UpworkFP&A Manager, R&D
We are looking for an FP&A Manager to serve as a strategic finance business partner for our AI/ML and Platform Infrastructure organizations within Central Engineering. This is a high-impact individual contributor role where you will operate with meaningful autonomy, applying deep financial expertise to complex, high-visibility areas of spend and investment. You will partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Finance leaders to drive disciplined forecasting, improve cost transparency, and support data-informed decisions that shape the future of Upwork’s technology platform.
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary finance partner to AI/ML, Platform Infrastructure, DPS, and IT leaders by providing proactive guidance on budgets, investments, and trade-offs tied to business priorities and Focals.
Lead monthly variance analysis, rolling re-forecasting, and management reporting, synthesizing key drivers, risks, and opportunities into clear, executive-ready narratives.
Own end-to-end forecasting for cloud and hosting expenses, partnering with Infrastructure and FinOps teams to identify efficiency opportunities and deliver measurable savings.
Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to align GenAI program needs, including model training and inference usage, with financial plans and enforce budgeting guardrails.
Lead forecasting and close activities for internally developed software capitalization, aligning with Accounting on capitalization criteria and with BizOps on initiative tracking.
Develop business cases for new initiatives, providing ROI, payback, and unit economics analysis to support prioritization and leadership decision-making.
What it takes to catch our eye
Demonstrated experience in FP&A or strategic finance, with a track record of supporting Product, Engineering, or infrastructure-focused teams in a SaaS or AI-enabled environment.
Strong functional understanding of cloud economics, infrastructure cost drivers, and vendor spend management.
Advanced analytical skills with the ability to work confidently with large, complex datasets and translate insights into clear recommendations.
Comfort using AI tools to support analysis, forecasting, summarization, or scenario modeling, with the judgment to validate outputs and refine results as needed.
A growth-oriented, ownership mindset, with the ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical partners.
Come change how the world works.
Upwork is establishing an operational hub in Toronto, Canada. The new office is expected to be fully operational by Q4 2026. This role will require 3 days in office once we have an office open.
This position will initially be employed through a partner to ensure a seamless hiring process while we establish the hub. Once the hub is established, there may be opportunities to transition to employment with Upwork, depending on business needs and other requirements. While employed by the partner, you’ll work as part of Upwork’s team, with access to our resources, culture, and growth opportunities.
Our partner will offer competitive benefits. When Upwork’s hub is established, we will be excited to offer employment and benefits directly as business needs require.
Upwork is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.
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The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.
Annual Base Compensation
$127,000—$183,000 CAD
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