Head of Finance

About Civo

Civo is reimagining the cloud industry by providing developers and businesses with cutting-edge, developer-friendly cloud solutions. With a focus on simplicity, performance, and reliability, Civo enables its clients to unleash the full potential of their projects and scale with ease. As a company committed to excellence and innovation, Civo values diversity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

About the Role

This is a 12-month fixed term contract with the potential to extend or be made permanent for the right candidate. Reporting to the CFO, with a strong dotted line into the Founder, the Head of Finance leads Civo's day-to-day financial operations, financial reporting and finance team. The role covers financial planning and analysis, the monthly close process, cash flow management and compliance.

You will manage a small hybrid team. Civo is the main focus of the role, with approximately 10% to 15% of time spent supporting a small number of businesses under common ownership. Regular contact across the team is maintained through a mix of in-office and virtual meetings, email and telephone.

This is a hands-on role with operational ownership and board-level exposure. You will present the consolidated group position to the CFO and Founder each month, and work alongside them on funding, capital structure and international expansion.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the finance team across all aspects of their duties and deliverables.

• Lead business modelling and the budget setting process, including high-quality analysis of the drivers of growth, to established timetables and in line with strategy.

• Lead the quarterly forecasting process, including high-quality analysis and meaningful comparison to budget, to established timetables.

• Lead the monthly management accounts process, including narrative and insight alongside meaningful comparison to budget and latest forecast, ensuring distribution to the boards.

• Prepare and present the consolidated group position to the CFO and Founder monthly, covering profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

• Monitor liquidity and manage working capital, maintaining a reliable view of the cash position across the businesses.

• Lead the development and delivery of high-level business intelligence through appropriate dashboards and analytical tools.

• Lead the annual audit, statutory accounts and corporation tax process with the auditors, ensuring their deliverables listing is agreed to a timetable and all analysis is made fully available.

• Lead US sales tax and other overseas sales tax arrangements, and ensure adherence to tax regulations and local filing requirements.

• Evaluate and appraise capital projects and investments, and provide transactional support on M&A activity.

• Manage and promote process improvement and optimisation, ensuring automation and workflow are in place and that business systems and finance tools connect.

• Control and manage access and permissions across HMRC, banking tools, Xero and all associated SaaS software solutions.

• Work closely with the Founder and CFO on all aspects of funding (debt and equity), capital structure and international expansion for Civo and Civo's sister companies.

• Work closely with the CFO on all aspects of the group's Research and Development programmes.

• Work with and support sister company's leadership team on financial matters.

• Manage, coach and develop the finance team.

Key Results/Objectives

• Monthly management accounts, with narrative and insight, delivered to the boards by Business Day 12 without exception.

• Budget and quarterly forecast delivered to agreed timetables, with analysis that clearly explains the drivers behind the numbers.

• Annual audit, statutory accounts and corporation tax filings completed on time and without material adjustment.

• Reliable rolling cash flow forecasting in place, giving the CFO and Founder a clear and current view of liquidity and working capital.

• Finance processes automated and connected where practical, reducing manual effort in the monthly close.

• A stable, well-supported finance team that continues to develop through the contract period.

Requirements

• CCAB qualified, or holder of an equivalent recognised professional accountancy body qualification.

• At least 8 years post-qualification experience in senior finance roles.

• A proven track record of leading and managing finance teams.

• Strong technical grounding across management accounts, statutory reporting, audit, tax and cash flow management.

• Advanced Excel skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present clearly to boards and senior stakeholders.

• Able to build strong and effective working relationships at all levels, including at board level.

• Resilient, with the capability to work under pressure in a fast-paced SME environment.

• Adept at problem-solving, with a can-do attitude.

• Available to commit to a 12-month fixed term contract.

Nice to Have (Optional)

• Solid knowledge of SaaS-based accounting tools, particularly Xero.

• A proven interest in technology and AI.

• Experience of US and other overseas sales tax arrangements.

• Exposure to funding processes (debt or equity), capital structure work or M&A transaction support.

• Experience supporting multi-entity or international business structures.

• Experience of Research and Development tax relief programmes.

Why Join Civo?

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

• Uncapped holiday.

• Remote work environment with flexibility and autonomy.

• Collaborative and inclusive culture that values diversity and creativity.

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and innovative team in the fast-growing cloud industry.