The Role
The Head of Finance & Operations at Cellsense manages financial oversight, budgeting, HR, operations, and partnerships, driving growth and ensuring compliance.
Summary Generated by Built In
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Compensation
Cellsense transforms algae and cellulose into sustainable beads and beaded fabrics for the fashion, jewelry, and beauty industries. Cellsense’s proprietary material replaces sources of microplastics and heavy metal pollution while offering designers a wide range of brilliant colors, clarities, and properties such as fluorescence. Our automated manufacturing system cuts lead time of customized beaded products from weeks to days by eliminating expensive tooling and tedious manual labor from conventional processes. We’re venture-backed, have over 50 inbound brand requests, and are now moving from R&D to our first pilot production line. You will join us at an exciting stage of our growth.
Working closely with Cellsense’s CEO, the Head of Finance & Operations will be a critical member. This role oversees finance, HR, and operational functions, ensuring strong financial stewardship, compliant operations, and efficient internal systems as the company scales.
- Financial oversight and management of operations.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management. Own the month-end close and day-to-day accounting, payroll, and compliance using QuickBooks, NetSuite or similar.
- Build long-term financial models to guide growth strategy and capital allocation.
- Partner with the CEO on fundraising: refine data rooms, prepare financial materials for pitch decks, and drive investor communications.
- Contribute to grant writing and compliance.
- Help translate our 50+ inbound brand requests into revenue by negotiating LOIs, structuring pricing, and closing purchase agreements.
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business.
- 5+ years of professional experience in finance and operations, ideally with startup experience scaling from seed to Series A.
- Experience working in a manufacturing, cleantech or similar operationally complex or capital-intensive environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close processes.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects concurrently.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and reporting.
- Strong network in VC/PE, with ability to leverage relationships for business growth.
- Compensation range: $90,000 - $130,000 per year + equity
- Hands-on role and ownership.
- Comprehensive health benefits.
- Part of a tightly knit team aiming to make a meaningful impact.
If you’re action-oriented and thrive in a startup environment, we’d love to hear from you. Send your resume and a note on why you’re excited about scaling bio-materials to [email protected].
Compensation
The base pay range for this role is $90,000 – $130,000 per year.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business
- 5+ years of professional experience in finance and operations, ideally with startup experience
- Experience in manufacturing or cleantech environment
- Demonstrated experience leading budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close processes
- Strong organizational skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong network in VC/PE
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The Company
What We Do
43North is an accelerator program that invests $5 million per year to attract and retain high-growth startups in Buffalo, NY.
