Director, Deal Desk

About Liftoff

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.

The Opportunity

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 Go-To-Market (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.

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 week-over-week 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 Senior Leadership Team (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.
• This role includes direct management of 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.

Location

• This role is eligible for full-time remote work with Pacific time zone required and San Francisco Bay Area preferred.
• Travel Expectations: Attendance at in-person team gatherings at least once per quarter is expected.

Compensation

• The OTE (base + bonus) salary range for Canada is: CAD 185,000 - 230,000.
• Liftoff offers a full compensation package including equity and health/vision/dental benefits. Base compensation will vary based on candidate's location and experience.
• Benefits may include medical coverage, wellness stipends, and additional perks based on country of residence.

Liftoff 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. 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.