Head of Finance

About Echelon and the Role

Echelon is a Saudi-born sovereign technology company focused on bringing global AI technologies to the Kingdom. The company deploys these technologies with its engineering organization, integrates partner technology into Echelon IP, and productizes Saudi-developed capabilities over time. Echelon operates with a single aggregated P&L at the group level, measures business units by contribution margin, and uses a published framework for pricing open seats. The company is establishing a Delegation of Authority with quarterly expenditure ceilings. Accounting has been managed by an outsourced provider to date.

Echelon is seeking a Head of Finance to build and own the finance function end-to-end. This full-time role, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involves leading the group through its first institutional funding round and its first audited year as a multi-entity company. The successful candidate will define the financial methodology and grow the finance team in alignment with the group's expansion.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the monthly close and management reporting for the group and by business unit, ensuring reliability for the Management Committee and the Board.
• Oversee the budget, quarterly forecast, and five-year financial model as the single source of truth, reconciled with the Board pack and partnership strategy.
• Manage cash, treasury, statutory accounts, tax, and audit for the Saudi operating company and the holding company, including transitioning accounting in-house to a suitable ledger and ERP system.
• Own the finance aspects of the Delegation of Authority, covering expenditure approvals against quarterly ceilings and providing the Finance perspective on all seat releases.
• Manage the data room, provide deal support, and handle the financial aspects of term sheets, including partner revenue-share economics and transfer pricing.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in finance.
• Qualified with CPA, ACCA, CA, or an equivalent certification.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in personally owning a financial close, forecast, and audit, beyond just review.
• Working knowledge of ZATCA, GOSI, and Saudisation reporting requirements, or deep GCC exposure with a willingness to learn these rapidly.
• Experience in a venture-backed or fast-scaling company is valued.
• Proficiency in English is required; Arabic is an advantage.

Core Values and Approach

• Customer First: Measure work by customer outcomes and prioritize accordingly.
• Ownership Mentality: Take full responsibility for outcomes and proactively address issues.
• Clear Communicator: Explain complex information simply to diverse audiences and ensure the value of work is visible.
• Comfortable with Ambiguity: Make progress with incomplete information and enjoy solving problems without existing structures.
• Long-term Builder: Invest in Echelon’s long-term success by integrating learnings into strategy and operations.

Work Environment and Reporting

The Head of Finance will report directly to the Managing Director. This role is based in Riyadh, with travel across the Kingdom as required. The work culture emphasizes precision, curiosity, and composure, with a focus on understanding the underlying reasons for financial movements rather than just reporting them. The ability to quickly learn new jurisdictions, systems, or instruments is essential, along with strong judgment in financial decisions and policy adherence.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation package includes a base salary, housing, transport, and education allowances, medical cover, and equity through the employee equity program. Specific terms will be shared at the offer stage.