Summary - Our client has built a distinctive position as both a company builder and investor in security, defence and resilience technology sectors that are now critical national priorities.
- They are seeking a Chief Financial Officer to build, lead and scale financial capability across the core business and a growing portfolio of companies, working hands-on with founders, investors and operating leaders. The role is hybrid, based in London three days per week.
Our Client Our client brings together deep security-sector expertise, experienced company builders, accelerated technology development capabilities, and strong governmental and commercial networks to create and invest in ambitious technology businesses. At a time when security, defence and resilience technologies have become critical national priorities, they occupy a distinctive position spanning company creation and investment.
The Role This is a broad and highly operational executive role spanning the core business, newly established businesses created through venture-building activity, and third-party companies the organisation invests in. Combining strategic finance with hands-on execution, the CFO will work closely with founders, investment professionals and operating leaders to allocate capital effectively, establish robust financial infrastructure, manage risk and drive sustainable value creation. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable shaping strategy with the leadership team and getting into the detail required to build high-quality finance operations from the ground up.
Main Duties The CFO will take responsibility for financial leadership across the organisation, its company-building activities and its investment portfolio, including:
- Owning financial strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, treasury and financial controls for the organisation.
- Developing repeatable financial playbooks for new portfolio companies and partnering with founders on modelling, hiring plans and investor-ready narratives.
- Supporting the investment team with fund- and deal-level financial analysis, fund accounting and portfolio monitoring.
- Advising senior leadership on capital allocation and fundraising, and preparing board and investor materials.
- Selecting and implementing finance and reporting systems, and building a lean, high-performing finance function.
The Successful Candidate This opportunity will suit an accomplished finance leader with the credibility to operate at executive, founder, board and investor level, together with the appetite to remain highly hands-on. The successful candidate is likely to bring:
- 10+ years' experience across finance, accounting, investment or operational leadership, including as a CFO, VP Finance, Finance Director or equivalent.
- Experience gained within start-ups, venture-backed companies, company-building environments or investment businesses.
- Strong understanding of venture finance, fund structures and early-stage business economics, with deep expertise in financial modelling and capital strategy.
- A proven ability to build finance functions, systems and processes from the ground up, and to operate across multiple businesses and competing priorities.
- A pragmatic, commercially minded and execution-focused approach, with the judgement and discretion to earn credibility quickly with founders and investors.
What’s on offer? A competitive executive salary and benefits package, with the potential to participate in equity-based incentives and share in the long-term value created. The role is hybrid, with three days per week based in the London office, alongside flexible working arrangements, private health insurance and pension provision. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-calibre leadership team at an early stage, with significant influence over the development of the central organisation and direct exposure to founders and investors across an expanding portfolio of security and resilience technology businesses.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion We believe that diverse teams drive innovation and success. That's why we're committed to promoting equality of opportunity and creating inclusive workplaces where everyone feels valued and supported. We actively seek out talent from all backgrounds and strive to reflect the rich diversity of the global workforce in every role we recruit for.
