At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic finance initiatives and negotiate complex commercial agreements.
- Company: Join Lila Sciences, a pioneering AI-driven biotech company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible time off, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while working on groundbreaking projects.
- Qualifications: 6-10 years in finance with experience in deal structuring and negotiation.
The predicted salary is between 138600 - 169400 £ per year.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is looking for an Associate Director / Director, Strategic Finance to join our Strategic Finance team.
This role sits at the center of the highest-stakes financial workstreams in the company: structuring the complex, multi-year commercial agreements that underpin Lila's partner revenue, supporting the fundraising activity that fuels our scale-up, and partnering with leadership on revenue forecasting and capital allocation across the business.
You’ll operate as the connective tissue between Commercial, Legal, Science, and Finance on live deals, and between the CFO’s office and outside investors and counsel on capital raises.
The role carries real ownership of the operational workstreams around each deal, including negotiation logistics, diligence coordination, contract lifecycle tracking, and cross-team sequencing, alongside the underlying financial analysis.
This is a high‑visibility seat with regular exposure to executive, board, and investor‑level work, on a small, senior, fast‑moving team, based on‑site in our Cambridge office.
This role is well‑suited to someone with a transactional finance background (banking, corporate development, venture/growth investing, or strategic finance) who is energized by deal complexity, comfortable operating across legal, commercial, and operational workstreams simultaneously, and can bring structure to ambiguity under tight timelines.
- What You’ll Be Building
- Structure and model economics for complex, multi-year strategic partnerships and commercial agreements with customers, including platform/access fees, usage-based and milestone-gated pricing, royalty and buyout mechanics, and tiered rate cards
- Own the operational cadence of deal execution: track open issues, sequence workstreams, and keep Legal, Commercial, and Science aligned on timelines from term sheet through signature
- Partner with Legal (internal and outside counsel) on contract negotiation and redlines, including IP infringement representations and indemnity bundles, license grant structure, and liability caps
- Build and maintain deal comparables and competitive pricing benchmarks to inform negotiation strategy across customer segments
- Support revenue recognition analysis for multi-element arrangements, including option rights, cost-sharing structures, and milestone-based contracts
- Act as a thought partner and operational point person to Commercial and Science leads throughout deal structuring, from initial pricing frameworks through signed agreement and handoff to delivery teams
- Support end-to-end fundraising processes, including cap table modeling, SAFE conversion mechanics, pro forma ownership analysis, and round structuring
- Coordinate the operational mechanics of a live raise: data room management, diligence request tracking, and sequencing across investors, outside counsel, and internal stakeholders
- Build and maintain investor‑facing materials, including data room contents, diligence questionnaire (DDQ) responses, and board/investor decks
- Model dilution scenarios and support negotiation of round terms, including valuation, anchor investor terms, and pro‑rata rights
- Build and maintain revenue forecasts by customer segment and product line, partnering with the Commercial team to translate deal‑level assumptions and pipeline activity into a company‑wide view
- Partner with senior leadership on capital allocation decisions across teams and program areas, weighing scientific priorities, market opportunity, and expected returns
- Develop frameworks and analysis that help leadership compare investment options across programs on a consistent basis
- Serve as a connective point across Finance, Legal, Commercial, and Science, translating between deal economics, contract terms, and operational execution
- Partner with Accounting on revenue recognition treatment and audit support for complex, negotiated contracts
- Build scalable tools, templates, and frameworks (pricing models, deal trackers, financial models) that raise the bar on analytical rigor and deal velocity across the team
- Operate with high ownership in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment; move fast with an 80/20 mindset while knowing when precision matters
- What You’ll Need to Succeed
- 6-10+ years in investment banking, corporate development, venture capital/growth equity, strategic finance, or a related transactional finance field; startup or scale‑up experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience structuring and negotiating complex, multi-year commercial agreements
- Fluency in venture financing mechanics (SAFEs, priced rounds, cap tables, liquidation preferences) and comfort supporting live fundraising processes
- Working knowledge of revenue recognition concepts (ASC 606) and the ability to translate contract terms into financial and accounting outcomes
- Experience building revenue forecasts across multiple segments or product lines, and comfort developing capital allocation recommendations under uncertainty
- Strong financial modeling skills, with the ability to build from scratch in ambiguous, fast-changing situations
- Proven ability to drive cross‑functional workstreams and keep Legal, Commercial, and Science aligned on timelines and deliverables
- Clear, direct communicator who can operate cross‑functionally with Legal, Commercial, and executive stakeholders, and distill complexity for senior leadership and investors
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or a related field (MBA or CFA a plus but not required)
- Bonus Points For
- Prior experience in biotech, pharma, deep tech, or AI-native company environments
- Background in M&A diligence or corporate development transaction support
- Direct experience negotiating contract redlines and familiarity with IP, indemnification, and licensing terms
- Experience in an institutional investing seat (VC, growth equity, or banking coverage of growth‑stage companies)
- Experience preparing materials for board or investor audiences
Compensation
We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early‑stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.
U. S. Benefits.
- medical, dental, and vision coverage
- employer‑paid life and disability insurance
- flexible time off with generous company wide holidays
- paid parental leave
- an educational assistance program
- commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees
- company subsidized lunch program
International Benefits.
- Full‑time employees outside the U. S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region.
- USD salary ranges apply only to U. S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.
- Expected Base Salary Range
- About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges.
We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI.
Rather than hard‑coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy.
Learn more at www. lila. ai.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance.
We’re All In
Lila Sciences iscommitted to equal employment opportunityregardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates.
The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team.
Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
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Associate Director / Director, Strategic Finance in Cambridge employer: Lilasciences
At Lila Sciences, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Principal or Principal Software Engineer in our AI Lab Execution System team, you will have the opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects that directly impact scientific discovery while enjoying comprehensive benefits, flexible time off, and a commitment to employee growth through mentorship and educational assistance. Join us in a dynamic environment where your contributions will shape the future of AI in science, all while working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to solving humanity's greatest challenges.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director / Director, Strategic Finance in Cambridge
✨Tap into Campus Networks
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
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We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director / Director, Strategic Finance in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Lilasciences.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Lilasciences
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Lilasciences.
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✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Lilasciences employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
