First Finance Hire – Lead Financial Operations

About the role

We are making our first finance hire, a trusted owner of Chai’s financial operating system from end‑to‑end. In a fast‑growing AI‑driven biotech startup with complex revenue recognition and heavy compute spend, you will ensure the financial machinery runs smoothly and provides clear visibility for scaling decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Own the quality of our books and the month‑end close process.
• Build and maintain a trusted view of cash flow, spending, and financial forecasts.
• Manage accounting and finance vendors and improve systems and internal controls.
• Lead audit readiness and ensure compliance with partnership and regulatory requirements.
• Support strategic decisions such as capital allocation, investment modeling, and vendor negotiations.

Required profile

• Financial generalist with strong operational rigor and sound financial judgment.
• Hands‑on experience in a high‑growth startup, preferably as an early finance hire or senior finance role.
• Proven ability to chase down invoices, manage accounting firms, negotiate vendor contracts, and rebuild cash forecasts.
• Outcome‑oriented mindset that builds lasting systems and eliminates unnecessary complexity.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work at the forefront of AI research and frontier biology.
• Culture of high velocity, ownership, and world‑class collaborators.
• Competitive compensation aligned with responsibilities.