Location: Palo Alto, CA (hybrid)
ERGO NEXT’s mission is to help entrepreneurs thrive. We’re doing that by building the only technology-led, full-stack provider of small business insurance in the industry, taking on the entire value chain and transforming the customer experience.
Simply put, wherever you find small businesses, you’ll find ERGO NEXT.
Since 2016, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of small business customers across the United States get fast, customized and affordable coverage. We’re backed by industry leaders in insurance and tech, and we still have room to grow — that’s where you come in.
About the role:
ERGO NEXT is building its Finance organization to be AI-native — starting with reinventing how we forecast the business from the ground up. We're looking for a Strategic Finance Manager, AI & Forecasting to help lead this transformation: someone with strong core strategic finance fundamentals who is equally excited to redesign forecasting, planning, and reporting workflows around AI/LLM-based tools rather than layering AI on top of legacy spreadsheet processes. Reporting to the Head of Revenue & Growth FP&A, this is a high-visibility, high-impact role at the intersection of strategic finance and applied AI, with the mandate to define what "AI-native FP&A" looks like at ERGO NEXT.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the redesign of the topline revenue forecasting process from the ground up, using AI/LLM-based tools and workflows in place of legacy manual, spreadsheet-driven approaches
- Partner with Finance and Data Science to identify, evaluate, and implement AI tools and agentic workflows that improve the speed, accuracy, and scalability of forecasting and planning
- Drive long-range and annual planning process while building repeatable, AI-assisted modeling and reporting frameworks
- Spearhead strategic finance activities applying AI-driven analysis to accelerate diligence and scenario modeling
- Partner cross-functionally to define and automate KPI tracking, using AI to surface insights and recommendations faster than traditional analysis allows
- Prepare Board materials and executive presentations, incorporating AI-generated analysis and scenario modeling to sharpen the narrative
- Act as an internal champion and educator for AI adoption within Finance, documenting playbooks and mentoring team members as new tools and workflows are rolled out
What We Need:
- BA/BS in finance, accounting, economics, or a quantitative discipline
- 4–6 years of finance experience in a fast-paced environment with a track record of success (background in investment banking, corporate development, or strategic finance a plus)
- Genuine enthusiasm for AI tools (e.g., LLM-based agents, AI-powered modeling/analysis platforms) and a track record of adopting or building workflows around them — prior hands-on use of tools like Claude, ChatGPT, or similar in a finance/analytics context strongly preferred
- Ability to break down and solve complex, ambiguous problems with strong business acumen and data-driven techniques, including comfort redesigning a process rather than just operating an existing one
- Basic technical fluency (e.g., SQL, Python, or low-code/AI tooling) sufficient to prototype or evaluate AI-driven finance workflows a plus, though not required
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
- High degree of reliability and integrity, with sound judgment operating in a newly-defined, ambiguous role
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to bring both technical and non-technical stakeholders along on a change-management journey
Please note, we do not ask for sensitive information via chat, text, or social media, and any email communications will come from the domain @next-insurance.com or @nextinsurance.com. Additionally, Next Insurance will never ask for payment, fees, or purchases to be made by a job applicant. All applicants are encouraged to apply directly to our open jobs via the careers page on our website. Interviews are generally conducted via Zoom video conference unless the candidate requests other accommodations.
If you believe that you have been the target of an interview/offer scam by someone posing as a representative of Next Insurance, please do not provide any personal or financial information. You can find additional information about this type of scam and report any fraudulent employment offers via the Federal Trade Commission's website (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams), or you can contact your local law enforcement agency.
The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire base salaries for the position in the location(s) listed. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including, without limitation, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. ERGO NEXT employees are also potentially eligible for our annual performance-based incentive program, in addition to our benefits package, consisting of our partially subsidized medical plan, fully subsidized vision/dental options, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k), flexible paid time off, parental leave and more.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some underrepresented people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ERGO NEXT, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
One of our core values is 'Play as a Team'; this means making sure everyone has an equal chance to participate and make a difference. We win by playing together. ERGO Next Insurance is an equal opportunity employer and prioritizes building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants of any type and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job-related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state, and local laws. ERGO Next's policy is to comply with all applicable laws related to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.