Head of Finance

Company Description Yaya Labs is a technology studio born from science fiction.

We build at the intersection of AI, robotics, culture and emerging technology, developing new systems and experiences for a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines.

Our current focus is Robot Dog Fights (RDF), a new sport and entertainment property for the era of AI.

Following our first sold-out event in London, we are now building towards the much larger vision from Las Vegas, with ambitions spanning live events, sponsorship, media, technology, licensing and new forms of digital entertainment.

We are looking for a Head of Finance to take ownership of the financial infrastructure behind the company as we enter our next phase of growth.

THE ROLE

This is a hands-on finance leadership role for someone who wants to build the financial function of an ambitious early-stage technology and entertainment company.

You will work directly with the founders across financial planning, fundraising, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, reporting and commercial modelling.

As Yaya grows, you will help establish the systems and financial discipline required to scale across multiple projects, entities and markets.

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to report on what happened.

We need someone who can understand the numbers, identify what matters and help the founders make better decisions.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Own Yaya Labs' financial planning, forecasting and budgeting
• Build and maintain detailed financial models covering revenue, costs, runway and growth scenarios
• Develop monthly management reporting and financial dashboards
• Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts
• Identify financial risks, opportunities and areas for improved efficiency
• Provide clear financial analysis to support strategic decisions
• Model new business opportunities, investments and commercial partnerships

Cash & Runway Management

• Own day-to-day cash flow forecasting and management
• Maintain accurate visibility over company runway and upcoming commitments
• Build scenario models around fundraising, hiring and growth
• Help determine when and where capital should be deployed
• Work closely with founders on spending decisions and financial priorities

Fundraising & Investors

• Support the founders through future fundraising rounds
• Prepare financial models, forecasts and investor materials
• Maintain accurate reporting for existing investors
• Build financial scenarios for different fundraising outcomes
• Support investor due diligence and financial information requests
• Develop the financial reporting infrastructure required as the company scales

RDF & Commercial Finance

Work directly with the RDF team to model the economics of a new global entertainment property.

This will include:

• Event budgets and P&Ls
• Sponsorship revenue modelling
• Ticketing and venue economics
• Production costs
• Media and broadcasting opportunities
• Licensing and merchandise
• Technology development costs
• International expansion
• Unit economics across different event formats
• Scenario modelling for future RDF events and markets
• As RDF expands into Las Vegas and beyond, you will help build the financial models behind the business.

Systems & Infrastructure

• Establish scalable financial processes and reporting systems
• Build and maintain financial trackers and management dashboards
• Work with accounting and external finance providers
• Improve financial controls and approval processes
• Help manage financial operations across UK and US activities
• Ensure accurate records and reporting across Yaya's different projects and entities
• Introduce systems that allow the company to move quickly without losing financial visibility
• WHAT THIS PERSON WILL BRING
• Proven experience in finance, FP&A, financial modelling, corporate finance or a related field
• Strong experience building financial models from scratch
• Excellent understanding of cash flow, budgets, forecasting and financial reporting
• Comfortable working directly with founders and senior leadership
• Strong commercial instincts and ability to translate financial data into clear decisions
• Experience supporting fundraising or investment processes
• Experience in a startup, technology, entertainment, media, sports or high-growth environment is highly relevant
• Strong Excel / Google Sheets skills
• Comfortable working with incomplete information and building structure where none exists
• Highly analytical, organised and commercially minded
• Able to work independently in a small, fast-moving company
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex financial information simply

Experience with any of the following would be particularly valuable:

• Venture-backed startups
• Entertainment or live events
• Sports
• Media
• Technology companies
• US/UK businesses
• Sponsorship revenue
• Fundraising and investor reporting
• Event P&Ls
• Commercial modelling
• Crypto / Web3
• Emerging technology**

MEASURE OF SUCCESS

In your first 12 months, you will have:

• Built Yaya's core financial model and forecasting system
• Established reliable monthly management reporting
• Created clear visibility over runway and cash requirements
• Built financial models for RDF's upcoming events and commercial opportunities
• Established the financial framework for our Las Vegas operations
• Supported the company through its next stage of fundraising
• Built the reporting infrastructure required for investors
• Given the founders a clear financial picture of where the company is going and what it will take to get there

THE OPPORTUNITY

Yaya is entering a significant period of growth.

We have already demonstrated that people will turn up for RDF. Now we are building towards a much larger entertainment property from Las Vegas while continuing to develop the underlying technology and systems behind it.

You'll be joining early enough to build the financial function rather than inherit one.

You'll work directly with the founders, have significant ownership over the company's financial infrastructure and play a central role in deciding how capital is deployed as Yaya grows.

Build the numbers behind the machines.