Interim CFO | VC-Backed Deep-Tech Scale-Up

Harmonic Finance is recruiting an Interim CFO for a VC-backed deep-tech business that applies machine learning and optimisation to urban transportation networks. The company is engineering-led, well funded and has grown its revenue run rate substantially over the past year. The finance lead will step in immediately to bring control, visibility and commercial insight to the function, working directly with the founders and leadership team on a hands-on, player-coach basis.

The contract runs six to nine months with potential to convert to a permanent position. The role requires a minimum of four days per week on-site in London. The listing advertises a day rate of £1,000 to £1,500 (IR35 status to be confirmed), which is the client's stated range in the original advertisement.

• Build reliable short- and medium-term cashflow forecasts and provide leadership with regular, clear cash visibility.
• Improve working capital management across enterprise customers, including collections, invoice financing costs and days to cash.
• Set cash targets by customer and stakeholder, and track delivery of the initiatives that support them.
• Tighten financial controls and put appropriate governance and reporting processes in place.
• Deliver commercial reporting on unit economics, margin and customer profitability to support leadership decisions.
• Streamline month-end close and management reporting, and assess whether existing ERP and systems adequately support the business.
• Lead, develop and day-to-day manage an existing finance team of approximately seven people.
• Support board and investor reporting requirements.

• Senior finance leadership experience as FD, VP Finance or CFO in a VC-backed or PE-backed high-growth business.
• Hands-on track record of optimising working capital with enterprise customers, including invoice financing or factoring.
• Demonstrated ability to build cashflow forecasts and improve financial reporting and visibility for non-financial leadership teams.
• Prior interim assignments or permanent roles specifically focused on fixing cash management and financial controls.
• Exposure to operationally intensive or infrastructure-led business models is advantageous.

Harmonic Finance is a Certified B Corp recruitment firm specialising in finance and accounting roles across high-growth and VC-backed businesses. The client business in this search is a deep-tech scale-up using machine learning and optimisation to reshape how urban transportation networks operate.