous experience helping scale a company from pre-revenue or early revenue to meaningful ARR.

Responsibilities

• Own the company’s financial strategy, aligning capital allocation, operating plans, and long-term objectives with overall business goals.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis, delivering clear, actionable insights to the leadership team.
• Manage cash flow, burn, and runway planning to ensure financial stability and capital efficiency.
• Develop and maintain robust financial models to support strategic decision-making and scenario planning.
• Partner with the CEO on fundraising strategy, including preparation of financial models, investor materials, and due diligence.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for investors on financial reporting, metrics, and business performance updates.
• Design and implement scalable operational systems and processes across finance, vendors, and internal workflows.
• Identify operational risks and inefficiencies, proactively implementing solutions to support rapid growth.
• Oversee accounting, expense management, and financial systems (e.g., ERP, budgeting tools).
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, tax requirements, and corporate governance best practices.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls, audit readiness, and accurate financial reporting.
• Build, mentor, and scale the finance and operations team over time.

Benefits

• Make an impact. Solve the AI power bottleneck and shape how data centers scale sustainably.
• Join a world-class team of AI, cloud, software, and energy experts in a collaborative, low-ego environment.
• Build from 0→1. Influence strategy, GTM, org design, and customer/investor engagement from day one.
• Competitive pay + equity. Stock options let you share in the value you help create.
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) matching.
• Flexible location. Work from D.C., Boston, or the Bay Area, with 1 WFH day/week.
• Backed by top investors, including Radical Ventures and NVIDIA.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive