At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial operations, manage payments, billing, and build scalable finance processes.
- Company: Fast-growing startup transforming Intellectual Property with a world-class team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, full visa sponsorship, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and work with top minds in AI.
- Why this job: Be the first finance hire and shape the future of our financial operations.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in finance, strong accounting skills, and experience in high-growth tech companies.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Solve Intelligence, we’re building something people actually want - and we have the revenue and traction to prove it.
Less than 24 months since launch, we are adding 7 figures of ARR per month, we have raised ~$60M USD, and we are quadrupling headcount this year. We’ve built a world-class team of AI PhDs, engineers, and patent attorneys. Now, we need a high-energy, ambitious Financial Operations Lead to help us scale to $1B+ ARR.
You will be our first dedicated finance hire, based in London and working directly with the founders. Until now, finance has not been run by any single person. Your job is to own it end-to-end: get the fundamentals running flawlessly, then build the processes, tooling, and budgets that scale us to 100+ people across our offices and our continued revenue growth.
This isn't a CFO-strategist role, and it isn't bookkeeping. It's for a hands-on generalist who understands accounting deeply, executes relentlessly, and is happy to go invoice-by-invoice in the morning, build the company budget in the afternoon, and model financials in the evening.
What you’ll own:
- Payments (AP): Own supplier payments end-to-end. Lead vendor negotiations, approval workflows, invoices paid on time, and duplicates or double-payments caught before they happen.
- Billing & Collections (AR): Own customer invoicing across our 1,000+ law firm and enterprise clients. Partner with RevOps to collect our backlog of overdue invoices fast and keep cash flowing in.
- The Monthly Close: Run our external accountants to an accurate, on-time close every month; numbers we trust, and clean data behind the board and investor reporting that the CEO owns.
- Processes & Tooling: Design and implement our finance stack from scratch. Approvals, procurement, spend management, Billing, and more. Choose tools that scale and automate aggressively with AI.
- Budgets & Financial Culture: Work directly with the founders to build our first budgeting and approval processes (hiring, marketing, conferences, offices, etc) and partner closely with every team. Help the founders instil a culture where money is not free.
- Vendor Negotiation & Cash: Negotiate pricing and contracts with suppliers - everything from software to office space - and steward the ~$60M we've raised: payroll and vendors always paid, cash put to work safely.
About Solve Intelligence:
We are the fastest-growing startup transforming Intellectual Property. Our AI platform handles everything from invention harvesting and patent generation through to litigation and licensing.
Growth: 20–30% MoM revenue growth; 8 figures of ARR just ~2 years since launch.
Market: 600+ IP teams across 6 continents, including Tier-1 firms like DLA Piper, tech giants, and boutiques.
Impact: Users report 50–90% efficiency and quality improvements.
Backing: ~$60M from Y Combinator, 20VC, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters, and the founders of top companies like Stripe, Perplexity, Tinder, Deel, Hugging Face, and Canva.
Who You’ll Work With:
You’ll be joining a founding team with deep pedigree:
- Sanj (CRO): PhD in AI (Gatsby Unit, UCL), ex-Huawei R&D, former lead at Magic Carpet AI (acquired).
- Chris (CEO): PhD in AI (UCL), published researcher, ex-Dyson and Alan Turing Institute.
- Angus (CTO): MEng Computer Science, ex-Qualcomm and Coremont (Brevan Howard).
Who You Are:
We are a high-performance culture. To thrive here:
- You get your hands dirty: You'll happily go line-by-line through invoices, the CRM, and the bank to make things clean — then fix the process so it stays clean.
- You're detail-obsessed: Duplicate invoices, overdue payments, wrong pricing — nothing gets past you.
- You have high agency: There's no playbook and no finance team behind you (yet). You find the mess, own it, and fix it.
- You're a business partner, not a back-office cop: You work close to sales and the wider team, helping everyone spend smarter and move faster.
- You're ambitious: You'll do the dirty work now because you want to build the finance function as we scale.
What You Bring:
Must-Haves:
- 5+ years in finance at high-growth tech companies — e.g., FP&A lead/head, finance ops, or a similar generalist finance role — now hungry for broader scope.
- Deep fluency in accounting — you can run external accountants to an on-time close — without needing to be an accountant yourself.
- A track record of implementing finance processes, tooling, and automation that scale with a fast-growing company.
- Strong modelling skills across budgets, forecasts, P&L, and cash.
- Exceptionally clear written and verbal communication.
Preferred & Nice-to-Haves:
- First/early finance hire experience: You've built a finance function from scratch before.
- Procurement & negotiation: Experience negotiating vendor contracts and pricing.
- Treasury: Experience managing cash and liquidity at scale.
- Accounting foundation: An accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or accounting background.
- Tooling mastery: Experience with modern finance stacks (e.g., ERP/accounting, spend management, billing & AR systems), and experience leveraging AI across everything you do.
What’s In It For You?
- Compensation: Competitive base + significant equity — true ownership in a high-growth startup.
- Founding Impact: Be finance hire #1, build the function from the ground up, and grow into leading it as we scale.
- Support: Full visa sponsorship and private medical insurance.
- Perks: Free meals and the chance to work with the smartest minds in AI.
Ready to own the financial engine behind the rocket ship? Apply now.
Financial Operations Lead in London employer: Solve Intelligence
As a pioneering AI startup, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and professional growth. Our employees benefit from competitive compensation packages, significant equity opportunities, and the chance to work alongside a talented team dedicated to transforming the IP landscape in a fast-paced environment. Join us to be part of a meaningful journey where your contributions will directly impact the future of technology and intellectual property.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Operations Lead in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Solve Intelligence. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Operations Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Solve Intelligence.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Solve Intelligence's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Solve Intelligence
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Solve Intelligence.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Solve Intelligence will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Solve Intelligence employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
