Director, Financial Planning & Analysis

DescriptionAt Photonic the Director, FP&A is the senior strategic finance leader responsible for owning and building out the company's financial planning and analysis function. Reporting directly to the CFO, this role assumes ownership of an early-stage FP&A foundation — board reporting, budgeting, and reforecast cadences are in place — and is responsible for formalizing, deepening, and scaling that foundation into a function with the rigour the company's growth requires. The Director defines what that looks like, sets the standard, and builds toward it.
The Director owns the output directly, supported by a dedicated finance resource. The right candidate is a senior FP&A practitioner who has formalized and scaled finance functions before, can step into day-to-day execution immediately, and has the communication skills to work effectively across technical and non-finance stakeholders.
WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DOFinancial Planning & Forecasting

• Own the annual budgeting process — coordinate cross-functional submissions, consolidate inputs, challenge assumptions, and deliver a board-ready financial plan
• Maintain a rolling forecast, update projections monthly, and communicate changes and drivers to the CFO and executive team
• Build and maintain milestone-based financial models reflecting R&D development gates, capital deployment schedule, and path to commercial revenue
• Lead scenario analysis and sensitivity modelling to support capital allocation and development sequencing decisions

Performance Reporting & Business Partnering

• Produce monthly and quarterly budget-to-actual variance analysis with clear driver explanations across R&D spend, headcount, and operating expenditure
• Track and report on pre-commercial financial metrics: burn rate, cash runway, R&D spend efficiency, headcount-to-milestone ratios, and capital deployment pacing
• Build and maintain KPI dashboards and management reporting frameworks for internal leadership and board use
• Partner with department leads on financial context, headcount tracking, and spend analysis

Function Building

• Formalise and extend FP&A templates, cadences, and reporting standards — building on the existing foundation toward a scalable, audit-ready function
• Evaluate and improve FP&A tooling in coordination with the Finance Systems & Data Lead
• Leverage AI-enabled tools (e.g., Copilot, AI-assisted modelling/automation) to improve forecast accuracy, accelerate analysis, and streamline recurring reporting workflows
• Define the FP&A operating model — review cadences, stakeholder touchpoints, and reporting rhythms across the business
• Build and document FP&A processes to a standard that supports scale, audit readiness, and continuity
• Coordinate with Sr. Accountant, Strategic Finance for actuals data, operational inputs, and variance preparation
• Define team structure and hiring roadmap as the function scales

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

• CPA designation (CPA Canada)
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience with direct ownership of budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• 5+ years owning FP&A at a senior level with demonstrated experience building and/or significantly scaling FP&A functions.
• Demonstrated experience building FP&A infrastructure in an R&D-intensive or pre-commercial technology environment
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a finance team, including defining roles, hiring, and developing talent
• Fluency in pre-commercial financial metrics: burn rate, cash runway, R&D spend efficiency, headcount-to-milestone ratios, and capital deployment tracking
• Strong communication skills — able to translate financial complexity for non-finance stakeholders including scientists and engineers
• Advanced financial modelling proficiency; experience with FP&A planning tools (Adaptive Insights or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience using AI tools to accelerate analysis, automate repeatable work, and enhance clarity and quality of deliverables (with strong judgment around data confidentiality)

Preferred Qualifications

• CFA designation is a strong asset
• SQL or BI tool proficiency (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)
• Experience supporting a fundraising round or public company readiness process in Canada
• Familiarity with transitioning financial models from R&D-stage to commercial-stage, including as-a-service or usage-based revenue frameworks
• BCom or degree in Commerce, Business Administration, or Accounting; MBA an asset

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH US

• Work closely with some of the brightest innovators in quantum technologies to drive breakthroughs that redefine computing
• Enjoy a fast-paced and fun environment where you can try new things while solving innovative challenges every day
• Inclusive company culture that values collaboration
• Regular social events and fun activities keep our global team connected
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, stock options, and relocation assistance for global talent
• Comprehensive benefits including extended health, dental, life, long term disability, an employee assistance program, parental leave top-ups, and a flexible spending account

The description above is what we think an ideal candidate would look like for this role. At Photonic, we understand that everyone has a different work and life journey. If you feel your experience is close to what we've described, but you might not meet all the requirements, please still apply! All roles listed are for current vacancies. While artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in reviewing applicant profiles, they do not determine candidate outcomes. Our hiring decisions are made by people, not algorithms. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees' differences, knowing that these very differences inspire innovation and build better teams. If there are any accommodations our team can make throughout our hiring process, please let us know.