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Lightship is the first American all-electric recreational vehicle manufacturer, developing aerodynamic, battery-powered trailers for the electric age. As the macro transition to electrification accelerates, Lightship is bringing superior performance and convenience to a pastime enjoyed by over 11 million American families.
As VP of Finance, you will be a core member of the executive leadership team, responsible for all financial strategy, planning, and operations. Your key responsibilities include:
**Financial Planning & Analysis**: Lead the annual business planning process from company-level goals through a robust integrated financial model. Own Lightship's financial forecast and ensure accuracy in real time.
**Business Operations**: Act as a strategic business partner supporting critical decisions on pricing, market research, insourcing/outsourcing, and operational process implementation.
**Product Finance**: Manage product cost through robust financial bill of material. Oversee cost accounting to measure performance of product cost forecasts against actual COGS. Drive margin improvement in partnership with engineering, operations, and supply chain teams.
**Accounting & Reporting**: Oversee corporate accounting policy, internal controls, and GAAP compliance with the Director of Accounting. Review external audits and final financial statements for board and investor reporting.
**Treasury & Working Capital**: Manage cash, runway, banking relationships, and working capital including inventory, supplier terms, and customer deposits.
**Fundraising & Investor Relations**: Partner with co-founders to raise equity and debt, including equipment and asset-based financing. Own models, data rooms, diligence, and investor reporting.
**Controls, Systems & Compliance**: Design and maintain financial controls. Scale finance systems including ERP as the company grows. Oversee tax, sales tax, and regulatory compliance across states.
**Board & Executive Reporting**: Present results, KPIs, and strategic insights to the executive team and board.
**Team Leadership**: Recruit, mentor, and grow a high-performing finance and accounting team (currently 4 people).
Lightship operates in a collaborative environment with a flat organizational structure, expecting high integrity, autonomy, and creativity from all team members.
**Requirements**:
- 10+ years of progressive finance experience, including significant time leading a team at a high-growth company
- Deep expertise in FP&A, corporate finance, and cash management at a hardware, manufacturing, or physical-product company
- Hands-on experience with product finance at a manufacturing company: BOM management, cost accounting, inventory, COGS, and margin analysis in a production environment
- Track record building and owning integrated three-statement models for complex hardware businesses
- Direct oversight of an accounting function with strong command of U.S. GAAP, close process, audits, and internal controls for scaling organizations
- Clear, confident communication with non-finance audiences and the board
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related quantitative field, or equivalent experience
**Preferred Qualifications**:
- Experience in electric vehicle, automotive, or complex hardware manufacturing
- Finance leadership at a company with in-house manufacturing (not through a contract manufacturer)
- Finance leadership experience at a direct-to-consumer company
- Background in investment banking, management consulting, private equity, or venture capital
- Experience leading a company through multiple equity and debt raises
