Chief Financial Officer

Promethean Particles; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advanced materials company is seeking a CFO to drive financial operations and support strategic growth initiatives. This role involves managing financial infrastructure while ensuring compliance and reporting standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in finance, with a strong background in early-stage companies and a passion for scalable technology solutions.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Performance bonus based on corporate objectives

Participation in Long-Term Incentive Plan

Company pension scheme contribution

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in senior finance roles required.
• Proven track record in early-stage VC/PE backed businesses.
• Required: right to work in the UK without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial operations, compliance, and reporting.
• Lead the budgeting process and provide financial analysis.
• Prepare for upcoming funding rounds and manage investor relations.

Skills

Financial Management

Budgets

Investor Relations

Team Leadership

Commercial Acumen

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Are you ready to build robust financial operations while supporting the growth of technology that's tackling climate change? As CFO at Promethean Particles, you will enable the achievement of business objectives by establishing comprehensive financial systems while contributing your expertise to key business decisions.

Promethean Particles is an advanced materials spin-out from the University of Nottingham that has solved industrial-scale, cost-effective production of MOFs - revolutionary materials set to transform carbon capture, water harvesting, and energy storage.

Having completed an £8M Series A funding round led by Mercia Ventures and Aramco Ventures in July 2024, we're well-capitalised with strong runway and positioned for significant growth.

As our CFO, you'll manage all aspects of financial operations while also contributing your financial expertise to support pricing decisions for emerging markets. You'll build the financial infrastructure that supports rapid growth and establish the systems needed to scale a technology business.

The Role

This is a full-time CFO position replacing our part-time Finance Director. You'll take full ownership of financial operations, compliance, and reporting while also having the opportunity to contribute financial insights to business strategy.

Beyond traditional finance responsibilities, you'll lead on legal matters, commercial contracts, fundraising activities, investor relations, HR, IT, and office management. You'll be working with our fractional general counsel and managing a small but growing team including an Office Manager and part-time Finance Manager.

With our next funding round on the horizon, you'll play a crucial role in preparing for and leading what promises to be a significant growth capital raise.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Financial Management & Reporting

• Take overall responsibility for cash control, forecasting, and treasury activities
  
• Drive the budgeting process and ensure accurate, timely financial reporting to the executive team and board
  
• Lead the audit process and manage statutory reporting requirements
  
• Minute board meetings and maintain corporate governance standards
  
• Provide financial analysis and insights to support business decision-making
  

Commercial Support

• Provide financial analysis for commercial negotiations with key suppliers and customers
  
• Support business development with financial modelling and pricing analysis
  
• Manage relationships with professional advisers and oversee corporate risk processes
  
• Work with our fractional general counsel on commercial contracts and legal matters

Fundraising & Investor Relations

• Lead the upcoming 2026/2027 funding round preparation and execution
  
• Manage ongoing investor relations and reporting
  
• Present financial performance and strategy to current and potential investors

Team Leadership & Operations

• Oversee HR, IT, and office management functions while building and mentoring the finance team
  
• Establish scalable processes and systems to support rapid growth
  
  

What We're Looking For

Essential Requirements:

• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
  
• Minimum 10 years' experience in senior finance roles
  
• Proven experience in early-stage VC/PE backed businesses
  
• Track record of leading funding rounds and working with investors
  
• Senior management team experience with demonstrated leadership skills
  
• Commercial acumen with experience reviewing supply and partnership contracts
  
• A right to work in the UK without restriction, as this role does not come with visa sponsorship.
  

Highly Desirable:

• Experience managing a company exit or major liquidity event
  
• Background in technology, advanced materials, or manufacturing sectors
  
• Experience scaling finance operations in high-growth environments
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary
  
• Performance bonus based on corporate objectives
  
• Participation in our Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) stock option scheme after probationary period
  
• Company pension scheme contribution
  
• Opportunity to be part of a revolutionary technology company with significant growth potential
  
• Direct impact on company strategy and development in a senior leadership role
  

Location: Nottingham (office-based with potential for limited hybrid working)

This is a rare opportunity to join a well-funded, breakthrough technology company where you'll build robust financial infrastructure and systems that enable rapid scaling. You'll establish the financial foundation for a company working with cutting-edge materials that address some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

Promethean is committed to diversity in our workforce and providing equal opportunities for employment. We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day, not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career.

Our commitment

We do not use AI to review your application. We are a small business, and a member of our careers team reads every CV. We do not require a cover letter, and you don't need to apply to multiple jobs as we will consider your application against all our vacancies. We endeavour to reply to you within 5 working days.