Fractional CFO

Smartechindia; City of London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Part time

Job summary

A pioneering clean-tech venture in London is seeking a Fractional CFO to lead financial strategy and operations. The role requires a strategic finance leader with experience in early-stage environments and a strong financial modeling background. Successful candidates will engage closely with the founder and executive team to build financial maturity and attract investors. This part-time opportunity is ideal for a mission-driven professional focused on sustainability with potential equity upside.

Benefits

Flexible day rate

Equity potential

High-autonomy role

Qualifications

• Proven experience in early-stage or growth ventures, especially in hard tech or impact-led businesses.
• Track record of working closely with founders and/or boards.
• Operational confidence in cash oversight, fundraising, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Redesign and own a fit-for-purpose financial model for internal and external use.
• Partner with the CEO on investor readiness including financial storytelling.
• Lead cash flow oversight and cost discipline.
• Support financial operations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Oversee outsourced accounting and bookkeeping functions.
• Act as a thought partner on pricing and long-term value creation.

Skills

Financial modeling

Investor presentation skills

Cash oversight

Fundraising

Operations management

Multi-country operations

Job description

Job Title: Fractional CFO Deep Tech Sustainability Start-up

Location: Central London (Hybrid 12 days per week in person)

Engagement: Part-time / Fractional

Compensation: Flexible day rate equity potential

About the Company

A pioneering clean-tech venture is developing hardware solutions to address global water scarcity. The company has created a novel system that extracts drinking water from ambient air, even in harsh and arid conditions. Backed by recent scientific recognition and operating under multiple patents, the company has moved from successful prototyping into commercial unit development. With a cross-border presence across the UK and Southern Europe and 20 employees, the business is approaching a critical inflection point: ramping toward first revenue, entering discussions with institutional investors, and preparing for scaled production. The founder is an experienced finance executive turned entrepreneur, and the broader team brings expertise across engineering, science, and impact innovation.

The Opportunity

This is a high-impact fractional CFO role designed for a strategic, hands-on finance leader who thrives in early-stage environments. Youll serve as the most senior finance presence in the business, partnering closely with the founder and small executive team to build financial maturity, engage investors, and prepare the business for sustainable growth. The expectation is 12 days per week commitment, with occasional in-person presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Model Rebuild & Forecasting: Redesign and own a fit-for-purpose financial model for internal and external use.
• Fundraising Support: Partner with the CEO on investor readiness including financial storytelling, materials, due diligence prep, and scenario modeling.
• Cash Management & Controls: Lead cash flow oversight, cost discipline, and implementation of appropriate early-stage processes.
• Cross-Border Finance: Support financial operations across multiple jurisdictions (UK EU), including accounting, FX, compliance, and regulatory awareness.
• External Stakeholder Liaison: Oversee outsourced accounting and bookkeeping functions. Ensure clean, accurate data feeds into board and investor reporting.
• Strategic Financial Insight: Act as a thought partner on pricing, unit economics, hardware costing, and long-term value creation.

Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in early-stage or growth ventures, especially in hard tech or impact-led businesses
• Track record of working closely with founders and/or boards
• Strong financial modeling and investor presentation skills
• Operational confidence in cash oversight, fundraising, and reporting
• Global outlook and comfort with multi-country operations
• Pragmatic mindset: hands-on, adaptable, mission-aligned

Experience in climate tech, deep tech, engineering-led ventures, or complex hardware models is a plus.

Why This Role?

• Mission-Driven: Tackle a global sustainability challenge with a team committed to real-world impact.
• Equity Upside: Significant long-term opportunity aligned to business growth and value creation.
• Leadership Seat: Join the founding team during a formative phase your financial leadership will shape the companys next chapter.
• Flexible Engagement: High-autonomy role with hybrid/part-time structure ideal for portfolio CFOs or transition-phase executives.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Part-time

Job function

• Finance