Head of Finance

Are you a full‑stack finance leader who loves turning complexity into clear choices for executives and Boards? Do you thrive in high‑growth AI environments where the right operating model, systems, and narratives determine how fast the company can move? If you’re energized by building a modern Finance function, we’d love to talk.

As Head of Finance:  you will lead our Finance organization; own our company model and planning rhythm; strengthen our controllership and revenue practices; and be a key partner to our executive team on capital strategy and scaling the business.

At Ridgeline, how we work matters as much as what we build. Ridgeliners act like owners, choose growth over comfort, and communicate with transparency. We assume positive intent, bias toward action, and bring solutions—not just problems. We celebrate wins, learn from setbacks, and thrive in a resilient, collaborative, high‑performing culture. If the Ridgeline Way excites you, we’d love to meet you.

You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

The impact you will have:

Lead the Finance organization

• Directly manage leaders of FP&A & Operations, Accounting, Procurement & ComplianceClarify swim lanes, ownership, and interfaces across Finance and with executive partners in Product, GTM, G&A, and Operations.

Provide executive oversight and direction for controllership, revenue practices, audit readiness, and financial operations

• Ensure the company operates with rigor, transparency, and confidence by defining the governance model, operating cadence, and financial narratives used by the executive team and Board.
• Elevate financial discipline by designing scalable control, policy, and governance frameworks and holding functional leaders accountable for implementation
• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Security, HR, and other executives to shape entity strategy, support international/adjacent market expansion, and proactively manage enterprise risk.
• Ensure Ridgeline is prepared for future audits and capital events by driving the roadmap for systems, processes, talent, and external advisor relationships that enable clean audits and investor-ready financials.

Provide strategic leadership over the integrated company model and planning rhythm 

• Own the company financial model and planning cadence at the executive level, ensuring it is robust, scenario-based, and tightly aligned to Ridgeline’s strategy
• Translate Ridgeline’s strategy into clear, company-wide financial guardrails for growth, burn, headcount, and margin improvement, and hold leaders accountable for operating within them.
• Partner with the executive team to frame choices, pressure-test trade‑offs, and recommend decisions grounded in data, scenarios, and risk/reward
• Ensure operating reviews, QBRs, and Board materials are anchored in simple, accurate, and consistent financial narratives that connect metrics to actions and forward-looking plans, rather than just retrospective reporting.

Own the economic story: revenue quality, pricing, and unit economics

• Define and maintain the economic “source of truth” for the business—unit economics, LTV/CAC, payback, cohort behavior, and contribution margin.
• Partner with GTM and Product on pricing and packaging, discount governance, and deal structures that balance growth, margin, and risk.
• Provide clear, concise narratives around performance, variance drivers, and forward‑looking risk/opportunity.
• Work with senior leaders to develop and provide strategic guidance on new streams of revenue.

Lead capital strategy and external stakeholder engagement 

• Over time, become a key partner to our founders and executive team on capital allocation, fundraising strategy, and banking relationships.
• Prepare and evolve Board‑level and investor‑ready materials that explain Ridgeline’s financial trajectory in simple, compelling terms.
• Build trusted relationships with current and future investors, banks, and advisors
• Modernize Finance systems, data, and AI‑enabled workflows
• Champion automation and AI in close, forecasting, reporting, and variance analysis to reduce manual work and cycle times.
• Ensure Finance is seen as an early adopter and role model for leveraging AI to increase leverage, not a lagging function.

What we look for:

• 15+ years of Finance experience, including leadership of both FP&A and Accounting/Controllership in AI, SaaS, fintech, or technology.
• Prior experience as Head of Finance / VP Finance or equivalent with full‑stack ownership (planning, controllership, revenue, procurement).
• Demonstrated success operating in pre‑scale or scale‑up environments with evolving products and complex deals.
• Experience preparing for audit, late‑stage financing, or other capital events strongly preferred.
• Proven people leader who has built and developed high‑performing Finance teams and upleveled senior managers.
• Exceptional communication skills—you can explain complex financials simply and drive alignment with non‑finance leaders.
• Systems and automation mindset; familiarity with modern ERP, planning, and BI tools, and comfort championing AI‑enabled workflows.
• High bar for judgement, integrity, and ownership

About Ridgeline

Ridgeline is the first front-to-back system of record for investment managers. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Dave Duffield (co-founder of both PeopleSoft and Workday), the company was created to modernize an industry held back by outdated, disconnected technology. Powered by a single, real-time data set and embedded AI, Ridgeline helps firms automate complexity, accelerate collaboration, and deliver tailored client experiences at scale, without added headcount or risk. Ridgeline is headquartered in Lake Tahoe, with offices in New York, Reno, and the Bay Area, and is recognized by Fast Company as a “Best Workplace for Innovators,” by Frost & Sullivan as a “Technology Innovation Leader,” and by The Software Report as a “Top 100 Software Company.”

Ridgeline is proud to be a community-minded, discrimination-free equal opportunity workplace.

Ridgeline processes the information you submit in connection with your application in accordance with the Ridgeline Applicant Privacy Statement. Please review the Ridgeline Applicant Privacy Statement in full to understand our privacy practices and contact us with any questions.

Compensation and Benefits 

The typical starting salary range for new hires in this role is listed below.  In select locations (including, the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, and the New York City Metro Area), an alternate range may apply as specified below. 

The typical starting salary range for this role is: $228,000 - $285,000

The typical starting salary range for this role in the select locations listed above is: $251,000 - $313,500

Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amount listed above. 

As an employee at Ridgeline, you’ll have many opportunities for advancement in your career and can make a true impact on the product. 

In addition to the base salary, Ridgeline employees can participate in our Company Stock Plan subject to the applicable Stock Option Agreement. We also offer rich benefits that reflect the kind of organization we want to be: one in which our employees feel valued and are inspired to bring their best selves to work. These include unlimited vacation, educational and wellness reimbursements, and $0 cost employee insurance plans. Please check out our Careers page for a more comprehensive overview of our perks and benefits.

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