Head of Corporate Affairs in London

Sapio Consulting is supporting the search for a Head of Corporate Affairs at a VC-backed fintech operating at scale across the UK and US. The business has built a mission-led platform used by millions, sitting at the intersection of commercial growth and measurable social impact, with a growing product suite. This is a senior hire to shape how the organisation is perceived externally: owning its communications strategy, building its public profile, and protecting its reputation as it continues to scale across markets. The successful candidate will work with significant autonomy directly alongside the executive team, defining the company's narrative and positioning it as the authoritative voice in its category.

Role

• Develop and execute a corporate communications strategy aligned with the company's commercial objectives, mission and values.
• Own the master narrative, messaging frameworks and thought-leadership calendar across UK and US markets.
• Build and manage strong media relationships across national, trade and broadcast outlets in both markets, overseeing press office function and agency partners.
• Define and lead category positioning strategy (Workplace Finance), developing creative approaches to establish the company as the dominant voice in its space across audiences including clients, investors, and regulators.
• Support fundraising, investor relations and partnership communications with clear, persuasive messaging, ensuring all disclosures and announcements meet regulatory and governance requirements.
• Identify and develop relationships with political stakeholders, think tanks and trade bodies to position the company as a subject matter expert with relevant government departments.
• Anticipate and manage reputational risk, developing crisis playbooks, holding statements and mitigation strategies.
• Act as the senior communications advisor in crisis situations, providing swift and considered counsel to the leadership team.
• Support the leveraging of the company's proprietary data into compelling, audience-appropriate narratives, identifying stories, trends and angles relevant to media, policymakers, think tanks and government bodies.
• Coach and prepare the executive team for media appearances, keynote events, investor communications and internal town halls.
• Ensure alignment between external messaging and internal communications across the organisation.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in a corporate communications, PR or a related discipline, with substantial time at senior leadership level.
• A strong track record of high-impact campaigns, earned media results and reputation management across complex or high-profile organisations.
• Deep media relationships across business, technology, consumer and broadcast outlets in the UK; US market experience a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated experience managing high-stakes issues and crises, with the composure and judgement to advise leadership under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to interrogate and interpret data - comfortable working with complex datasets and translating findings into stories that resonate with diverse audiences including journalists, policymakers and institutional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, including the ability to challenge constructively and translate complex strategy into clear, resonant messaging.
• Experience working across regulatory, legal and governance frameworks in a communications context.
• Prior financial communications exposure, whether through experience of private fundraising rounds or equity capital markets.
• Ability to move between strategic and executional work - equally comfortable in the boardroom and drafting copy.
• Strong instinct for category positioning and brand narrative, with a creative approach to communications.
• Experience managing agency relationships and press office functions.