The OpportunitySeneca is seeking a
Business Operations Lead to run strategic finance, accounting, contracts, insurance, compliance, purchasing, payroll and benefits, and the office. Right now those things are spread across an outside accounting firm, a payroll vendor, outside counsel, a fractional Head of Ops and the CEO. As we continue to scale, we are seeking someone who can up-level this organization both in terms of our daily operations and in key moments like M+A, equity and debt financings, key partnerships etc.
This role reports to the CEO with tight partnership. There will be opportunity to hire and/or bring in additional outside resources over the next twelve months.
What You'll DoFinance & Accounting- You run the finance function. Both FP&A and accounting.
- Partner with teams to ensure they pick the right strategies for both cost and revenue optimization as Seneca scales.
- Own the monthly close with our outside accounting firm.
- Get the accounting right for a hardware company moving into production: inventory, BOMs, capitalized R&D, fixed assets, and revenue recognition on multi-year contracts with agencies and utilities.
- Handle invoicing and collections, including milestone billing on government and utility contracts.
- Figure out the right policies for expense management and suggest our monthly budget - keeping us tracking to it.
- Keep the budget and board package current.
Contracts, Compliance & Risk- Own contracts. Work with outside counsel on customer agreements, supplier terms, NDAs, and government contracting paperwork. Know what we have signed and what it commits us to.
- Own insurance, including aviation and product liability. For a drone company this is real work.
- Keep the compliance calendar: corporate filings, state registrations, export controls, and the requirements that come with selling to public agencies.
Purchasing & Vendors- Run purchasing so engineers can get what they need fast and we still know where the money went: approvals, corporate cards, expense policy, vendor setup.
- Negotiate large vendor and supplier agreements.
- Partner with outside lawyers on where to draw the lines on NDAs, partnership agreements, and any other day to day legal questions.
People Operations- Oversee payroll, benefits, and the HRIS through our vendors.
- Help us continue to drive exceptional recruitment.
- Own compensation and equity: bands, offers, grants, refreshes, and the promotion process, with the CEO.
- Make sure the basics are covered: I-9s, multi-state registrations, handbook, required trainings. Bring in outside HR counsel when a situation calls for it.
- Be someone employees can come to in confidence when something is wrong.
Systems & the Office- Own the finance and ops systems (Ramp, Rippling, Carta, QuickBooks) and decide when to replace one.
- Run the Sausalito office: lease, facilities, IT and security basics, equipment. There are others in the loop here, but you have the opportunity to formalize facilities.
What You BringThis is a high visibility / high upside role for a candidate who wants to be an early strategic partner to an experienced CEO in a high impact, high growth startup. You'll often partner with the CEO, so a history of excellence is valued.
- Experience in strategic finance or private equity and/or investment banking
- You have run finance and operations at a venture-backed startup, ideally one that builds hardware, through a period of real growth.
- You understand accounting well enough to manage an outside firm and catch their mistakes: GAAP, revenue recognition, inventory, capitalized R&D.
- You are a generalist and you like operating. You fix things rather than write about them.
- You love to design scalable operational processes, including automating manual workflows, identifying future bottlenecks, and evaluating tools, partners, and vendors for long-term scalability
- You handle confidential information with care.
- You write and speak plainly, and you can explain business concepts to anyone.
- You want to work in person in Sausalito.
What We Offer- Competitive Salary - Reflective of your skills and experience
- Equity Compensation - Be an owner in the company's future
- Comprehensive Health Coverage - Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Health Savings Account (HSA) - Optional pre-tax savings for medical expenses
- Unlimited PTO - Flexible time off to recharge, plus paid company holidays
