Public Funding Finance Manager

About Axelera AI
Axelera AI is a fast-growing fabless semiconductor company headquartered in the Netherlands, building high-performance, energy-efficient AI acceleration hardware and software (Metis and Europa product lines). We operate across the EU, the UK, Switzerland and the US, and are building a finance function ready to scale to public-company standards.

About Axelera AI
Axelera AI is a fast-growing fabless semiconductor company headquartered in the Netherlands, building high-performance, energy-efficient AI acceleration hardware and software (Metis and Europa product lines). We operate across the EU, the UK, Switzerland and the US, and are building a finance function ready to scale to public-company standards.

Role Purpose
This role owns public funding finance for the entire group and finance operations for our Italian entity. You will ensure that every euro of grant income and R&D incentive is correctly claimed, reported, audited and accounted for, and that the Italian entity is compliant, well-run and audit-ready. You will be the group’s subject‑matter expert on grant compliance and a trusted partner to engineering, programme management and external advisers.

Key Responsibilities

Group public funding management and reporting

Own financial reporting for all publicly funded projects, including European Commission programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe, EIC, EuroHPC/Chips JU) and national co‑f funding schemes across the group.

Prepare and submit periodic financial statements, cost claims and final reports in funder portals (e.g. the EU Funding & Tenders Portal) within deadlines.

Manage timesheets, personnel cost methodology, overhead/indirect cost calculations, subcontractor and equipment cost eligibility, and supporting documentation.

Coordinate with project coordinators, partners and technical leads to ensure costs are tracked, allocated and reported consistently with grant agreements.

Own the WBSO (Netherlands) application and reporting process and equivalent R&D incentives in other jurisdictions (e.g. UK R&D tax relief, Italian R&D tax credits, French CIR/CII, Belgian and Swiss schemes), working with local advisers.

Maintain a group-wide grant register covering award values, funding rates, claim schedules, cash receipts, clawback risk and compliance obligations.

Support grant accounting under IAS 20 (recognition, presentation, deferred income, receivables) in coordination with the group finance team, and support forecasting of grant cash flows and income.

Public funding audits and compliance

Act as the primary finance contact for funder audits, certificates on financial statements (CFS), reviews and ex‑post controls.

Prepare audit files, coordinate auditor access to records, and manage responses and remediation.

Monitor changes in funder rules, state aid requirements and eligibility conditions, and advise the VP Finance on risk and impact.

Design and improve internal controls, policies and templates for grant compliance and cost tracking across entities.

Italian entity accounting and reporting

Own the accounting, month‑end close and financial reporting for the Italian entity, in line with Italian GAAP (OIC) and group IFRS reporting requirements, via the group ERP (Net Suite).

Prepare statutory financial statements and supporting schedules, and manage the relationship with the Italian statutory auditor and/or board of statutory auditors.

Prepare group reporting packs, intercompany reconciliations and balance sheet reconciliations.

Oversee local payables, receivables, cash and banking, and payroll inputs, working with local providers.

Italian tax and compliance

Act as the day‑to‑day liaison with external tax advisers and accountants on corporate income tax (IRES/IRAP), VAT (IVA), withholding taxes,…