Job description
Stem is a global leader reimagining technology to support the energy transition. Turning complexity into clarity, and potential into performance. We help asset owners, operators and stakeholders benefit from the full value of their energy portfolio by enabling the intelligent development, deployment, and operation of clean energy assets. Our integrated software suite, PowerTrack, is the industry standard and best-in-class for asset monitoring, supported by professional and managed services, under one roof. Meant to tackle challenges as seamlessly as possible, Stem shows the information needed clearly and accurately and helps harness raw data to inform actionable insight. With global projects managed in 55 countries - from Germany to Japan and across North America - customers have relied on Stem for nearly 20 years to maximize the value of their clean energy projects.
Stem's culture embodies diversity & inclusion beyond the traditional facets of gender, ethnicity, age, disabilities, and sexual orientation to include experience, personality, communication, work styles, and more. At our core, Stem is at the momentous intersection of clean energy and software technology where diverse ideas, experiences, and professional skills converge to make the inclusive culture we have today. Together, we are turning old school thoughts about software and energy into progressive, collaborative, and innovative solutions. By joining our team, you will be collaborating with data scientists, energy experts, skilled salespeople, thought-leading executives and more from a range of backgrounds. This intersection of ideas, beliefs, and skills is what makes us unique enough to lead the world's largest network of digitally connected energy storage systems.
About the Role
Stem Inc., a publicly traded company on the NYSE, is looking for a Sr. Director of Financial Planning & Analysis to lead the FP&A function's strategic planning, forecasting, and business analysis activities across the company. This role leads the activities of the FP&A function through subordinate managers, participates with the CFO and senior finance leadership to establish strategic plans and objectives, and ensures operational effectiveness across budgeting, forecasting, and business partnering company-wide.
What You'll Do
- Lead the end-to-end FP&A function: annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, long-range financial planning, and monthly management reporting.
- Participate with the CFO and senior finance leadership in establishing strategic financial plans and objectives; translate strategy into functional plans and guide execution.
- Own creation and management of leadership, board, and investor-ready materials.
- Direct the build and maintenance of financial models covering revenue, opex, headcount, cash flow, and unit economics to support scenario planning and strategic decisions.
- Oversee the monthly and quarterly close-to-forecast cycle, ensuring the quality of variance analysis and executive commentary.
- Serve as a senior strategic finance business partner to department and functional leaders, providing analysis that informs pricing, hiring, and investment decisions.
- Direct development of KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools that give leadership real-time visibility into business performance.
- Lead, mentor, and develop an international team of FP&A managers and analysts through subordinate leaders, building scalable processes as the company grows.
- Drive continuous improvement of planning systems, tools, and processes company-wide to increase forecasting accuracy and reduce cycle time.
- Support capital raises, M&A analysis, and other strategic initiatives as needed.
- Ensure financial planning processes and reporting align with GAAP and internal controls, working closely with Accounting and Investor Relations.
What You'll Bring
- 10+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, investment banking, or management consulting, including 3+ years leading a team of managers or analysts.
- Experience in high-growth technology or energy with a software company strongly preferred.
- A collaborative leadership style with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA or CFA a plus.
- Proven track record building financial models and driving planning processes in a fast-growing or complex business environment.
- Deep proficiency in Excel and modern FP&A or BI tooling (e.g., Adaptive, Anaplan, Pigment, Tableau, Power BI); experience with NetSuite or a similar ERP is a plus.
- Strong command of GAAP, financial statement analysis, and corporate finance principles.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear narratives for non-finance stakeholders and executive audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate work under tight deadlines.
What We Offer
At Stem, you will work in a growing, innovative, mission-driven company with talented colleagues that have a passion for building renewable energy systems. Stem offers competitive compensation as well as a comprehensive set of benefits to support the health and wellness of our employee including:
- A competitive compensation package, including eligibility for a bonus or commission based on the role.
- Full health benefits on the first day of employment (several medical plan options-HDHP and PPO, dental plans, FSA/HSA-with employer contribution, employer paid vision/LTD/STD/Life, variety of voluntary coverage)
- 401k (pre- or post-tax) on first day of employment
- 12 paid calendar holidays per year
- Flexible time-off
Stem, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
The pay range for this role is:
175,360 - 263,040 USD per year (US National)
Pay & benefits
About this role
About Stem
Company Overview
Stem, Inc.
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CA, United States
Founded2009
SizeApproximately 1,000 employees (source: linkedin.com). Revenue of $462 million in 2023 (source: bizjournals.com). Contracted backlog exceeding $1.6 billion by early 2024 (source: junkbondinvestor.com).
What They Do
Stem focuses on AI-driven clean energy solutions, particularly energy storage integrated with solar technologies. Their flagship software, the PowerTrack suite (formerly known as Athena), provides comprehensive asset monitoring, analytics, remote diagnostics, SCADA, power plant control, and optimization for solar-plus-storage systems (source: stem.com). The company’s offerings include hardware sourced from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which accounted for approximately 85% of their revenue in 2023, alongside professional services for design, procurement, commissioning, and troubleshooting of storage and hybrid systems (source: junkbondinvestor.com). High-margin software and services are also provided for both behind-the-meter (BTM) and front-of-the-meter (FTM) utility-scale deployments, enabling functionalities such as virtual power plants (VPPs), demand response, frequency regulation, microgrids, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and bill optimization (source: substack.com). Their target markets include utility providers, commercial businesses, energy asset owners, EV fleets, and solar installations across North America and globally in over 50 countries.
Projects & Track Record
Stem has completed notable projects such as deploying 15 energy storage systems (ESS) in a single U.S. town, forming a VPP that utilizes their Athena software for demand response (source: substack.com). Another significant project involved a California State University deployment that offset $70,000 in annual costs while reducing grid strain by 1.4 MW, showcasing the effectiveness of their solutions in real-world applications (source: substack.com). In 2023, Stem secured the Project Polyphemus contract aimed at enhancing grid resilience through advanced storage and software that optimizes distribution across a wide network (source: dcfmodeling.com). Their ongoing efforts emphasize FTM utility-scale battery projects developed in collaboration with partners, layered with software and services, and VPP/grid services like frequency regulation (source: junkbondinvestor.com). Key clients include California State University, SunPower, and a diverse base of 16,000 customers, with approximately 30% overlap with AlsoEnergy's client base.
Recent Developments
In the last two years, Stem announced the 2023 Project Polyphemus contract win, further solidifying its position as North America’s largest VPP operator, as recognized by Wood Mackenzie (source: dcfmodeling.com). The company issued a $200 million 4.25% green convertible note in March 2023 to repurchase existing notes and fund operations, reflecting strategic cash flow management amid growth (source: junkbondinvestor.com). The acquisition of AlsoEnergy for $695 million in 2021 marked a significant milestone, adding substantial revenue and enhancing their software capabilities (source: nanalyze.com). Revenue growth has been notable, with figures reaching $462 million in 2023, up from $363 million in 2022, alongside a backlog exceeding $1.6 billion (source: junkbondinvestor.com). Recent milestones also include the rebranding of PowerTrack and a renewed focus on software amid hardware shifts, further establishing their market presence.
Working There
Stem offers a variety of roles across hardware sales for FTM projects, software engineering for the PowerTrack/Athena platform, and professional services that include engineering, operations, and optimization (source: stem.com). The company is actively hiring, particularly in San Francisco, California, where its headquarters is located, with opportunities in utility-scale and VPP-related fieldwork (source: linkedin.com). The culture at Stem is characterized by rapid scaling, with a tenfold revenue growth from 2020 to 2023, and a strong emphasis on AI innovation under CEO John Carrington since at least 2022 (source: bizjournals.com). While specific benefits are not detailed, the company highlights real-time expert support in professional services, suggesting access to advanced tools and a performance-driven structure for employees (source: stem.com). However, the high-pressure growth environment, influenced by SPAC origins and debt management, indicates a focus on maintaining margins and cash flow under investor scrutiny.
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