Head of Finance

Adaptyv seeks a hands-on Head of Finance to build its first finance function from scratch, focusing on automation, AI-driven financial modeling, and strategic oversight for a fast-growing biotech startup.

As the inaugural finance hire at Adaptyv, this role is designed to construct a modern, automated financial infrastructure rather than perform routine bookkeeping. The position focuses on creating a self-running finance stack where forecasting, closing, cash visibility, and margin analysis are largely automated. The successful candidate will bridge operational realities with financial strategy, ensuring robust models that tie lab capacity and physical costs directly to cash flow and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive financial forecasts by combining bottom-up lab capacity data with top-down P&L, burn rate, and runway projections.
• Conduct detailed gross margin analysis, tracking cost per experiment and evaluating profitability across products and customer segments.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to define and refine pricing strategies.
• Oversee the monthly financial close process, including group consolidation and intercompany transactions.
• Manage cash flow operations, including bank and card accounts, accounts payable and receivable, and payment scheduling.
• Ensure strict compliance with tax regulations, VAT, audit requirements, payroll processing, and coordination with external firms.
• Prepare investor reports, support fundraising efforts, and manage treasury activities.
• Handle equipment leasing and asset management for laboratory instruments.
• Drive the automation of all finance-related functions to reduce manual effort.

Requirements

• Proven experience establishing a finance function from the ground up within a scaling startup environment.
• Strong ability to build robust financial models that accurately link operational metrics to cash flow.
• Technical proficiency in SQL is required; Python experience is preferred.
• Deep understanding of cost structures in physical businesses, including reagents, instruments, and the distinction between capex and COGS.
• Familiarity with Swiss and European financial regulations, including VAT, social charges, and employment law.

Nice to have

• Experience managing financial operations for both US and Swiss entities.
• Prior background in finance for lab environments, hardware, or manufacturing sectors.

What the company offers

• The unique opportunity to serve as the first finance hire and architect the entire finance department.
• High level of autonomy and trust granted by the founding team.
• The chance to contribute to impactful work at the intersection of biotechnology and AI-driven wet lab experimentation.

About the company

Adaptyv is recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the biotech sector, earning the trust of leading biopharmaceutical firms and frontier AI laboratories. Operating in the era of agentic science, the company leverages AI models to design proteins and propose scientific hypotheses. The organization utilizes tools like Claude Code across its teams and values ambitious individuals who are deeply committed to the mission over formal titles.

• Join a rapidly expanding biotech company trusted by industry leaders.
• Work in a cutting-edge environment focused on agentic science and AI-driven experimentation.
• Collaborate with a team that prioritizes mission-driven ambition over hierarchical titles.
• Utilize modern AI tools like Claude Code to enhance organizational efficiency.