Senior Director of Strategic Finance
Description
The Company
Kantata gives professional services organizations the clarity, control, and confidence they need to optimize resource planning, project management, and financial management - all to improve business outcomes for both the professional services firms we serve and their clients. Our purpose-built professional services automation software empowers over 2,500 professional services organizations in more than 100 countries to deliver radically better business outcomes. Kantata provides AI-powered insights and next best action recommendations our clients need to win more business and optimize project delivery to exceed their clients’ expectations.
Kantata is well-capitalized, hiring, and growing our loyal and diversified customer base faster than we ever have. Most importantly, we have a clear vision of where we’re going and how to get there. (Hint: It involves you.) Did we mention that Kantata is also an awesome place to work? You’ll have the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a team that loves what they do. A talented team, great perks, and an amazing culture = an employee-rated Best Place to Work!
About the Opportunity
Kantata is seeking a Senior Director of Strategic Finance to serve as a key thought partner to the CFO and executive leadership team. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role at the intersection of corporate finance, data-driven decision-making, and operational strategy. You will own the company’s most complex and consequential financial projects—from AI-powered finance transformation to product-level P&L development—while helping build the infrastructure that allows Kantata to scale intelligently.
The ideal candidate is analytically rigorous, commercially minded, and comfortable operating in ambiguity. You have a track record of translating data into decisions, partnering with product and go-to-market leaders, and driving operational discipline across a PE-backed SaaS Business.
AI & Finance Transformation
Lead Kantata’s AI implementation strategy within the Finance function, identifying and prioritizing high-ROI automation and intelligence opportunities across FP&A, accounting, and reporting workflows.
Partner with the data and engineering teams to evaluate, pilot, and operationalize AI tools (including LLMs, predictive analytics, and process automation) that reduce manual effort and improve forecast accuracy.
Build business cases for AI investments and track outcomes against projected value creation.
Stay current on emerging fintech and AI capabilities and bring forward-looking recommendations to the CFO.
Product & Segment P&L Development
Design and maintain product-level and segment-level P&L frameworks that provide granular visibility into revenue, cost of goods sold, and contribution margin across Kantata’s product portfolio.
Partner with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to allocate costs accurately and build reporting that drives product investment and pricing decisions.
Develop unit economics models (CAC, LTV, payback period) at the product and customer cohort level.
Support go-to-market leaders with profitability analysis to inform packaging, pricing, and market entry decisions.
Strategic Projects & Decision Support
Own the financial modeling and analytical support for strategic initiatives including M&A evaluation, partnership structures, capital allocation, and investor reporting.
Lead scenario planning and sensitivity analyses to support executive and board-level decision-making.
Build and maintain operating dashboards and executive-ready materials that translate financial data into strategic narrative.
Serve as a cross-functional finance partner, embedded with business leaders across Product, Sales, and Operations.
Expense Management & Operational Finance
Design and manage a structured expense management framework that drives accountability and cost discipline across departments without sacrificing growth investment.
Partner with business unit leaders to build bottoms-up budgets, manage variance to plan, and develop actionable reforecast narratives.
Identify cost optimization opportunities and build the financial case for operational improvements.
Own monthly and quarterly business reviews for assigned functional areas, delivering insights that drive action.
What you bring to the role:
8–12+ years of progressive finance experience in SaaS, software, or high-growth technology companies, with at least 3 years in a strategic finance or FP&A leadership role.
Deep fluency in SaaS metrics: ARR, NRR, churn, CAC, LTV, Rule of 40, gross margin, and the levers that drive them.
Demonstrated experience with AI tools, automation, or data science in a finance context—either hands-on implementation or structured vendor/platform evaluation.
Strong financial modeling skills; capable of building complex operating models, product P&Ls, and scenario analyses from scratch.
Experience in a PE-backed company, with comfort navigating investor reporting requirements, board materials, and value creation frameworks.
Track record of leading cross-functional projects and influencing decisions at the executive level without direct authority.
Exceptional communication skills—you can distill complex financial narratives into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field required; MBA or CPA a plus.
Nice to have
Prior experience at a PE-backed SaaS business with $100M+ ARR.
Background in investment banking, private equity, or management consulting.
Experience with tools such as Workday Adaptive, Anaplan, Mosaic, or similar FP&A platforms.
Familiarity with Salesforce, Kantata’s own professional services automation platform, or comparable PSA/ERP systems.
Working knowledge of machine learning concepts or experience evaluating AI vendors in an enterprise finance context.
What success looks like
First 90 Days
Deep understanding of Kantata’s financial model, product architecture, and key business drivers.
Completed an AI opportunity assessment for the Finance function with prioritized recommendations.
Established trusted working relationships with the CFO, Product, and GTM leadership.
First Year
Product P&L framework live and actively used by Product and Executive teams for investment decisions.
At least one meaningful AI or automation initiative deployed within Finance with measurable impact.
Expense management processes modernized and operating at higher accountability across business units.
Recognized as the go-to strategic finance partner for Kantata’s senior leadership team.
Compensation
Base pay for this role is: $175,000 to $200,000
This role is eligible for a company bonus
Our Philosophy
We know every company can be successful with the right technology and when people are at the core. We believe that we’re better together - that working hand-in-hand brings the best thoughts to the table and creates an environment of learning and growth. Here, you’ll enjoy:
An intentionally engaging and collaborative culture - ditch the silo!
Strong work-life balance that’s a true focus of the company
The chance to learn from some of the best people in the business
A vibrant, collaborative, and devoted team, who still makes time for fun
At Kantata, we strive to create an inclusive workplace that upholds the dignity of all people. We value, respect, and celebrate everyone’s unique strengths from all different walks of life. As we continue to cultivate diversity within the company, our product (and people!) innovation continues to flourish.
Kantata is an Equal Opportunity Employer