Strategic Finance Lead, Infrastructure Software

As the Strategic Finance Lead at OpenAI, your main responsibilities include partnering with the business to provide deep financial insights on software spending and forecasting, establishing frameworks for deciding whether to build internally or buy, and collaborating cross-functionally on identifying and addressing infrastructure software needs. You’ll build detailed operating models, ensure accurate financial reporting, and proactively work on budget vs. actual analysis.

To qualify for the Strategic Finance Lead position at OpenAI, applicants should have at least 8 years of experience in FP&A or Strategic Finance, preferably in a high-growth startup environment. Proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools, such as Excel, SQL, and BI tools, is crucial. Additionally, experience with infrastructure software and a deep understanding of AI technologies will significantly bolster your application.

The Strategic Finance Lead at OpenAI significantly contributes to our mission of ensuring that AI benefits humanity by providing financial rigor to our software and services investments. By optimizing capital allocation and enhancing financial planning, you directly support strategic initiatives that push the boundaries of AI technology, ensuring sustainable growth and responsible usage of resources.

Candidates for the Strategic Finance Lead role at OpenAI should be well-versed in financial modeling and analytics tools, including Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, and Business Intelligence platforms such as Sundial and Tableau. A thorough understanding of how to apply these tools to analyze software spending and forecast expenses efficiently will be essential.

Yes! OpenAI offers relocation assistance to new employees moving to San Francisco for the Strategic Finance Lead position. We value the talent we bring on board and want to ensure a smooth transition for qualified candidates looking to join our innovative team.

In answering this question, highlight your specific experience in developing financial models that support business decisions. Provide examples of complex models you've built and how they impacted your organization's strategy, particularly in software spending forecasts.

When discussing this, emphasize your analytical approach and criteria for making decisions. Illustrate how you would evaluate total cost of ownership, time to market, and strategic alignment with organizational goals. Providing real-world examples will strengthen your answer.

Explain your method for conducting budget vs. actual analysis, focusing on your attention to detail in identifying variances, the importance of corrective actions, and how you communicate findings to stakeholders. Providing examples of past analyses will add credibility to your response.

Demonstrate your skills in fostering cross-functional relationships, perhaps mentioning specific teams you've worked with and how you facilitate communication. Explain how you gather input and feedback from technical leads to ensure financial strategies effectively support their initiatives.

In your response, articulate your knowledge of the AI tech stack components and how they influence financial decisions. Discuss how different aspects of the tech stack impact capital budgeting and financial forecasting, making it clear you understand both finance and technology.

Be ready to discuss your experience with various infrastructure software and systems. Highlight any specific projects or platforms you've worked with and how that experience contributes to your suitability for the Strategic Finance Lead role.

Talk about your commitment to professional development. Mention specific courses, certifications, or resources you use to stay updated, alongside how you apply new knowledge to improve financial processes within your team or organization.

Share an example that reflects your strong interpersonal skills. Describe your approach to simplifying complex data, the communication methods you used, and the positive outcomes that resulted from your effective explanation.

Address potential challenges such as rapid scaling, the pace of technological change, or resource allocation dilemmas. Sharing your thoughts on how to navigate these challenges demonstrates strategic thinking and planning capabilities.

Elaborate on your organizational skills and methods, like developing a prioritization framework based on impact and urgency. Providing a specific example where you successfully managed several projects can showcase your capability in a real-world context.