Strategic Finance Special Projects Manager

Why this role is on the menu

Instacart’s Strategic Finance team partners across the business to drive disciplined growth and long-term value creation. The Strategic Finance Special Projects Manager reports directly to the VP of Strategic Finance, working on special projects across the business.

You will collaborate closely across Strategic Finance and key business partners.  This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, rolls up their sleeves, and communicates with clarity and conviction. We work together, move quickly, and put facts and transparency on the table to make the best decisions for our customers, shoppers, retailers, brands, and partners.

What you'll cook up in your first year

• Own high-impact, ambiguous projects end-to-end — from opportunity sizing and financial modeling to scenario analysis and executive recommendation
• Build and maintain complex forecasting and scenario models that inform strategic decisions across pricing, monetization, resourcing, and investment allocation
• Translate financial analysis into clear, executive-ready narratives, dashboards, and KPI scorecards that drive C-suite action
• Define the right metrics, then dig into them — surfacing the insights and frameworks that move the needle on business performance
• Partner with the team on high priority projects across the Strategic Finance organization, leaning into high-priority work spanning Consolidation, Operating Costs, Commercial, and Marketing Finance

The secret ingredients we're looking for

Must-have pantry staples (Minimum Qualifications)

• 5+ years of experience in strategic finance, corporate finance, investment banking, private equity, or management consulting with a focus on commercial deals or partnerships.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Mathematics, or equivalent practical experience
• Advanced financial modeling skills in Excel or Google Sheets, including multi-scenario and sensitivity analyses for complex, multi-year agreements.
• Proven track record owning the finance workstream end-to-end for complex commercial agreements—from initial scoping and pricing through signature and post-close performance tracking.
• Hands-on experience partnering with Sales/Business Development and Legal to structure and negotiate contract terms that balance growth and unit economics.
• Strong command of accounting fundamentals and unit economics; ability to build and reconcile partner- and portfolio-level P&Ls and cash flow impacts.
• Ability to communicate complex analyses and recommendations clearly to senior executives in written and verbal formats.
  
  

Optional garnishes (Preferred Qualifications)

• MBA or relevant advanced degree.
• Experience in marketplace, consumer internet, retail, or B2B SaaS business models.
• Proficiency in SQL and familiarity with BI tools and building AI workflows (e.g., complex Claude prompts).
• Experience building pricing frameworks, rate cards, and scalable deal desk processes.
• Familiarity with revenue recognition and partnership accounting considerations for multi-element arrangements.
• Demonstrated success managing a fast-moving pipeline with multiple concurrent deals and cross-functional stakeholders.

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