Business Operations Associate

We're looking for a Business Operations Associate to cover a parental leave from approximately early/mid July through mid-November 2026. This is a temporary, full-time, fully remote role reporting directly to our CEO.You'll be stepping into an established set of systems and processes where your job is to keep things running smoothly. The ideal candidate is highly organized, independently operational, and comfortable context-switching between finance, HR, compliance, and general administration in a small startup environment.You'll work across four main areas:Finance & Billing – managing invoicing, client follow-ups, and contractor paymentsHR & People Ops – payroll coordination if needed, compliance, and team engagementLegal & Compliance – triaging contracts, vendor forms, and maintaining SOC 2 compliance tasksGeneral Operations – vendor management, ad hoc administrative support for leadershipKey ResponsibilitiesFinance & BillingManage monthly billing cycle: client invoicing via Stripe, platform-based invoices (Coupa, Tradeshift, Tungsten), and accounts receivable follow-upProcess bi-weekly contractor payments via Justworks and Deel (US and international contractors)Handle monthly vendor payments and reconciliation via Ramp Bill PaySupport quarterly accounting review with transaction categorizationManage MRR documentation and billing records in AirtableHR & People OperationsProcess payroll actions and any benefits updates in Justworks/Deel (e.g., compensation adjustments, insurance changes)Field HR-related questions from team members and escalate to leadership when appropriateManage birthday gifts and team engagement logistics (TryDays, team events, client gifts)Support current HR processes & policy enforcementCoordinate bi-monthly team event & team-wide HR communicationsLegal & ComplianceTriage inbound NDAs, MSAs, and vendor agreements, flagging items for leadership review and routing to appropriate signatoriesComplete and submit vendor onboarding forms on behalf of Spate (W-9s, insurance certificates, banking details, etc.)Maintain SOC 2 compliance tasks in Vanta: monitor monthly checklist items and flag any open tests or remediation items to the relevant team leadGeneral Operations & Administration- Serve as the day-to-day operational point of contact for the team during the leave period2+ years of experience in operations, office management, or a generalist business roleStrong organizational skills and high attention to detail as this role touches a lot of moving parts simultaneouslyComfortable operating independently with minimal hand-holding; you can figure things out from documentation and ask good questions when you can'tSolution-oriented so that when you encounter a problem, you come with proposed solutions, not just the issueExperience with invoicing and billing workflows (Stripe or similar)Familiarity with payroll and contractor payment platforms (Justworks, Deel, Gusto or similar)Proficiency with Google Workspace and project management tools (Asana or similar)Strong written and verbal communication skillsBased in ESTPreferred Qualifications Experience at a startup or small company where you've worn multiple hatsFamiliarity with compliance or security frameworks (SOC 2 / Vanta a plus)Experience with Airtable, Notion, Ramp, or QuickBooksBackground in HR coordination or people operationsPrior experience in a temp or contract role requiring fast ramp-upThis is a temporary full-time engagement (approx. 4-5 months).About Spate Spate is a trend intelligence platform used by top beauty and CPG brands including L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Unilever. We analyze billions of consumer signals to identify emerging trends, helping brands make smarter product development and marketing decisions. Founded in 2018 by two ex-Googlers and backed by Y Combinator and Initialized Capital, Spate is a profitable, fast-moving team of ~20 people.Why Spate?Work directly with the founders and leadership teamFully remote with a flexible, results-oriented cultureFast-moving, low-bureaucracy environment where things actually get doneAlways be on the cutting edge of beauty and consumer trendsSpate is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.