Strategic Finance Program Manager

Collectors • Santa Ana, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Collectors is looking for a highly organized, execution-oriented Programs Manager to join our Finance, Strategy and Corporate Development team. This role will lead high-priority, cross-functional programs as we execute on M&A and build the infrastructure, reporting capabilities, and operational processes needed to support our next phase of growth. You will serve as the connective tissue across Finance, Accounting, Legal, IT, and Operations keeping complex, multi-workstream programs aligned, accountable, and moving at pace. You'll report to the VP of Corporate Development, Strategy & IR and work from our Santa Ana, CA corporate headquarters.

Requirements

• 4–7 years of experience in finance, strategy, management consulting, investment banking, private equity or a related field.
• Prior exposure to finance transformation, controls buildout, scaled reporting infrastructure, or complex cross-functional program management strongly preferred.
• Exceptional project manager - you can build and hold together a complex, multi-workstream program under pressure and drive accountability across teams without direct authority.
• Strong financial acumen; comfortable navigating financial reporting, accounting concepts, and operational finance discussions at a credible level of depth.
• Clear and confident communicator with the ability to distill complexity into executive-ready materials; polished written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role.
• High ownership mentality with a bias toward action - you anticipate problems before they escalate, drive clarity from ambiguity, and don't wait to be told what to do.
• Collaborative team player who builds trust quickly across functions and seniority levels, including working effectively with C-suite leaders and external advisors.
• Experience in a high-growth, private equity-backed, or pre-IPO environment strongly preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Financial Modeling (3-statements, valuation, scenario modeling), Excel/Sheets and AI tools; familiarity with financial systems (e.g., NetSuite) a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field required; MBA or CPA a plus.

Nice To Haves

• Prior exposure to finance transformation, controls buildout, scaled reporting infrastructure, or complex cross-functional program management strongly preferred.
• Experience in a high-growth, private equity-backed, or pre-IPO environment strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with financial systems (e.g., NetSuite) a plus.
• MBA or CPA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead process design and documentation across key finance and operations workstreams, identifying gaps between current-state practices and scaled, institutional standards.
• Coordinate controls readiness across the organization, including tracking documentation, testing timelines, and remediation plans in partnership with Accounting and Internal Audit.
• Track and drive resolution of open items related to financial statement presentation, disclosure requirements, and accounting policy decisions across the organization.
• Support the development of board and audit committee reporting packages that demonstrate financial discipline and reporting maturity.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort, increase automation, and build repeatable, scalable processes across Finance as the company grows.
• Own end-to-end program management of M&A diligence processes - build / maintain detailed workstream trackers and coordinate across functional teams (Finance, Legal, Operations, HR, etc.) to ensure diligence is completed on schedule and to a high standard.
• Synthesize diligence findings across workstreams into concise executive summaries and relevant materials for senior leadership review.
• Develop and maintain a rigorous issues and risk log; surface critical diligence findings and blockers proactively to drive resolution in partnership with senior leadership and workstream owners.
• Lead integration program management for acquired businesses — design and maintain the integration roadmap, establish governance cadences, and track progress against key milestones from Day 1 planning through steady-state operations.
• Translate high-level integration strategy into detailed, actionable workstream plans; hold workstream owners accountable for deliverables.
• Prepare regular integration status updates for relevant senior stakeholders, distilling complex multi-workstream progress into clear narratives.
• Design and run governance cadences across active programs - standing meetings, status reviews, and decision-making forums - ensuring the right people are in the room and outcomes are clearly documented.
• Prepare program status updates, executive-ready presentations, and materials for key milestones including CFO reviews, audit committee meetings, and advisor sessions.
• Build and maintain a communication framework that keeps cross-functional stakeholders informed of program progress, key decisions, and action item ownership.
• Translate complex, multi-workstream program status into clear narratives and crisp visual formats for senior leadership consumption.
• Serve as the institutional knowledge base for active programs — maintaining documentation, tracking decisions, and ensuring knowledge continuity as teams scale and scope evolves.
• Manage coordination with external advisors, including legal counsel, financial advisors, and consultants, to ensure deliverables are on track, well-organized, and integrated into the master program plan.
• Serve as the institutional memory for active programs – maintaining documentation, tracking decisions, and ensuring knowledge continuity as teams scale and scope evolves.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: All full-time employees are eligible to enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• Additional Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for fertility, commuter, and educational assistance benefits.
• 401(K) Matching Plan: We are proud to offer a competitive 401k matching plan to our employees to support their future financial goals.
• Vacation: All salaried employees are eligible for flexible time-off.
• Holiday Pay: All regular, full-time employees are eligible for ten company paid holidays.
• Employee Discounts: Employees receive discounts on select grading services for approved submissions.
• Flexible Hours: Many of our teams offer flexible schedules with varying shifts and will work with you to accommodate your needs.
• Fun Working Environment: Our team members are invited to participate in celebrations, holiday events, and team building activities.

What This Job Offers

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