Head of Strategic Finance, Product & Engineering

The Role

The EPD Finance function is a strategic partner to Plaid’s world-class Engineering, Product, and Design (EPD) organization. The team owns product-level revenue and gross margin forecasting, R&D investment planning, and the analytical frameworks that guide how Plaid deploys capital — and serves as a critical voice in long-range strategic and capital allocation decisions. As Head of EPD Finance, you will work closely with Engineering, Product, Design, GTM, Data, Accounting, and the Executive team to ensure our R&D engine and product portfolio deliver durable, compounding returns.

You will report directly to the CFO and act as the primary finance partner to our CPO and CTO — their go-to thought partner on strategy, resource allocation, and execution across the EPD organization. You will inherit a lean, talented team with plans to scale appropriately over time.

Responsibilities

• Revenue & Gross Margin Forecasting — Build product-level forecasts that accurately predict Plaid’s topline performance in the near and mid-term. Construct long-term forecasts that balance bottoms-up and top-down methodologies to help size Plaid’s commercial opportunity 3–5 years into the future.
• Resource Allocation — Partner with the CPO and CTO on capital deployment, including headcount planning by key function and team, capacity modeling that maps directly to the product roadmap, the EPD AI tooling approach, and scenario planning. Identify opportunities to optimize COGS and opex in ways that increase velocity, while remaining disciplined on costs.
• Performance Visibility & Tracking — Own EPD performance tracking and reporting. Ensure we focus on the highest-signal metrics, including service delivery to customers. Partner with Data teams on data hygiene, timeliness, and the granularity needed to inform decisions across EPD and the broader business.
• Cross-functional Partnership — Build trusted relationships across the company, acting as the connective tissue between EPD and the rest of the business — and especially between Product and GTM, where you’ll provide counsel and analytical support on cross-functional priorities.
• Board Reporting — Own the Product narrative for quarterly Board meetings: business performance, strategic progress against near- and long-term goals, and a forward-looking perspective — synthesized into compelling, executive-ready materials.
• Team Building — Define the future-state of the EPD Finance team and execute against it. Hire, develop, and lead a high-performing team capable of operating at the pace and complexity of a scaled growth-stage business. Be a strong collaborator with peer Finance leads, and set the example for how your team partners with the rest of the Finance org.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in Finance, with a background spanning management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or strategic finance at a high-growth technology company
• Deep fluency in product P&L finance — you can move fluidly between product-level revenue forecasting, gross margin analysis, headcount and capacity planning, and software economics without losing the narrative thread
• Exceptional analytical rigor paired with sharp business judgment — you know when the model needs more work and when it’s time to make a call
• A genuine builder with a player-coach approach: you’re energized by defining what “great” looks like and building the team and systems to get there
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing finance teams
• Executive presence and exceptional communication skills — written, verbal, and visual — with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, technical leaders, and Board-level audiences
• Prior experience partnering with engineering and product leaders is a strong plus; fintech or financial services experience is a plus, but not required

Our mission at Plaid is to unlock financial freedom for everyone. To support that mission, we seek to build a diverse team of driven individuals who care deeply about making the financial ecosystem more equitable. We recognize that strong qualifications can come from both prior work experiences and lived experiences. We encourage you to apply to a role even if your experience doesn't fully match the job description. We are always looking for team members that will bring something unique to Plaid!

Plaid is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion or religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, military or veteran status, disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Plaid is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance with your application or interviews due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations@plaid.com.

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Additional compensation in the form(s) of equity and/or commission are dependent on the position offered. Plaid provides a comprehensive benefit plan, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Pay is based on factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience and skillset, and location. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.