Financial Controller

Posted 5 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Palo Alto, CA
In-Office
Senior level
Artificial Intelligence • Hardware • Robotics • Software
The Role
The Financial Controller will oversee accounting operations, ensure compliance with financial regulations, support budgeting and forecasting, and lead a finance team for Agile Robots' US operations.
Summary Generated by Built In

Agile Robots is a global leader in industrial and humanoid robotics, integrating advanced machine learning and robotic vision to redefine the future of work. Headquartered in Munich with a global workforce of 2,500+, we are now establishing our North American footprint. This is a rare opportunity to join as a foundational member of our US team, shaping the financial operations and infrastructure of our Silicon Valley Headquarters.

The Role: At Agile Robots, we are deploying the next generation of AI-enabled automation and Physical AI. As our Financial Controller in the US, you will be a key member of our founding team, responsible for establishing and scaling our finance and accounting operations. We are seeking a Financial Controller to oversee all accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions for our U.S. operations in the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industry. This role will serve as a strategic finance partner to leadership, ensuring accurate financial data, supporting operational efficiency, and driving scalability across a fast-growing, innovation-driven organization. The ideal candidate combines deep technical accounting expertise with strong operational insight and a passion for technology, automation, and advanced manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

1.  Financial Management & Reporting

  • Lead all accounting operations, including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, cost accounting, inventory valuation, and revenue recognition.
  • Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with U.S. GAAP.
  • Oversee consolidation of financial data between U.S. and global entities to ensure accurate group reporting.
  • Manage cash flow, working capital, and liquidity planning; optimize treasury and banking operations.

2.  Management Accounting

  • Develop and maintain a robust cost accounting framework suitable for an R&D-intensive, low-volume manufacturing environment, including prototype builds, pilot runs, and small-batch production.
  • Design cost models that capture the full lifecycle of robotics system development - from design, prototyping, and testing to limited production and customer deployment.
  • Partner closely with engineering and R&D teams to ensure accurate project cost tracking, allocation of direct and indirect costs, and capitalization of eligible R&D expenses in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
  • Implement methods to differentiate between R&D, engineering validation, and production expenses, enabling precise reporting of development investment versus cost of goods sold.
  • Monitor and analyze prototype material usage, tooling costs, and engineering labor, ensuring transparency between finance and technical teams.
  • Support the development of standard costing for new robotic modules, sensors, and assemblies as they transition from prototype to production readiness.
  • Continuously evaluate inventory valuation and obsolescence risk, particularly for fast-evolving components and custom builds.

3.  Compliance & Internal Controls

  • Establish and enforce strong internal control systems and policies for the U.S. entity.
  • Ensure compliance with SOX, GAAP, federal/state tax laws, and corporate governance requirements.
  • Lead annual audit and tax filings in collaboration with external advisors.

4.  Strategic Planning & Analysis

  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning aligned with global corporate goals.
  • Provide financial insights to guide investment decisions in R&D, production facilities, and supply chain optimization.
  • Partner with operations, R&D, and sales teams to align financial objectives with strategic growth initiatives.
  • Collaborate with global finance to standardize project accounting policies across entities, ensuring consistency in cost capitalization, depreciation, and internal charge-out models.

5.  Systems & Process Improvement

  • Drive automation and digitalization of financial processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
  • Lead or support ERP implementations or integrations across the US entity.
  • Standardize financial processes and reporting between global subsidiaries.

6.  Leadership

  • Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing accounting and finance team.
  • Serve as a bridge between local U.S. operations and global finance teams in Europe and Asia.
  • Contribute to a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

Requirements

Experience & Attributes

  • Master's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business; CPA or CMA preferred.
  • 7–12 years of progressive accounting and finance experience; experience in robotics, tech, or manufacturing is a plus.
  • Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, management and cost accounting, and intercompany transactions.
  • Proven experience managing multi-entity or international consolidations.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.).
  • Experience supporting both hardware and software revenue models (e.g., robotics systems + SaaS).
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, leadership skills and experience in team setup. 
  • Experience in fast-scaling tech or robotics startups. Familiarity with robotics, AI, or advanced manufacturing is highly desirable.
  • Data-driven mindset - proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or other analytics tools.
  • Understanding IFRS for coordination with global HQ is a plus.

Benefits

Why Join?

You will be one of the first members of our US finance team, with unique visibility into the growth of a global robotics powerhouse. You will have the autonomy to build and define how our US financial operations run from the ground up, partnering directly with leadership to shape the company's future.

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
  • Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision insurance, and 401k.
  • Generous paid time off and paid holidays.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning in cutting-edge robotics technology.

Top Skills

Excel
Oracle
Power BI
SAP
U.S. Gaap
Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: Munchen
283 Employees
Year Founded: 2018

What We Do

At Agile Robots we are bridging the gap between artificial intelligence and the real world. We are a spin-off of the German Aerospace Center and are developing the next generation of intelligent robots. To this end, we not only develop robotic hardware such as arms and hands but also the intelligent software behind it. Our ultimate goal is to make robots more intelligent, enabling humans to work even closer with their robotic assistants and to deploy robots in even more application scenarios. We are already engineering solutions for medical robotics, consumer electronics manufacturing, and other domains.

Agile Robots SE - Staffelseestraße 8 - 81477 Munich - Germany
Privacy Policy: https://www.agile-robots.com/privacy-policy/
Imprint: https://www.agile-robots.com/imprint/

Similar Jobs

Easy Apply
In-Office
Los Angeles, CA, USA
130 Employees
128K-155K Annually

Clinically AI Logo Clinically AI

Controller

Artificial Intelligence • Healthtech • Software
In-Office
San Diego, CA, USA
23 Employees
100K-130K Annually

Mytra Logo Mytra

Controller

Artificial Intelligence • Robotics • Software • Automation
In-Office
Brisbane, CA, USA
154 Employees
180K-200K Annually

Similar Companies Hiring

Idler Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence
San Francisco, California
6 Employees
Fairly Even Thumbnail
Software • Sales • Robotics • Other • Hospitality • Hardware
New York, NY
Bellagent Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Business Intelligence • Generative AI
Chicago, IL
20 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account