Director, Strategic Finance

San Mateo, CA - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

About Upstart

At Upstart were united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day we bring creativity experimentation and advanced AI to reshape access to credit helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology thats both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1800 signals powering smarter fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea every voice and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.

Were proudly digital-first giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive alongside teammates across 80 cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesnt mean distant. Were intentional about in-person connection through team onsites planning sessions and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus Austin the Bay Area or New York City (opening Summer 2026) youll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.

If youre energized by tackling meaningful problems excited to innovate with purpose and motivated by work that truly matters wed love to hear from you.

The Role:

Upstart is building innovative products that expand access to credit. The Finance team plays a critical role in shaping business decisions aligning strategy with execution and ensuring financial discipline as products scale.

This Director Strategic Finance will serve as the primary day-to-day finance and strategy partner to the Small Dollar Loan leadership team providing analytical insight financial rigor and cross-functional coordination as the business evolves. The role spans strategic planning business analytics financial performance management and execution of high-impact initiatives.

You will operate at the center of decision-makingdeveloping business cases diagnosing performance trends and helping translate strategy into action across Product Engineering Operations Capital Markets Analytics and Go-To-Market teams.

How youll make an impact

Strategic Partnership & Business Leadership

Serve as the primary finance and strategy partner to SDL business leaders ensuring alignment between strategy financial outcomes and execution
Act as a connective tissue across Product Engineering Operations Analytics Capital Markets and GTM teams to drive clarity and accountability
Facilitate structured prioritization and trade-off discussions to focus resources on the highest-impact initiatives

Strategy Development & Financial Analysis

Identify evaluate and size strategic opportunities growth initiatives and investment decisions
Build rigorous business cases financial models and scenario analyses to support go/no-go decisions
Partner with cross-functional teams to scope initiatives align stakeholders and drive recommendations through execution

Business Performance Management & Insights

Own ongoing financial and operational performance tracking for the SDL business
Monitor key metrics identify emerging trends or risks and lead root-cause analyses when performance deviates from expectations
Translate complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations for senior leadership

Financial Planning & Operational Rigor

Support short- and long-term financial planning forecasting and budget management for the SDL business
Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure accurate forecasting reporting and transparency
Improve reporting tooling and analytical infrastructure to support scalable decision-making

Minimum Qualifications

10 years of experience in Strategic Finance FP&A Corporate Finance Business Operations or a similar analytical role
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to build and interpret complex financial and operational models
Advanced proficiency in Excel and/or Google Sheets; experience with SQL and BI tools such as Looker Tableau or Mode
Proven track record of partnering cross-functionally with Product Engineering Operations and GTM teams
Experience building business cases evaluating investments and managing performance through KPIs
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment
Comfort working in ambiguous evolving environments and translating strategy into execution

Preferred Qualifications

Background in fintech lending consumer finance subscription or technology-enabled marketplaces
Experience with forecasting cohort-based economics unit economics or credit-driven business models.
MBA or advanced degree in Finance Economics or a related field.

Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.

Travel requirements As a digital first company the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-Director

At Upstart your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic locationwith our digital first philosophy Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills experience and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition Upstart provides employees with target bonuses equity compensation and generous benefits packages (including medical dental vision and 401k).

United States Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$184000$255000 USD

What youll love

At Upstart our benefits are designed to support your health financial well-being family and personal growth. Heres what you can expect:

Competitive compensation including base pay bonus opportunities and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed up to $15000 per year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
Affordable medical dental and vision coverage with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
Income protection benefits including company-paid Basic Life AD&D and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage with options to purchase supplemental coverage
Paid time off sick and safe time and company holidays
Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo supporting fertility parenthood and caregiving
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
Financial wellness resources including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development based on what matters most to you
Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work no matter where you work from
Connection and community through team events and onsites all-company updates and employee resource groups (ERGs)
Onsite perks including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices located in the Bay Area Austin Columbus and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application interviewing completing any pre-employment testing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process please email

Experience:

Director

About UpstartAt Upstart were united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day we bring creativity experimentation and advanced AI to reshape access to credit helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.A...