Head of finance operations, performance & strategy

Company Overview:

Akila is a rapidly growing cloud-based ESG digital twin platform that commenced its go-to-market operations in 2022. We operate globally in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Europe/Middle East, and the US, and anticipate significant expansion.

As part of our continued growth, we seek a skilled and dynamic Financial Strategy Manager specializing in operational finance and performance management.

Role Summary:

We are seeking a highly talented and motivated Head of finance operations, performance & strategy to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be a business school graduate equipped with a demonstrable track record and expertise in corporate finance, investment, and fundraising arenas.

The primary responsibilities will revolve around refining the existing financial and legal infrastructure, challenging conventional systems, and ensuring rigorous and efficient control over operational finances.

This role will also encompass performance management, focusing on crucial KPIs relevant to a SaaS-based company.

Moreover, the position will involve crafting a comprehensive financing strategy, executing fundraising plans, and managing shareholder relations while enhancing reporting standards and protocols.

The candidate will report to the President office.

Key Responsibilities:

1、Financial Operations:

• Structural Foundation: Develop and implement robust structural foundations for finance, legal, HR and contract management operations, aligned with the strategic goals of the startup and the support of Aden group specialized departments and experts.
• Process Standardization: Standardize financial, legal, and contract management processes to ensure consistency and compliance across all geographical areas, streamlining operations for optimal efficiency.
• Collaboration with Group Support: Work closely with the Group Financial Director, the Group HR team, the Group Legal Team, and Contract Management professionals to leverage their expertise and support in implementing standardized processes, ensuring alignment with group policies.
• Rules Definition: Define and establish specific rules and guidelines tailored to the unique requirements of the startup, with a particular emphasis on contract management standards.
• Contract Lifecycle Management: Oversee the development and implementation of robust contract lifecycle management processes, from initiation and negotiation to execution and compliance monitoring.
• Alignment of finance objectives with the CRM: Oversee the seamless integration of contract management operations into the CRM for new business initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that contractual obligations align with established standards and enable accurate financial reporting. In partnership with the Chief of Staff, the Finance Operations Director holds the responsibility to guarantee that all commercial data entered into the CRM aligns precisely with the information required by the finance team. The overarching goal is to establish a single source of truth for both existing and new contracts.
• Intelligence with HQ Team: Foster a culture of collaboration and open communication with the Headquarters (HQ) team, ensuring that contract management operations align with the overall strategic vision and goals of the organization.
• Technology Implementation: Evaluate, recommend, and implement appropriate contract management technologies and systems to enhance operational efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Sales commission management coordination: Additionally, in close coordination with the Chief of Staff and the management, establish and manage a robust system for monitoring and managing sales commissions based on performance. The Finance head holds the responsibility to ensure accurate and transparent recording of sales commissions in alignment with financial goals and company policies.

2、Finance operation

• Planning and budgeting: responsible for developing a company’s financial plans and managing the budgeting process. This includes forecasting revenue and expenses, allocating capital, building financial models, and analyzing financial metrics. By creating accurate financial plans and forecasts, this role can help the company achieve more predictable and reliable financial results. Through the budget-to-actual process, this role demonstrates to management that they do what they say they will thereby creating and maintaining trust with investors and creditors.
• Financial performances: responsible for providing insights into the company’s current financial performance, including revenue, expenses, and cash flow. By developing and implementing SaaS-specific financial reporting tools, this role can ensure that the company receives timely, accurate, and actionable information to inform wise decision-making.
• Managing financial operations: we term this “turning on the headlights,” which transfers financial focus from record-keeping to a forward-facing strategy. This role will create detailed financial forecasts to guide long-term strategy which acts as a blueprint to help the company know exactly what performance metrics, they need to hit to achieve their short and long-term goals and help regularly review finance documents with company stakeholders to adjust strategy as needed.
• Cash management: in charge of the company’s treasury and cash management, including forecasting and monitoring cash flow, managing working capital, and ensuring that the company has access to ample capital resources.
• Pricing strategy development: responsible for developing and implementing a pricing strategy that enables the business to sustainably monetize its SaaS offerings. This role will work closely with Chief staff to understand market demand and other factors affecting price elasticity, such as competitive trends.
• Risk management: identify and mitigate the risks that could hamper company growth and profitability. Ensuring the company has the right insurance coverage and sales tax policies, managing foreign exchange risk, and reducing exposure to regulatory risks.

3、SaaS Business Performance Analysis

• Utilizes industry specific knowledge to develop and implement robust performance management frameworks to assess and optimize operational efficiency, revenue generation, and cost controls.
• Spearhead the creation of comprehensive KPIs and performance metrics tailored to a SaaS business model, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Analyze financial data and provide actionable insights to drive strategic decision-making, emphasizing growth and profitability.
• Conduct in-depth analyses of financial performance, market trends, and competitor benchmarks to identify growth opportunities and potential risks.
• Translate financial data into actionable business intelligence, providing recommendations for improvements and optimizations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on performance analysis and market dynamics.

4、Shareholder and Investor Strategy

• Shareholder value: implement strategies that maximize shareholder value and profitability. However, short-term profitability may need to be sacrificed to maximize long-term shareholder value. This role guides the business on what levers to pull and when by scenario modeling for the best possible returns. To deploy the best strategy, this role will analyze the sales revenue streams, subscription pricing models, cash flow needs, vendor contracts, profit margins, staffing needs, and customer acquisition costs. This role can also identify areas of business that are not generating a positive return on investment and recommend changes to improve profitability.
• Raising capital: help prepare the necessary reports and models to present to lenders and investors, as well as determining valuations and helping to seek and interact with potential investors to secure the funding need.
• Identify potential investors, conduct due diligence, and lead the preparation of investment decks and materials.
• Engage in negotiations with investors and oversee reporting processes to stakeholders’ post-investment.

5、Reporting and Stakeholder Management:

Prepare and deliver insightful financial reports and presentations for senior management and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of key financial insights.

Serve as a liaison with investors, shareholders, and external parties on financial matters, maintaining transparency and fostering strong relationships.

6、Company Culture Inclusion:

At Akila and Aden Group, we recognize that success is not solely based on technical skills but extends to soft skills and our unique "company culture." We value diversity, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a work environment that encourages creativity and professional growth. Prospective candidates are invited to consider this important aspect of our workplace culture, where individuals are empowered to contribute meaningfully to our collective success.

Requirements:

1. A business school graduate with a degree in Finance, Accounting, or related fields.
2. Proven experience (6-8 years) in corporate finance, investment, and fundraising roles within specific experience in the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry
3. Expertise in financial management, budgeting, financial analysis, and strategic planning.
4. Strong understanding of SaaS metrics and the ability to drive performance improvements.
5. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
6. Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
7. Experience in managing stakeholder relationships and investor interactions.