About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is for an FP&A Manager who will work closely with R&D and COGS teams to create financial forecasts and insights that guide executive decisions. You'll be responsible for financial modeling and reporting, ensuring that the company's rapid growth is matched by robust financial controls and transparency.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have 4+ years of experience in FP&A or corporate finance, preferably in a SaaS setting. Strong Excel skills and a solid grasp of SaaS metrics are essential, along with a collaborative working style.

Worth noting

The role is high-visibility and involves direct interaction with executives, which could be a great opportunity for career advancement. However, the salary is listed as starting from $0, which is unusual and may indicate a lack of clarity on compensation.

About Handshake

Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.

In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We’ve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.

Why join Handshake now:

Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

The Role

As FP&A Manager, reporting to the Senior Director, FP&A, you will serve as a strategic finance partner to our R&D and COGS leaders, ensuring our financial models, forecasts, and reporting infrastructure scale with Handshake’s rapid growth across Careers and Handshake AI. This is a high-visibility role partnering directly with executives to shape investment decisions, improve forecast accuracy, and drive financial rigor across the business. Your work will directly influence how we allocate capital, manage margins, and plan for long-term growth.

What you’ll do:

Own FP&A business partnering for R&D and COGS to deliver accurate forecasts and actionable insights that inform executive decision-making
Lead COGS forecasting and classification (above-the-line vs. below-the-line, production vs. non-production) to ensure accurate gross margin and P&L representation
Design a traceable cost allocation methodology between Careers and Handshake AI to drive transparent margin reporting and scalable financial controls
Partner with BizOps, Accounting to improve internal processes and ensure sound investment decisions

You Have

Must-Haves

4+ years of FP&A, strategic finance, corporate finance, or related experience in a SaaS environment
Strong Excel modeling skills, including financial statement and variance analysis
Advanced 3-statement and subscription modeling expertise in Excel
Deep understanding of SaaS KPIs, gross margin dynamics, and GAAP accounting principles
Direct experience owning or forecasting COGS and R&D spend
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure costs (e.g. GCP/AWS) and AI-driven cost structures
Track record of improving forecast accuracy and building scalable financial processes
Comfortable partnering directly with business leaders and translating complex data into clear recommendations
Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex models into clear business insights
Excitement about building financial infrastructure in a fast-scaling, AI-driven company

Bonus Points

Experience with Salesforce, NetSuite, Adaptive, or similar systems
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure costs (e.g., GCP/AWS) or AI-driven cost structures

We Offer

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Skills & Tags

go aws gcp ai data product design sales

Aplyr's read

Handshake is a dynamic career networking platform connecting students with employers, ideal for tech-savvy individuals passionate about bridging education and career opportunities.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Handshake's focus on student-employer connections addresses a specific niche in the recruitment market.
•Recent roles emphasize innovation in AI and technology, suggesting a forward-thinking work environment.
•The platform's growth offers opportunities in diverse fields from software engineering to strategic management.

What to watch

•Competition from established recruitment platforms may challenge Handshake's market position.
•Rapid expansion might strain resources and affect company culture.
•Limited public information about employee satisfaction and internal career development.

Why Handshake

•Handshake specifically targets the student demographic, setting it apart from general job platforms.
•The company's integration of AI in recruitment processes highlights a commitment to technological advancement.
•Handshake's partnerships with educational institutions enhance its credibility and reach within the student community.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?