Associate – Strategic Finance

About ClearEngine:

ClearEngine is a strategic advisory firm that works with early-to-mid stage consumer companies, and specializes in strategy, finance, growth, marketing, as well as organizational strategy. We partner with exceptional leaders and companies with game-changing potential to empower their vision and chart a clear path to sustainable success. 

We are strategic advisors and operating partners to executives, owners and investors. We work as extensions of leadership teams to clarify their paths to success, navigate complex situations, and create long-term value by unlocking growth and accelerating profitability. We tailor our approach to each client’s needs and prioritize pragmatic, profitability-minded solutions that are lean and data-driven. As operators with deep experience in the trenches, we roll up our sleeves with our clients, often driving execution and implementation. 

We are based in Miami, FL, and we partner with clients and collaborators throughout the U.S. and internationally, providing a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment for those seeking impact and experience in the inner workings of start-ups and growth-stage businesses. 

Overview of ClearEngine here. 

The Opportunity

ClearEngine is seeking an outstanding Strategic Finance Associate to support strategic financial advisory services across a portfolio of growing consumer businesses. In this role, you will support the execution of Fractional CFO engagements, working directly with founders and operators to translate financial data into clear, actionable decisions around growth, profitability, and cash management.

You will partner closely with ClearEngine’s Principals and senior team to deliver high-impact financial analysis, build and run core finance processes, and help clients navigate complex trade-offs as they scale. This role offers hands-on exposure to real operating decisions across multiple businesses, with increasing client interaction and ownership over time.

This role is ideal for someone with 2–4 years of experience in FP&A, accounting, internal financial operations at a start-up or consumer/retail company, investment banking, or financial consulting. This role provides a unique opportunity for growth in an entrepreneurial setting, offering hands-on exposure to diverse, high-growth businesses and strategic projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Modeling & Analysis: Build, refine, and maintain dynamic financial models (P&L, rolling cash flow, operating models, scenario analysis) to support strategic decision-making.
• Support CFO-service Workstreams: Assist in budgeting, forecasting, monthly close, cash flow management, working capital optimization, and financial & investor reporting for client companies.
• Client & Internal Reporting: Develop monthly dashboards and reporting packages for founders, executive teams, and investors, synthesizing financial data and key KPIs.
• Finance Systems & Tools Implementation: Assist in onboarding and optimizing tools such as QuickBooks, Gusto, Ramp, and bill.com, and help build processes for AP/AR, payroll, and expense tracking.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Support Principals to partner with client stakeholders across operations, marketing, and supply chain to support profitability initiatives and operational improvements.
• Strategic & Transaction Support: Assist with client capital raises, M&A activity, or other strategic initiatives through data room prep, investor material development, and financial due diligence.
• Project Execution: Manage workstreams and deliverables across multiple clients, ensuring high-quality output and clear communication with all stakeholders.
• Process Optimization: Develop scalable solutions or internal toolkits for broader use across ClearEngine and clients.

 Qualifications:

• Extreme drive that is contagious, exceptional attention to detail, able to manage up with a high degree of autonomy and self-reliance.
• Willingness to roll-up sleeves to take on nitty-gritty executional tasks that come with an early-stage company/environment
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• 2–4 years of experience in FP&A, investment banking, accounting, consulting, or financial operations in a high-growth company. 
• Experience in or exposure to the retail, eCommerce, or consumer sector significantly preferred
• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills; experienced in building complex, dynamic models from scratch that can flex across scenarios based on changing business assumptions.
• Significant understanding of financial statements and accounting principles.
• Owning forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, and scenario modeling
• Translating P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow into strategic decisions (investment, growth trade-offs, profitability)
• Building dashboards, KPIs, and reusable financial models
• Acting as a financial thought partner to clients, not just an analyst
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; able to present insights clearly to consulting Principals and eventually, client executive stakeholders.Bachelor's degree in finance, business, economics, or a related field.
• Proficient in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planning.
• Familiarity with financial tools and platforms (e.g., QuickBooks, Gusto, Ramp, bill.com, NetSuite, Shopify) is a plus.

• Collaborative team player with a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to adapt and pivot in response to changing project needs and client requirements.
  

Interested Candidates:

We’re a small, thoughtful team with high standards and a passion for impact—reach out if that sounds like you.