Finance & Operation Manager

About Us
Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces.

Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Harmattan AI is establishing a new entity, and as Finance & Operations Manager you will build its administrative, financial, and HR foundations from the ground up while staying aligned with Group standards. You will be the first and only person dedicated to these functions within the new entity, operating with full autonomy across a 360° scope spanning accounting, financial controlling, human resources, and general operations.

This is a hands-on build role, distinct from a steady-state finance function: you create processes rather than simply follow them. A typical day moves between day-to-day operations — cash monitoring, expense processing, answering employee HR queries — and deeper project work such as monthly close preparation, account reconciliations, and coordination with the local accountant and public administrations. You will work closely with the Head of Finance and HQ Operations to keep reporting and Group-wide processes aligned. Initially a team of one, the role is expected to grow into a small local Finance & Ops team as the entity scales.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Entity Setup: Stand up the administrative and accounting structure of the new entity — bank account opening, relationships with the local accountant/fiduciary, and ERP configuration.

HR & Operations: Deploy local HR and operations processes, including onboarding, payroll management, and compliance with local labour law and other regulations.

Financial Reporting: Establish monthly financial reporting from the entity to Group level, covering cash burn, P&L, and balance sheet.

Procurement & Expense: Structure procurement processes and the expense policy, and deploy a reimbursement framework locally.

Group Alignment: Coordinate with the Head of Finance to align accounting standards and tools, and integrate the entity into Group consolidated reporting.

Provider Management: Manage relationships with local service providers — accountants, lawyers, insurers, suppliers — and with local tax and social security administrations.

Audit & Scale: Prepare the annual audit, coordinate with the local accountant, and document scalable processes that support team growth.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Senior finance & operations professional with proven experience managing an entity’s full finance and ops scope autonomously.

Autonomous management of accounting and monthly close for an entity (SME or subsidiary), including bank reconciliations and P&L / cash flow reporting.

Deployment or administration of an HRIS and payroll management, with hands-on employee administration and local labour-law compliance.

Implementation of procurement processes and an expense policy.

Production of financial reports (P&L, cash flow, cash burn) for senior management or a Group.

Higher education in finance, accounting, or management at Master’s level or equivalent (business school, CCA, DSCG, or equivalent).

Fluent French and professional English; a strong communicator in an international environment.

Autonomous, proactive, rigorous, and pragmatic — able to build and execute at the same time, and comfortable with ambiguity and shifting priorities in an early-stage entity.

NICE TO HAVE

Experience in an international or multi-entity context.

Experience in a startup or scale-up environment.

Background in the subsidiary of an international group (Finance Manager, CFO Deputy, Head of Admin & Finance) or a tech startup/scale-up with a Finance & Ops scope.

Accounting-firm experience with client-side exposure.

WHY THIS ROLE

This is a rare opportunity to be the founding Finance & Operations Manager of a new entity within a fast-growing deep tech company. You will have direct visibility with leadership and complete ownership to build the operational and financial infrastructure of the entity — a highly formative, high-impact experience.

We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.