Director Of Deal Desk - Strategic Finance At Liftoff

Director of Deal Desk – Strategic Finance at Liftoff — Remote
This is a
senior individual contributor + people manager role
at a well-funded, global ad tech company (6,600+ clients, 74 countries). Reporting directly to the VP of Strategic Finance and interfacing with C-suite, it offers strong visibility and real ownership — a meaningful step for finance professionals targeting VP-level roles.Compensation benchmark:
CAD 185,000–230,000 OTE is competitive for a Director-level Strategic Finance role in Canada, roughly equivalent to USD 135,000–170,000. For comparison, similar Deal Desk Director roles in the US tech sector typically range USD 150,000–200,000 OTE, so this sits at market or slightly below US equivalents — however Canadian tax rates differ.End-to-end commercial deal structuring in programmatic/ad tech — a niche but highly transferable skillCross-functional leadership across GTM, Sales, and Finance at scaleRevenue recognition and accrual accounting at a director levelGreen flags:
True DRI ownership, C-suite exposure, bi-annual strategy reviews, and a "remote first" culture signal autonomy and trust. Liftoff is a mature scale‑up (founded 2012), suggesting stability without bureaucratic bloat.Watch for:
The role is highly process-intensive (weekly reporting, reconciliation, accrual reviews) — professionals seeking strategic‑only work may find the operational load heavy. The Pacific Time requirement also limits flexibility for eastern Canadian candidates.Liftoff is a leading AI-powered performance marketing platform for the mobile app economy. Our end-to-end technology stack helps app marketers acquire and retain high-value users, while enabling publishers to maximize revenue across programmatic and direct demand.Liftoff's solutions, including Accelerate, Direct, Monetize, Intelligence, and Vungle Exchange, support over 6,600 mobile businesses across 74 countries in sectors such as gaming, social, finance, ecommerce, and entertainment. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Redwood City, CA, Liftoff has a diverse, global presence.We're seeking a Director to lead Deal Desk within Liftoff's Strategic Finance team, reporting to the VP of Strategic Finance. This is a high-ownership role at the center of how Liftoff structures, approves and manages commercial agreements — from standard arrangements to complex, non-standard deals with strategic advertising partners. As the ultimate DRI for revenue adjustments, deal economics, and the integrity of Liftoff's commercial commitments, you will partner closely with GTM, Finance, and senior leadership to set deal strategy, manage active deal performance, and ensure every commercial arrangement is entered into with a clear, defensible financial rationale.If you have deep comfort with ambiguity, strong independent judgment, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to lead cross-functional processes with confidence, we want to hear from you!Key Responsibilities:
Serve as DRI for all revenue adjustments in weekly reporting: own the underlying logic, file integrity, and formula soundness.Maintain active reconciliation checks and ensure adjustments are accurate, complete, and explainable at any point in the week.Work proactively with cross-functional partners throughout the week to incorporate new intel before weekly close.Lead weekly alignment meetings with the FP&A team;
own WoW variance explanation and post summaries to relevant stakeholders.Own all deal types end-to-end ranging from standard structures to complex, unique, and customer-specific arrangements.Maintain and enforce the Deal Desk approval matrix;
lead a bi-annual Deal Desk Strategy Review with SLT.Own the philosophy and commercial logic underlying how Liftoff approaches deal structures, including eligibility thresholds and deal parameters by customer segment.For non-standard deals: lead upfront diligence including detailed financial modeling.Lead weekly cross-functional reviews on active non-standard deals;
make budget and commercial adjustment recommendations as needed.Produce monthly performance updates on active deal programs for senior leadership, with clear variance analysis against original assumptions.Monitor cash flows and financial commitments on structured deals;
update models as actuals come in and flag deviations proactively.Own and lead accrual review for all key Deal Desk items, including complex arrangements.Hold a well-supported, defensible position on accrual levels, with the underlying data and logic ready to present in senior Finance forums.Directly manage a Senior Analyst, with responsibility for mentorship, prioritization, and maintaining high analytical standards across Deal Desk operations.Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.10+ years of experience in commercial finance, deal desk, revenue operations, or strategic finance;
at least 5 years with direct ownership over deal structuring or commercial agreements.Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex deal economics independently, build defensible financial models, and present clear recommendations to senior leadership.Strong understanding of revenue recognition, accrual accounting, and the operational mechanics of commercial deal management.Exceptional judgment: able to hold a position under commercial pressure while remaining collaborative and solutions-oriented.Track record of true DRI ownership, including proactively surfacing risks, driving process, and escalating only when genuinely warranted.Excellent communicator with experience presenting to CXO-level audiences.Nice to have:Ad tech, programmatic advertising, or mobile experience.If you're passionate about driving commercial excellence, managing complex deal structures, and partnering with leadership to ensure sound financial decision-making, we want to hear from you! Working at Liftoff is fast-paced, fun, and challenging, and we thrives on innovation. Come join the rocket ship and help shape the future of the mobile app ecosystem with us!Location:
Liftoff follows a philosophy of "remote first, come together meaningfully" and allows employees to be based anywhere in Canada. We require that this role work during Pacific time zone;
working from the Vancouver area is highly preferred.Travel Expectations:
We offer several opportunities for in-person team gatherings, including but not limited to project meetings, regional meetups, and company-wide events. We expect our employees to attend these gatherings at least once per quarter. These gatherings provide essential opportunities for collaboration, communication, and team building.Compensation:
Liftoff offers all employees a full compensation package that includes equity and health/vision/dental benefits associated with your country of residence. Base compensation will vary based on the candidate's location and experience.The following is the OTE (base + bonus) salary range for Canada:
CAD 185,000 – 230,000Liftoff is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.Agency and Third Party Recruiter Notice:Liftoff does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third‑party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or Recruiting Team. All candidates must be submitted via our Applicant Tracking System by approved Liftoff vendors who have been expressly requested to make a submission by our Recruiting Team for a specific job opening. No placement fees will be paid to any firm unless such a request has been made by the Liftoff Recruiting Team and such a candidate was submitted to the Liftoff Recruiting Team via our Applicant Tracking System.Is this role truly remote or does it require office attendance? The role is remote‑first and open to candidates anywhere in Canada. However, Pacific Time zone hours are required, Vancouver is highly preferred, and in‑person team gatherings are expected at least once per quarter. What is the salary range for the Deal Desk Director role at Liftoff? The OTE (base + bonus) salary range for Canada is CAD 185,000–230,000, plus equity and health/vision/dental benefits. What experience is required to apply for this position? Candidates need 10+ years in commercial finance, deal desk, revenue operations, or strategic finance, with at least 5 years of direct ownership over deal structuring or commercial agreements. Will I be managing a team in this role? Yes, the Director of Deal Desk will directly manage a Senior Analyst and is responsible for their mentorship, task prioritization, and analytical quality standards. Is ad tech experience required for this position? Ad tech, programmatic advertising, or mobile experience is listed as "nice to have" but is not a mandatory requirement for the role.Remote work & career advice that actually works.
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