Head of Finance

Company: Guidewheel
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: February 17, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Build the future of how humanity makes things. Join the Guidewheel team. Who we are: Guidewheel is on a mission to empower the world's ten million factories to reach sustainable peak performance. Our leading AI-powered FactoryOps platform is the fastest and most scalable way for manufacturers to get more from every plant and machine. Customers have achieved as much as 2X productivity gains and cut energy costs by 15–20%, often within months. Our platform works on any machine — from brand-new to decades old. A simple sensor clips around the power going in to any machine, reads the machine's "electrical heartbeat," and, paired with AI, guides teams to improvements that drive lasting bottom-line impact. Already trusted by 300 manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson, Cargill, Hershey, Steelcase, ATI, and U.S. Steel, Guidewheel brings the power of AI to every plant, no matter the size. Recognized by the World Economic Forum as a top company poised to change business and society, we've also earned awards from McKinsey, Stanford, and MIT. We have incredible momentum and alignment around our mission; backing from top investors including BlackRock and Temasek's Decarbonization Partners Fund, Greycroft, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures; and a culture that values diversity, a growth mindset, and results. Check us out here: TED talk by our CEO, Lauren Dunford Series B: Led by BlackRock and Temasek's Decarbonization Partners What do Guidewheel customers have to say? What we value: Integrity matters: We are honest, straightforward and sincere. With each other. With our investors. With our customers. We (actually) care: About each other. About fighting climate change. About making a real impact. We use data to make decisions: We possess the courage to accept "hard truths" and confront challenges head-on. The power of a growth mindset is real: We strive to be the best we can be. We are committed to embracing change and expanding our capabilities. We are thoughtful and fast, results-driven with a bias for action. Adaptable and resilient: Guidewheelers have grit. We thrive in fast-paced environments and aren't afraid to take on hard things or embrace feedback and continuous improvement. We come through for our customers and teammates. Extreme teamwork. No one can whistle a symphony. Mission for the role: As Head of Finance, you will architect a world-class finance organization that becomes a strategic advantage for Guidewheel. You'll bring exceptional financial rigor and systems thinking to ensure we scale fast, intelligently, and profitably. Your mission: turn financial data into a competitive weapon, driving sharper decisions, higher margins, and stronger enterprise value as we accelerate toward our next phase of growth What you'll do : Build a world-class foundation for financial visibility and control Design and implement scalable reporting systems, leveraging the best available technology and smart applications of AI. Build reliable, automated forecasting and consolidation workflows. Deliver dashboards for budget owners that deliver clarity and accountability, and equip them from true ownership of their performance Establish GAAP-compliant financial statements and lead audits as necessary. Drive strategic capital allocation and cash management to fuel growth Develop scenario-planning models that link strategy, growth targets, and capital needs. Help manage burn rate and runway with precision, aligning spending to value creation milestones. Optimize working capital (e.g., for hardware) and capital allocation (e.g., product features, lead generation) to maximize ROI. Instill world-class cash discipline: rigorous invoicing, AR collection, and write-off practices that sustain predictable, high-quality revenue and liquidity. Make Finance a force multiplier: operational excellence and margin expansion Embed financial acumen across the organization and create a shared understanding of how every decision drives value. Partner with department heads to align budgets to measurable outcomes and margin improvement. Institutionalize performance metrics that sharpen accountability — unit economics by cohort, CAC payback, gross margin, profitability by account. Collaborate with Product Marketing to continually evolve pricing strategy for both competitiveness and profitability. Lead investor relations and fundraising strategy Maintain transparent, data-driven communication with the Board and investors. Craft the financial story and KPIs for the Series C round, positioning Guidewheel as a world-class operator with a differentiated growth engine. Who you are: You have demonstrated success at a Series B/Series C stage high-growth company (or equivalent), and you've held a senior finance role where you helped scale the finance function. Your accounting foundation is world-class— you're comfortable with GAAP, audit readiness and you are ideally CPA or CFA certified. You are a builder with systems thinking: you create scalable models, processes, and dashboards that unlock business leverage. l You have a strategic mindset and are a true business partner: equally comfortable setting financial strategy and rolling up your sleeves to make it real You are adaptable and hands-on: you understand the demands of a scaling startup, can operate in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, and build the foundation as you go. You are an excellent communicator and trusted advisor: you distill complexity into clear, actionable insights and build credibility at all levels of the organization. What's in it for you? There are a lot of reasons why you should want to be our Head of Finance, but some of the top reasons are: You'll be a key builder at a key time. The impact you'll have is huge. You'll get to build side-by-side with amazing humans, at a company on a mission to reach a $10B IPO by 2030, and see the positive impact of your work every day on the backbone of the economy and on the planet. You'll get the privilege of joining at the ground level in building the FactoryOps layer for the world's factories and a company with generational impact. You'll be an equity partner in the business. If Guidewheel can reach its potential, success in this role should bring significant wealth. Additional benefits include: Fair & equitable pay. Annual on-target earnings for this role are in the range of $180,000-$220,000, dependent on many factors, including our internal compensation and role bands. 100% remote culture. Work from wherever, whenever - we hired you to get a job done, and as long as that is happening, you have the autonomy to get it done where and when you feel comfortable. Flexible PTO policy. We value balance and boundaries. To be the best version of you, you need time away from your screen, so we want you to take it. Generous equity. Everyone at Guidewheel receives equity in the business. You will be working hard to build something great, and when we reach the finish line, you should be rewarded for your hard work. Health Benefits. We offer different health benefits to cover your personal needs from day one of employment - you pick the plan that makes the most sense to you. Additional Perks. Included but not limited to, 401k (match up to 4%), $500 home office set-up, parental leave, company laptop, retirement plan, paid company holidays, and some (if you choose) company travel to spend time with your Guidewheel peers. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Guidewheel is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Guidewheel makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Keywords: Guidewheel, Watsonville , Head of Finance, Accounting, Auditing , San Francisco, California