Strategic Finance Business Partner – Product & Engineering

JOB SUMMARY:

The Strategic Finance Business Partner is a highly visible role that serves as the primary financial partner to the Product and Engineering organizations. This role requires frequent collaboration with senior management, broad decision support across R&D, and leveraging financial data to influence how we invest, build, and grow.

You will be a key business partner in the annual integrated planning process, including translation of product roadmap strategy into operational plans and prioritization of existing and potential R&D investments. You will also be a key participant in evaluating the financial viability and modeling of strategic initiatives including new products, product partnerships, and M&A.

This role is for someone who sees finance as a creative and strategic craft, not just a control function. We're building an FP&A practice that goes beyond traditional budgeting to deliver forward-looking insights that drive business performance and growth decisions – deeply understanding what levers we pull, in what order, and with what expected return.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

Financial Planning, Analysis and Reporting

• Act as the primary Finance Business Partner to the Product and Engineering organizations, directly supporting annual planning, quarterly forecasts, and decision support
• Drive the R&D and cloud hosting (COGS) annual budget process, partnering cross-functionally to integrate bottom-up departmental inputs into an integrated financial plan
• Conduct monthly analysis of cost variances and expenditure trends to uncover root causes, translating findings into recommendations that optimize business performance – moving beyond “here is what happened last quarter” to “here is the outlook, why, and what we should do about it”
• Proactively manage the achievement of business unit results, including identification and mitigation of risks and driving opportunities
• Build and systematize disaggregated P&L reporting at the product level – surfacing visibility into unit economics, gross margin, and investment efficiency
• Own the financial framework for Product Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), translating product-level performance into roadmap and resource planning decisions
• Implement modern planning system dashboards (Pigment) to surface forward-looking insights across the Product and Engineering organizations
• Bring a builder's mindset to applying AI in finance – identifying tools and workflows that improve decision velocity, streamline the forecast process, and redirect time toward deeper business partnership

Integrated Business Planning

• Build a deep understanding of our markets, customers, and product roadmap; partner cross-functionally with leadership to identify opportunities to expand D2L’s participation in the value chain
• Serve as the lead finance partner in the annual R&D integrated planning process, including evaluation of internal operating performance, product unit economics, and P&L results
• Partner with cross-functional leaders in the semi-annual product roadmap cycle, applying a financial lens which includes investment sizing, expected ROI, and targeted business outcomes

Strategic Initiatives

• Lead the financial modelling and analysis for product-centric M&A opportunities, in partnership with the Corporate Development team – including evaluation, due diligence, and integration
• Collaborate with key internal stakeholders on the Partners team, including support to inform the commercial terms for new strategic partnerships
• Own the financial analysis of new product lines and pricing/packaging initiatives – translating customer needs into commercially sound recommendations

WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO THE ROLE:

Experience:

• 7+ years of well-rounded finance experience, including FP&A or finance/operations roles
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, superior attention to detail and quick learner
• Forward-thinking mindset, curiosity, and the ability to simplify complexity into easily understood financial models and narratives
• Experience within a SaaS business model and global company is considered a strong asset
• Superior communication, including in verbal presentations and written business memos
• Strong relationship, collaboration, and influence capabilities, including at the senior leadership stakeholder level
• Process-oriented, with experience building scalable processes and leveraging automation
• Strong systems aptitude and technical proficiency in advanced planning systems (Pigment, Adaptive); experience with AI/ML applications considered a strong plus

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, preferably with emphasis in Finance / Accounting / Economics
• CPA, CFA, or CBV designation considered an asset

The expected base salary range for a new hire in this role is listed below. The annualized base salary offered is determined by each candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, education, training and experience. It is aligned to ensure both internal and external competitiveness using market data for the geographic location and industry. As part of the total compensation at D2L the role may be eligible for additional benefits including a Wellness Subsidy, Equity Grants, Variable Incentive, and more.

Base Salary Range$125,000—$150,000 CAD

Don’t meet every single requirement? We strongly encourage you to still apply! At D2L, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We encourage your application even if you don't believe you meet every single qualification outlined, because we love to help our people grow and develop!

Why we're awesome:

At D2L, we are dedicated to providing you with the tools to do the best work of your life. While some of our perks and benefits may vary depending on location or employment type, we are proud to provide employees with the following through #LifeAtD2L:

• Impactful work transforming the way the world learns
• Flexible work arrangements
• Learning and Growth opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $4,000 CAD for continuing education through our SkillsWave Program
• 2 Paid Days off for SkillsWave-related activities like exams or final assignments
• Employee wellbeing (Access to mental health services, EFAP program, financial planning and more)
• Retirement planning
• 2 Paid Volunteer Days
• Competitive Benefits Package
• Home Internet Reimbursements
• Employee Referral Program
• Wellness Reimbursement
• Employee Recognition
• Social Events
• Dog Friendly Offices Spaces at our HQ in Kitchener, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Melbourne offices.

D2L is committed to a fair and inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer that hires and attracts talent regardless of age, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, status as a protected veteran or any other legally protected grounds and will not discriminate on these bases. We draw on diversity of thought and experience to reflect the rich array of cultures representing our broad customer base and we seek talent with diversity of life experiences and perspectives from around the world. If you have special accessibility requirements that need to be considered during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing us at careers@d2l.com and a member of our HR team will get back to you. Information received relating to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially. D2L maintains a drug-free workplace.