Financial Lead

About Us

Academia.edu is a venture-backed, for-profit, and profitable company based in San Francisco. We are recognized as the world’s leading platform for researchers and scholars to share work, discover research, and connect with academics globally. Our bold vision is to democratize and accelerate the world's research, enhancing the speed of scientific discovery and technological progress for the benefit of everyone. We imagine a world where accessing academic papers is effortless, keeping track of cutting-edge research is seamless and collaborating with researchers is easier than ever before. Our platform empowers millions of scholars worldwide to push the boundaries of human understanding. We believe that academic research is a lever that improves the progress of humanity, and our commitment to this mission drives everything we do.

Join us as we continue to redefine what's possible in the world of research. Discover careers that challenge, inspire and propel you toward a future where your ideas can truly change the world. At Academia.edu, we're not just shaping the future of research—we're shaping the future of possibilities.

Please note that this role is in the San Francisco Bay Area

Our office comes alive on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays! Three times a week, our Bay Area team gathers in our office located in San Francisco's Financial District (580 California St) for All Hands meetings, collaborative sessions, innovation-driven brainstorming, and events that bring us closer together. Our space has everything we need—from cozy rooms for 1:1 mentoring and focused work to larger rooms designed for team activities.

Your Role

As a Financial Analyst, you’ll play a critical role in shaping our financial strategy and operational efficiency. You will be responsible for delivering actionable insights that drive key decisions across departments. This is a hands-on role for someone who is excited to roll up their sleeves and make an immediate impact.

Responsibilities

• Develop budget and own the reforecast process with cross-functional stakeholders

• Manage communication with key stakeholders to align on company initiatives and to ensure budgets/forecasts are in line with overall business goals and objectives

• Monitor actuals compared to budgets/forecasts, perform variance analysis, and identify opportunities for improvement

• Prepare monthly management reports for senior management and present key findings, risks, and opportunities

• Identify and implement opportunities to optimize and improve budgeting/forecasting processes and reporting

• Build and maintain financial models to evaluate business scenarios, including scenario planning across P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow, financial ratio analysis, ROI and cost/benefit analysis for investment opportunities, and sensitivity analysis

• Evaluate new business opportunities through analysis

• Develop and present meaningful financial reporting and KPIs that will directly influence day-to-day operational decisions

• Provide analytical support to cross-functional teams to drive decision making on initiatives and strategies

• Month End Close Support

• Finance and Accounting data project support

Qualifications

• 4+ years of progressive financial analysis experience in prior analytical roles (i.e. finance, investment banking, consulting etc.)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, Economics or related analytical field is required

• Advanced skills in Excel & PowerPoint; experience with SQL and dashboarding (Tableau, Mode, etc) is preferred

• Familiarity with accounting principles and financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)

• Comfortable using AI products (Claude) to access data

• Highly analytical, with strong attention to detail and ability to synthesize complex financial information into actionable and impactful recommendations

• Strong business acumen with ability to identify problems, propose solutions, and independently partner with key stakeholders to implement solutions

• Effective communicator with ability to communicate with all levels of organization and present to senior management

• Self-starter and team player who can work both independently and collaboratively with others cross-functionally

• Curious and innovative individual with a positive attitude and hands-on mentality

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment; ability to multitask and manage multiple priorities

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents

Generous Time Off: 21 paid vacation days, 12 paid company holidays, and unlimited sick days; paid parental leave and other leaves for life’s needs; 6-week paid sabbatical every 4 years

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible daily schedules within a hybrid work environment, annual remote-office budget, and monthly WFH internet stipend

Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary, 401k plan, and stock options

Mission-Driven Company: Join a mission-driven company to accelerate and democratize the world’s research

Learn more on our Careers Page!

Academia is a proud equal-opportunity employer and we are committed to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.