How to apply for FP&A Manager

About Aurora Solar

Aurora Solar is a mission-driven, remote-first company whose AI-powered platform has designed millions of solar projects, making solar adoption simple and predictable for professionals worldwide. Recognized as a Best Remote Company and Certified Green Business, it offers the chance to work at the intersection of climate tech and SaaS, directly accelerating the global transition to renewable energy.

About the role

As FP&A Manager, you'll own Aurora's annual and quarterly financial planning cycles end-to-end, from budgeting and forecasting to delivering actionable insights that shape strategic decisions. You'll partner with leaders across the company and work directly with the VP of Finance and CEO, driving real impact on the business's financial future and mission to make solar accessible to all.

A typical day

You might start your day with a remote stand-up with the FP&A team, then dive into updating the quarterly forecast model and preparing a variance analysis for a department head. Later, you could join a strategy session with the VP of Finance to discuss investment scenarios, or present key insights to the CEO that inform a major hiring decision. The role blends deep analytical work with collaborative, high-visibility projects that directly shape Aurora's future.

Who Aurora Solar is looking for

• 5-8+ years of progressive FP&A experience, ideally in high-growth SaaS or technology companies, with a track record of owning planning cycles end-to-end.
• Advanced financial modeling skills and proficiency with planning tools (e.g., Anaplan, Adaptive Insights, or similar) and BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker).
• Strong business partnering abilities, with experience presenting to and influencing C-suite executives and cross-functional leaders.
• Self-starter comfortable in a remote, fast-paced environment, with a passion for sustainability and Aurora's mission to democratize solar.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of how you've driven action from financial analysis—not just reporting numbers—since Aurora emphasizes pushing past reporting to drive strategic decisions.
• Quantify your impact in previous FP&A roles: e.g., 'Led annual planning for a $100M SaaS business, improving forecast accuracy by 15%,' to demonstrate scale and results.
• Show familiarity with Aurora's mission and product: mention how your FP&A work can support a remote-first, climate-tech company scaling rapidly.
• Emphasize experience working directly with executives: the job description notes direct exposure to the VP of Finance and CEO, so describe instances where you presented to or partnered with senior leadership.
• Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description like 'annual and quarterly financial planning cycles,' 'budgeting,' 'forecasting,' and 'strategic direction' to pass ATS and show alignment.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your hands-on experience owning end-to-end FP&A cycles (annual/quarterly planning, budgeting, forecasting) and how you've improved processes or accuracy.", 'A specific story of how you partnered with business leaders to drive action from financial insights, ideally in a SaaS or high-growth environment.', "Your enthusiasm for Aurora's mission and how your values align with creating a sustainable future through solar adoption.", 'Your ability to thrive in a remote, collaborative, and fast-paced setting, with examples of successful cross-functional work in distributed teams.']

Research before applying

• Explore Aurora Solar's website, especially their product features, customer case studies, and recent press releases to understand their business model and growth trajectory.
• Research the solar industry and key trends (e.g., policy incentives, adoption rates) to speak knowledgeably about the market context in which Aurora operates.
• Look up Aurora's funding history, leadership team (especially the VP of Finance and CEO), and any recent financial news to tailor your questions and demonstrate genuine interest.
• Read reviews on Glassdoor or BuiltIn to understand the company culture, remote work practices, and what employees value most.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through a time you led an annual planning cycle from start to finish—what was your approach, and what was the outcome?
• How do you ensure forecast accuracy in a high-growth, remote-first SaaS environment? Describe tools and methods you've used.
• Tell us about a situation where you had to influence senior executives with financial analysis—how did you present data to drive a decision?
• How would you approach building financial models for a company like Aurora Solar, considering its subscription revenue and mission-driven growth?
• Describe a time you identified a financial risk or opportunity that wasn't obvious from standard reporting—how did you uncover it and what action was taken?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume and cover letter that don't mention Aurora, the solar industry, or the specific FP&A responsibilities outlined in the job description.
• Focusing only on technical FP&A skills without demonstrating business partnering or executive communication experience, which are critical for this role.
• Neglecting to show how you've driven action from financial analysis—Aurora explicitly seeks someone who goes beyond reporting numbers to impact strategy.