Finance Lead

About NOVA:

NOVA Wealth is a fast growing start up looking to change the face of financial advice and the way it’s delivered in the UK. We firmly believe that a customer centric approach needs to be at the heart of every client relationship, however by leveraging technology we can empower our advisers to deliver higher levels of service and cut out a lot of the day to day admin that gets in the way.

At our core, we’re here to build a game changer in the advice industry that delivers better customer outcomes, at a lower cost, for more people. Through customer-centric advisers supported by our innovative Lifeline technology, we empower our customers to go beyond just making smarter financial decisions to living the lives they dream of. 

About the role:

We are seeking a growth minded Finance Lead to take full ownership of our financial ecosystem. This isn't just a role for someone to "do the books", we need a builder. You will be the architect of our financial infrastructure as we scale from c. 100 people today toward our next major milestones.

As our first full-time Finance Lead, you will bridge the gap between meticulous operational execution (bookkeeping, payroll, and compliance) and high-level strategic partnership. You will be a key advisor to the leadership team, ensuring our unit economics are robust, our growth is sustainable, and our data is investor-ready at all times.

What you'll be doing:

• Strategic Financial Partnership: Act as an adviser to senior management, providing deep-dive analysis into margins, CAC/LTV, business unit budget performance, and runway to inform critical business decisions.
• Operational Excellence: Manage the end-to-end financial operations, including bookkeeping, management and staturoy accounts preparation, supplier payments, invoicing, and payroll for our c.100-person team.
• System Building: Evaluate, implement, and optimise a modern "finance stack" (ERP, expenses, payroll) that can handle the complexity of a rapidly scaling business.
• Fundraising & Investor Relations: Maintain a "clean" cap table and lead the preparation of financial due diligence for future capital raises and board reporting.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Own the company’s rolling financial model, providing proactive scenario-based forecasting.
• Compliance & Audit: Ensure we remain fully compliant with UK regulations, managing the annual audit process and tax matters (including R&D tax credits, EIS & EMI compliance).

Requirements

• Qualified Professional: You are ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified with significant post-qualified experience, ideally within a high-growth startup or scale-up environment.
• The "Full-Stack" Mindset: You are equally comfortable getting your hands dirty in the ledger as you are presenting a 3-year strategic plan to the Board.
• Data-Driven: Advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills are a given, but you also have the ability to translate "noise" into actionable insights.
• Process Obsessed: You hate manual entry. You are constantly looking for ways to automate workflows and tighten internal controls.
• Communication: You can explain complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders without using jargon.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and attention to detail in financial reporting and data analysis
• Adaptability and Problem-solving: Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and solve complex financial challenges
• Ethical Conduct: Demonstrated commitment to ethical conduct and high standards of integrity in financial management
• Team player: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong working relationships

Desirable

• Capital Raise Experience: You have previously navigated a Series A/B funding round or worked within a business that has successfully raised external capital.

You'll feel right at home if you're…

• Helpful: Random acts of kindness make the workplace a better place, so go out of your way to be helpful and give people reasons to smile
• Straightforward: Life is complicated enough. Don't make it harder for yourself or others. Sometimes the simplest approach works wonders
• Bold: Every great business started with a flash of inspiration. If you've got a great idea, don't keep it to yourself

Benefits

• Join a firm with genuine purpose and impact on our customers, along with a strong moral code
• Competitive salary + benefits (bonus, pension, private medical, income protection, death in service)
• Potential to get equity in the company in the future
• Access to Wellness / mental health support (Headspace App + mental health support through private medical)
• Budget for additional learning / cost of exams
• Electric vehicle leasing through salary sacrifice / cycle to work scheme
• Flexible working hours and hybrid remote working (typically 2-3 days a week working in the  office (20 Farringdon Street))
• Exceptionally open and diverse, multinational team
• Entrepreneurial, creative environment