Finance & Operations Manager

Finance & Operations Manager

Location: San Francisco, CA, in office 3 days per week

Team: Operations

Reports To: Head of Operations

Works Closely With: Finance Lead

About Laude

Laude Ventures backs the researchers behind tomorrow's breakthroughs, often at the moment of discovery, before a company exists. Founded in 2024 by Pete Sonsini, Andrew Krioukov and Andy Konwinski (co-founder of Databricks and Perplexity), Laude closed its $150M Fund I with more than 50 leading computer scientists and founders as LPs.

We believe research technologists make the best founders, so we give them what we wish we'd had: capital, a network of people who have built category-defining companies, and hands-on support. Laude works alongside the Laude Institute, a nonprofit that funds open research, so our team is part of a broader effort to turn great science into lasting impact.

About the Role

Laude is a focused team backing some of the most ambitious researchers in computer science. As Finance & Operations Manager, you'll keep a clear view of where the money is, where it's going, and what needs to happen next, across both the management company and the fund. You'll help strengthen our finance and operations as Laude scales.

You'll report to our Head of Operations and work day to day with our Finance Lead, who will mentor you on the finance and fund-specific work. We're a flat team by design, so expect direct access to both.

This is a hands-on, execution-focused role, not a controller position. Our fund administrator, outside accountants and tax advisors own the books, audit and tax filings. You make sure they get accurate information on time, and that the internal team gets a clear picture of cash, budget and upcoming deadlines.

You'll see how a venture fund works from the inside, from capital calls and investment closings to LP reporting and tax season, and you'll have room to improve how we work, from better templates to AI-powered automation. You don't need an audit or deep accounting background. If you're organized, sharp with numbers and curious about how venture works, we'll teach you the fund-specific pieces.

Work Location

This role is based at our San Francisco office and requires in-office presence 3 days per week. 

What You'll Do

Budget & Cash Flow Planning

• Maintain the management company operating budget and prepare monthly budget-to-actual reports with short variance commentary for the GPs.
• Build and update a rolling 12-month cash flow forecast for the management company, covering management fee receipts, payroll, rent, vendors and other key outflows.
• Track fund-level cash, including upcoming capital calls, investment wires, reserves and fund expenses, and flag timing needs early.
• Monitor cash balances across management company and fund bank accounts.
• Support the annual budgeting process and ad hoc scenario analysis (new hires, office, events, travel).

External Accounting, Tax & Fund Admin Liaison

• Serve as the day-to-day contact for the fund administrator, outside accountants and tax advisors.
• Gather and send monthly and quarterly close information, including invoices, receipts, bank activity, and investment and closing documents.
• Review draft reports (monthly management company financials, quarterly capital account statements) for obvious errors or missing items before they go to the GPs.
• Coordinate tax season: respond to information requests, track K-1 timing, and help calendar quarterly estimated tax payments.
• Help coordinate responses to auditor requests, working alongside the fund administrator.

Back Office & Fund Operations

• Process accounts payable and expense reimbursements, and reconcile corporate card activity (e.g., Ramp, Bill.com).
• Allocate expenses between the management company and the fund in line with the LPA, with guidance from the fund administrator.
• Support capital calls and distributions.
• Support investment closings: collect wire instructions, follow the firm's wire verification process, track closing checklists, and file signed documents.
• Maintain organized records of fund and portfolio documents (LPA, side letters, subscription documents, investment agreements, cap tables).
• Help with routine LP inquiries, work with fund admin to ensure responses are accurate and timely
• Track recurring compliance and filing deadlines (state annual reports, Form D, Form ADV inputs, insurance renewals) with outside counsel and compliance consultants.
• Support payroll and benefits administration with the PEO or payroll provider.

Reporting & Process Improvement

• Prepare recurring internal reports and dashboards for the GPs (cash position, budget status, upcoming deadlines).
• Help assemble data for quarterly LP reports and diligence requests.
• Document back-office processes and find ways to simplify them with better tools, templates and automation (including AI tools).

What We're Looking For

• 3-5 years of experience in finance, business operations, FP&A, banking, consulting, or finance operations at a startup or investment firm.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills: comfortable building budgets, forecasts and reconciliations from scratch.
• Very organized and detail-oriented, with a habit of double-checking numbers and documents before they go out.
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable following up with outside advisors and LPs professionally.
• Able to manage multiple deadlines on your own in a small, fast-moving team.
• High integrity and discretion with confidential financial and investor information.

Nice to Have

• Exposure to venture capital, private equity, or fund administration (capital calls, management fees, K-1s).
• Experience with Ramp, Bill.com, Carta, Xero, or similar tools. 
• Interest in AI, deep tech, and research-driven startups.
• Curiosity about fund economics and a desire to grow into broader finance or operations leadership as the firm evolves.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $130k - $170k, based on experience. Eligible for a discretionary annual bonus
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k)
• Unlimited PTO
• Paid parental leave

Laude Ventures is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.