Upstart
Sr. Finance Manager - Automotive
Job Summary
The role involves leading the end-to-end FP&A process for Upstart's Auto business, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting. The candidate will develop financial models, support strategic initiatives, and collaborate with various teams to improve financial performance. A strong background in finance, forecasting, and data analysis is required, with additional experience in financial systems and BI tools. This position offers opportunities to influence decision-making and operational efficiency within a high-growth, digital-first company.
Required Skills
Benefits
Job Description
About Upstart
Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.
Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!
The Team
Upstart’s FP&A team is seeking a strategic and execution-focused Senior Finance Manager to lead the end-to-end FP&A function for Auto Business. In this role, you will play a critical part in shaping the financial strategy and enhance operational excellence. You will be responsible for strategic planning and forecasting, leading the month-end close and financial review processes, and delivering high-impact financial insights and reporting to executive leadership. This role is a unique opportunity to drive operational efficiency, ensure financial discipline, and support key decision-making within a high-growth startup at a pivotal stage.
As the Senior Finance Manager at Upstart, you will lead key aspects of shaping the profitability, unit economic, ROI analysis, and cost optimization. You’ll partner closely with business leaders and within finance to provide transparency into business performance, spend, support headcount and vendor planning, drive process improvements, and ensure accurate and timely reporting. If you’re passionate about using data and structure to improve financial discipline, enable better decision-making, and build scalable infrastructure, this could be a great opportunity for you
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote
Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones
Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
How you’ll make an impact:
- End-to-End FP&A Ownership: Take full ownership of the end-to-end Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) process supporting the Auto business. This includes annual budgeting, monthly and weekly forecasting, monthly financial reviews, ad hoc analyses (e.g., ROI assessments), and the maintenance of the forecast in the FP&A system (Adaptive).
- Financial Modeling and Insights: Develop and maintain a comprehensive financial model for the Auto business to forecast performance and financial outcomes. Provide detailed analysis and insights into key financial metrics and KPIs.
- Budgeting and Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting for the auto business as well as the monthly and weekly forecasting processes. Collaborate with business stakeholders to align on inputs and assumptions. Review forecasting methodologies and outcomes with the Auto General Manager and cross-functional partners.
- Monthly Financial Review: Oversee the month-end financial close process for the Auto business. Ensure accuracy of actuals, analyze financial and operational performance, and deliver proactive insights and financial guidance to Auto leadership.
- Strategic Analysis and Support: Conduct ad hoc analyses to support strategic initiatives, including customer acquisition ROI, product development, pricing strategy, cost efficiency, and investment ROI.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with analytics and data science teams, as well as product, marketing, sales, and operations functions, to align on business goals, metrics, and forecasts.
- Reporting and Dashboarding: Design, maintain, and enhance financial reports and dashboards to deliver clear, actionable insights. Focus on creating outputs that are simple, visually compelling, and tailored to executive audiences. Elevate monthly and quarterly deliverables from dense data to insight-driven narratives.
What we’re looking for:
- Minimum requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field; MBA or CPA strongly preferred
- 8+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, ideally within a high-growth or tech-enabled environment
- Deep expertise in P&L ownership, operating expense management, and financial planning
- Proven success leading and improving month-end close and forecast cycles
- Strong track record preparing financials for leadership, with sharp attention to detail and executive presence
- Exceptional analytical, modeling, and communication skills
- Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets and experience with financial planning systems (e.g., Adaptive, Anaplan, NetSuite, Workday Adaptive Planning)
- Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with BI/reporting tools such as Looker, Tableau or Mode
- Experience with advanced data analytics tools such as SQL, Python or R
- Previous consumer marketplace lending industry experience
- SaaS experience
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [email protected]
Upstart
A lending platform using AI to provide personal loans and credit solutions with a focus on fair and fast approvals.
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