About the role:

At Samsara, the Finance & Strategy (F&S) team is dedicated to optimizing capital allocation by delivering insightful data analysis, fostering strategic business partnerships, and implementing scalable processes. Our mission is to guide the company toward long-term success by developing an optimal operating plan, delivering accurate forecasts and annual operating plans, and ensuring that the business consistently meets or exceeds its targets. Additionally, we are committed to scaling F&S systems and driving cross-functional collaboration across the organization.

We are seeking a Financial Analyst to take ownership of managing R&D program expenses from budget creation through performance tracking. In this role, you will work closely with engineering and product leaders, as well as accounting teams, to provide financial and strategic insights that support decision-making and cost optimization. You will conduct comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency. Your responsibilities will include managing the end-to-end budgeting process for R&D, tracking financial performance against forecasts, and providing leadership with timely insights through financial reporting. Moreover, you will play a key role in developing scalable processes that align with the company’s financial goals and contribute to its long-term success.

This role is open to candidates residing in the US except Alaska, Austin metro, California, Chicago metro, Connecticut, Dallas metro, Denver metro, Houston metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and Washington DC metro.

You should apply if:

• You want to impact the industries that run our world: Your efforts will result in real-world impact—helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, reduce emissions, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
• You are the architect of your own career: If you put in the work, this role won’t be your last at Samsara. We set up our employees for success and have built a culture that encourages rapid career development, countless opportunities to experiment and master your craft in a hyper growth environment.
• You’re energized by our opportunity: The vision we have to digitize large sectors of the global economy requires your full focus and best efforts to bring forth creative, ambitious ideas for our customers.
• You want to be with the best: At Samsara, we win together, celebrate together and support each other. You will be surrounded by a high-calibre team that will encourage you to do your best.

In this role, you will:

• Assist in financial planning and analysis by building and maintaining models for forecasting, budgeting, and cost analysis for R&D functions.
• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports to track company performance.
• Conduct variance analysis to compare actual results against budgets and forecasts, identifying key drivers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide insights and support decision-making processes.
• Partner with R&D business partners to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive process improvements, fostering a collaborative approach to financial management.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data by managing financial databases and reporting systems.
• Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices.

Minimum requirements for the role:

• 1-3 years of experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A).
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Advanced skills in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Familiarity with financial statements (income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements) and their analysis.
• Experience in building automated Excel reports.
• Solid understanding of corporate finance concepts such as budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Problem-solving abilities with a proactive approach to identifying and solving financial challenges, with a focus on driving efficiency and cost optimization.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in all work.

An ideal candidate also has:

• Proficiency with AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Glean, Cursor, etc.) and SQL, Databricks, or BI tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI)
• Proficiency in FP&A tools, such as Workday Adaptive Planning (or similar planning systems), NetSuite, and
• Eagerness to learn and grow professionally, with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, able to explain financial concepts and data to non-financial stakeholders.