Strategic Finance Associate

STRATEGIC FINANCE ASSOCIATE Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.  We are looking for an Associate to join our Strategic Finance team and contribute to the financial infrastructure that drives company-wide decision-making. This is an early-career role with significant ownership and visibility. You will support the financial models that power our planning cycles, assist with M&A and partnership activity, and work alongside leadership as a hands-on analytical contributor. If you are eager to develop deep financial modeling skills in a fast-moving environment and want your work to have direct influence on a company scaling a world-changing technology, this role is for you.    Responsibilities:  Own and maintain the company’s fully integrated financial model, including three-statement modeling, bottoms-up budget build, and rolling forecasts across all business units  Lead monthly and quarterly variance analysis (actuals vs. budget vs. prior year), translating financial results into clear, executive-ready commentary for leadership and the Board  Build and maintain customer and product-level pricing models, including unit economics, contribution margin by segment, and scenario/sensitivity analysis to support commercial decisions  Lead financial modeling for M&A opportunities, including target evaluation, DCF/LBO valuation, synergy modeling, accretion/dilution analysis, and post-close integration tracking  Own the long-range financial plan (3–5 year), converting strategic initiatives into detailed financial projections with well-documented assumptions and risk sensitivities  Support structuring and evaluation of joint ventures and strategic partnerships, including economic modeling, waterfall/return attribution, and term sheet analysis  Drive capital allocation frameworks across the business, helping leadership evaluate trade-offs between organic investment, M&A, and balance sheet decisions  Prepare board materials, investor reporting, and ad hoc analyses for senior leadership and external stakeholders including venture and growth equity investors  Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Sales, and Engineering to embed financial rigor into business decisions and provide real-time analytical support on strategic initiatives  Basic Qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, or related field  2+ years of experience in investment banking, private equity, or a strategic finance role at a high-growth company  Experience with variance analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting in an operating company context  Nice to Have:  MBA or advanced degree in finance or business  Exceptional financial modeling skills  Strong command of Excel; comfortable working with large, complex datasets and building dynamic, assumption-driven models  Private equity or growth equity experience, particularly at the portfolio company level  Experience working in a manufacturing, deep tech, or hardware-intensive business  Experience with financial planning tools (Mosaic, Pigment, Adaptive, or similar)  “No job too big or small” mindset — willing to roll up sleeves and build from zero  Location:  Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA’s deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country.  Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions. Why Freeform?  We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology Benefits  Significant stock option packages  100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)  Life insurance  Traditional and Roth 401(k)  Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays  Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent  Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette  Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events  Compensation  As an early-stage startup, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.  In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $110,000 – $135,000. The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact.  Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.  Offices: El Segundo, California, United States (Headquarters);