At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to assess and execute exciting venture debt opportunities for high-growth businesses.
- Company: Be part of a respected player in the UK venture debt market with Nationwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, private medical insurance, and a strong pension plan.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working options available to help you thrive.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by supporting innovative companies and enhancing your financial skills.
- Qualifications: Strong financial analysis skills and experience in stakeholder engagement are essential.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Growth Finance is our UK-wide venture debt proposition, providing senior debt and transactional banking facilities to innovative, high-growth businesses. This Associate Director role sits within our origination team in London, where you’ll play a key role in the origination and execution of new venture debt lending opportunities.
Working closely with Senior Directors alongside other internal and external stakeholders, you’ll support the end-to-end deal lifecycle—from early-stage opportunity assessment and financial analysis through to credit application preparation, structuring, documentation and completion. You’ll combine strong analytical and modelling capabilities with relationship-building skills to deliver high-quality credit submissions, manage transaction workflows, and help grow the team’s network and pipeline of new business.
This role within our Growth Finance team is focused on deal origination and is a specialist lending role under Strategic Finance. The successful candidate will be required to provide support to a team of Senior Directors to screen new lending opportunities, decide which opportunities are the right opportunities to progress and then support throughout the transaction process through credit report writing, financial analysis and modelling.
We are a well-established and respected participant in the UK venture debt market, with a strong and proven track record of supporting high-growth businesses that are fast-scaling, innovation-led and technology-enabled and our non-dilutive capital plays a critical role in enabling growth. We work closely with management teams, investors and wider stakeholders to help businesses navigate key inflection points, extend their cash runway and maximise long-term value while protecting founder and investor equity.
We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best. At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected. For this job, you’ll spend at least two days per week, or if part-time, you’ll spend 40% of your working time, based at our London office.
You’ll be employed by Nationwide from day one, delivering real impact and benefitting from a highly competitive range of benefits. We’re a workplace where you’re rewarded, recognised and celebrated.
The extras you’ll get:
- Access to private medical insurance
- A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
- Access to an annual performance-related bonus
- Training and development to help you progress your career
- A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
- Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
- Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
- Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
What you’ll be doing:
You’ll spend your day working as part of a deal team to review and assess new lending opportunities, looking at company information and financial data to decide which transactions are worth progressing. You’ll build detailed financial models and prepare clear credit papers that set out the risks and structure of each deal, while working closely with a Senior Director, colleagues across risk, legal and other internal teams.
You’ll speak regularly with prospect companies, private equity and advisers to gather information, answer questions and help move transactions forward, ensuring everything stays on track to meet deadlines. As deals progress, you’ll support the coordination of due diligence and documentation through to completion, while continuing to develop relationships and build your internal and external network to support future opportunities.
About you:
As a minimum, you’ll have:
- Exceptional financial analysis capability, including the ability to interpret financial statements, assess risk, and build robust financial models with scenario and sensitivity analysis
- Knowledge of loan and security documentation, with experience supporting or managing documentation and due diligence processes
- Experience engaging with external stakeholders such as customers, investors and advisers, alongside internal teams, to support origination and delivery of lending opportunities
- Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and deliver to tight deadlines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and accurately
Associate Director - Growth Finance, Strategic Finance employer: Description This
At Nationwide, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our London office provides a vibrant environment where you can thrive, supported by flexible working arrangements, comprehensive benefits including private medical insurance and a competitive pension, and ample opportunities for professional growth through training and development. Join us to make a real impact in the venture debt market while enjoying a rewarding career with a company that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director - Growth Finance, Strategic Finance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the finance and venture capital space. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your financial analysis skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with credit applications and financial modelling. Practice articulating how you assess risks and structure deals, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your relationship-building skills! During interviews, highlight examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in the past. This will demonstrate that you can effectively collaborate with both internal teams and external partners.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Nationwide and contributing to our mission in Growth Finance.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director - Growth Finance, Strategic Finance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Associate Director role. Highlight your financial analysis skills and any experience with venture debt or similar roles. We want to see how your background aligns with what we do!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about Growth Finance and how your skills can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful—show us your personality!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of financial modelling and analysis, make sure to include examples of your analytical capabilities in your application. We love seeing how you approach complex problems and deliver solutions.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our company culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Description This
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your financial analysis skills. Be prepared to discuss how you interpret financial statements and build robust financial models. Practise explaining complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner, as this will be crucial during your interview.
✨Research the Company
Dive deep into the company’s background, especially their role in the UK venture debt market. Understand their recent deals and how they support high-growth businesses. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your responses to align with their values and objectives.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
Since this role involves engaging with external stakeholders, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully built and maintained professional relationships. Highlight any experiences where your communication skills helped move a transaction forward or resolved a challenging situation.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making process. Prepare scenarios where you had to assess risks or manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
