At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, budgeting, and improve internal systems for a fast-growing startup.
- Company: Kernel helps revenue teams research companies efficiently, backed by top VCs and industry leaders.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, free dinners after 6 pm, 24 days holiday, and equity options.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a VC-backed startup while working with innovative teams and gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: 4-7 years in finance with strong analytical skills; Excel expertise is a must.
- Other info: Minimum 4 days a week in the London office; expect an exciting, fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK\’s leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. All candidates should make sure to read the following job description and information carefully before applying. About Kernel Kernel enables revenue teams to research companies as if they had unlimited time. We\’re growing extremely fast and working with many of the best revenue teams in the world like Remote.com, Navan, Zip, GoCardless, Cognism, and many more. Previously, revenue teams relied on manual research to understand if a company had the problem they solved: Do job descriptions indicate doing what you automate? Who do they sell to? Is non-public financial data estimated to the right size? And what does this data tell me about their corporate card spend? Their travel expenses? Our customers use Kernel to find this for every relevant company in the world to get complete overviews of ideal customers and pursue the right companies. We\’re a team of second-time founders and have raised $5mm+ from top VCs and revenue leaders at Open AI, Slack, Snowflake, and MongoDB. The Role We\’re looking for our first Finance & Operations lead to join the team. You\’ll be the force behind everything from managing our financial engine to building the internal systems that help us scale. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a VC-backed startup as we grow from Series A to beyond. Important to Know: Hours – This will be an exciting but intense job. Kernel is growing extremely fast and hours can often be long. Many of our customers are on the West Coast, and meetings can be held late in the evening. Working location – Minimum 4 days a week in the London office (most people do 5). Responsibilities Build and own our finance function: You\’ll take us from spreadsheets and contractors to an in-house, automated, and scalable finance stack. Own everything from day-to-day bookkeeping to long-term financial planning Budgeting, forecasting & reporting: Work with our CEO to lead budgeting, reporting, forecasting, and cash flow. Set targets and ensure we\’re making informed, financially sound decisions Be the operational backbone: Work cross-functionally to improve how we run. Whether it\’s streamlining customer billing, setting up new offices, thinking through our People strategies or legal affairs – you\’ll make the machine run smoother. Support our go-to-market and product teams: Help our teams stay ahead of customer contracts, onboarding & renewals Your Traits All-in: You\’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and handle whatever needs doing – from chasing down invoices to building financial models. You have no problems \’taking out the trash\’ Entrepreneurial: You\’re a creative, resourceful generalist. You like solving problems, figuring things out fast, and working with limited structure or playbooks Analytical: You\’re organised, detail-obsessed, and care deeply about doing things the right way. Whether it\’s cleaning up messy data or triple-checking payroll Essential Qualifications: ~4-7 years of high-stakes generalist experience A heavy (strategic) finance angle to your work. You will need to be an Excel (Sheets) expert. Often, we also find that having spent some time in Banking, Consulting or PE lends itself well to roles like these Proven ability to just GSD. Directly, and via influence / leadership Exceptional attention to detail and a master of written communications Comfortable with a broad range of modern Business Operations & Automation tools Strong analytical and technical skills (SQL + an excel wizard). You unblock yourself Ability to manage external partners (e.g. accountants, legal counsel, HR/payroll providers) Nice-To-Have: Ideally, some of your time has been spent in a fast-paced startup environment. But this isn\’t a hard requirement if you really want to make this transition Experience owning or supporting one or more core business functions such as Finance, Ops, People, or Legal What we offer: Working directly with the founding team. A phenomenal platform for accelerated career growth. Dinner: Free when working past 6 pm. Holidays: 24 days plus bank holidays. Salary: £80-£100k Equity: Option grant on employee-friendly terms. Flexibility: Ability to work abroad for 2-weeks a year + flexibility during the working week for appointments (or anything else) #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Finance & Operations (London) employer: Kernel
Contact Detail:
Kernel Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance & Operations (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Kernel's business model and the specific challenges they face in scaling their finance function. Understanding their unique needs will allow you to tailor your discussions during interviews, showcasing how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Kernel or similar startups. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage to demonstrate your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your ability to manage financial operations in a fast-paced environment. Be ready to explain how you've successfully implemented systems or processes that improved efficiency.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving. Consider bringing a case study or example where your analytical mindset led to significant improvements in financial planning or operations.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance & Operations (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in finance and operations. Focus on your achievements in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, as these are key responsibilities for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific traits that align with the job description, such as being entrepreneurial and detail-oriented, and provide examples of how you've demonstrated these traits in previous roles.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical skills, consider including a section in your application that outlines your experience with data analysis, financial modelling, and any relevant tools like SQL or Excel. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the analytical demands of the position.
Highlight Startup Experience: If you have experience in a fast-paced startup environment, make sure to mention it. Even if it's not a hard requirement, showcasing your adaptability and ability to thrive in dynamic settings can set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kernel
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
As the Head of Finance & Operations, you'll need to demonstrate a strong understanding of financial principles. Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate how you've successfully managed financial functions.
✨Emphasise Your Analytical Skills
This role requires exceptional analytical abilities. Highlight your proficiency in Excel and any experience with SQL or other analytical tools. Discuss how you've used data to drive decisions and improve processes in previous positions.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Kernel is looking for someone who can think creatively and solve problems efficiently. Prepare to share examples of challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached them. This will show your entrepreneurial spirit and resourcefulness.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
You'll be working closely with various teams, so it's important to convey your ability to collaborate effectively. Discuss your experience in working cross-functionally, perhaps by sharing a project where you improved operations or streamlined processes across departments.