Director, FP&A (R&D)

Company Description

Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of “solutions” that promise to simplify their lives. To create a better experience for their customers and employees. To help them grow. Software is a choice that can make or break a business. Create better or worse experiences. Propel or throttle growth. Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done. 

There’s another option. Freshworks. With a fresh vision for how the world works.

At Freshworks, we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Over 72,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. And, over 4,500 Freshworks employees make this possible, all around the world. 

Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.

Job Description

Freshworks is seeking a Director of R&D FP&A to support our Product and Engineering teams. In this role, you will work closely with senior leadership, particularly within the Product and Engineering teams, to provide actionable insights that drive key business decisions. Your ability to balance analytical rigor with effective communication across non-financial stakeholders will be essential for success. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments and has a track record in the high-tech industry, particularly in managing cloud expenses and infrastructure. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Cloud Optimization Leadership: Lead the tracking and reporting of Public Cloud optimization efforts, providing insights into cloud spend and unit economics to drive cost-effective strategies for the engineering team. 
• Vendor Negotiation & Selection: Manage large subscription POs, assisting in vendor selection by conducting price comparisons and building make-or-buy business cases. 
• Strategic Planning: Act as a trusted advisor to Product leadership, helping to refine our 1-and 3-year strategic plans. Identify risks and opportunities that influence business growth and lead to data-driven investment decisions. 
• Operational Excellence: Collaborate with corporate and GTM FP&A teams to develop and monitor KPIs that guide decision-making and ensure alignment with strategic and financial goals. 
• Financial Modeling: Develop financial models that analyze key business scenarios, providing insights that influence go-to-market strategies, including marketing investments and ROI analysis. 
• Financial Reporting: Produce financial reports (e.g., month-end close, variance explanations) to provide transparency into business performance and financial drivers. Liaise with the Accounting team and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment. 
• Process Improvement: Champion continuous improvement efforts by streamlining, automating, and standardizing financial processes and reporting. 

Please note this is a hybrid role with onsite expectations of 3x/week (Tues - Thurs) from our San Mateo, CA headquarters. 

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in FP&A, management consulting, investment banking, or related fields, with at least 1 year in a supervisory role 
• Proven expertise in managing Public Cloud expenses (AWS, Google Cloud) and optimizing infrastructure purchase orders
• Deep knowledge of financial modeling and analysis, including advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets
• Strong ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leaders to drive business outcomes and key decisions 
• Experience leading teams and driving operational improvements in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment 
• Solid accounting knowledge, particularly in software/SaaS models
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to synthesize large volumes of data into insightful recommendations to the executive leadership team
• Highly motivated, self-starter with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, simultaneously manage several priorities, and challenge the status quo to lead change and operational improvements
• Experience with SaaS/Cloud Computing business model is a plus 
• MBA is a plus 

Additional Information

This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the expected base salary range for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, business needs, and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role is also eligible for a target bonus. 

Compensation Package

$213,600 - $280,000 Base Salary + Variable Compensation

At Freshworks, we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion, welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees, communities, and business. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.