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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 the convenience and performance benefits of electrification to a pastime enjoyed by over 11 million American families.
As VP of Finance, you will be a member of the executive leadership team and own the complete financial strategy and operations for the company. Your responsibilities span:
**FP&A and Planning:** Lead the annual business planning process from company-level goals through a robust financial plan. Own the integrated company financial model and ensure Lightship's financial forecast remains accurate in real time.
**Business Operations:** Act as a strategic business partner supporting critical decisions that drive commercial and operational initiatives, including pricing, market research, insourcing/outsourcing decisions, and operational process implementation.
**Product Finance:** Manage product cost through a robust financial bill of materials. 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 and 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 and Working Capital:** Manage cash, runway, banking relationships, and working capital including inventory, supplier terms, and customer deposits.
**Fundraising and 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, and Compliance:** Design and maintain financial controls and scale finance systems including ERP as the company grows. Oversee tax, sales tax, and regulatory compliance across states.
**Board and Executive Reporting:** Present results, KPIs, and strategic insight to the executive team and board.
**Team Leadership:** Recruit, mentor, and grow a high-performing finance and accounting team (currently 4 people).
**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 a complex hardware business
- Direct oversight of an accounting function with strong command of U.S. GAAP, the close process, audits, and internal controls for a scaling organization
- Clear, confident communication with non-finance audiences and the board
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent experience
**Preferred Qualifications:**
- Experience in electric vehicle, automotive, or other complex hardware manufacturing
- Finance leadership at a company that does manufacturing in-house (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
