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Cradle is an AI-driven protein design platform that enables scientists and biologists to discover and optimize proteins at scale using machine learning. The company serves clients across biopharma, biotech, agri-tech, food-tech, and academia. With nearly 100 employees and multiple years of runway, Cradle operates distributed offices in Amsterdam, Boston, and Zurich.
As Cradle's first Financial Controller, you will build the finance function from the ground up. You'll transition accounting in-house from external partners and establish the processes, controls, and automation infrastructure needed to support a scaling organization.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning the full accounting function for the group, taking over from external accountants
- Designing end-to-end financial processes: procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, and record-to-report with appropriate controls
- Automating manual processes using the company's finance stack (Ramp, Campfire)
- Delivering accurate, timely reporting across multiple entities, currencies, and reporting frameworks
- Establishing documentation and control trails to prepare for external audit
- Supporting broader finance initiatives including budgeting, forecasting, cash analysis, tax structuring, and funding round preparation
- Collaborating with Operations, People, and Legal teams on cross-functional finance matters
This is a hands-on role requiring someone who can design scalable processes while maintaining attention to detail and compliance. You'll work in a fast-moving environment where you'll need to balance building robust controls with the flexibility required in a growing company.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 4+ years in accounting or controlling, ideally combining audit/accounting firm experience with in-house startup or scaleup experience
- Demonstrated ownership of month-end close end-to-end
- Track record of building or improving processes in fast-changing startup environments
- Hands-on experience with traditional ERP systems or modern finance stacks; ability to learn and optimize new tools
- Understanding of how changes across Finance, People, and Legal domains interconnect
- Familiarity with Dutch, Swiss, and/or US statutory reporting and local filing requirements
- Strong prioritization and organizational skills in complex, multi-faceted environments
- Clear written and verbal communication; ability to document processes for others to follow
- Ability to be in the office at least 3 days per week
Nice-to-haves: Early finance hire experience at a scale-up, familiarity with Ramp, Campfire, or HubSpot, experience preparing for first statutory audit.
