Finance Manager (Accounting-Focused)

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We are looking for an Accounting-Focused Finance Manager to help ensure Bactobio's effective financial decision-making and drive our sustainable growth.

Company

Bactobio is a London-based biotechnology company using breakthrough technologies in synthetic biology, next-generation sequencing and machine learning to discover new biology and chemistry from nature. We use our platform to discover novel medicines and plant protectants. Together, we are a team of 40 scientists and operations specialists including 30 PhDs from leading institutions. Our work is supported by £9.8 million in investment from leading European angel investors and industry leaders including Peder Holk Nielsen (former CEO, Novozymes), Hugh Grant (former CEO, Monsanto) and Lord David Prior (former Chairman, NHS). Our first goal is to help solve the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis.

Role

Working closely with the leadership team, you will help shape Bactobio's commercial strategy as we continue to grow. You will act as the key financial leader in the organisation, overseeing all financial activities and ensuring that the company's financial practices are sound and compliant. This role is versatile enough to handle a range of responsibilities, from strategic financial planning to hands-on accounting tasks.

Team

Our Business and Operations team is a close-knit group of "doers" who manage the daily operations and long-term vision of a fast-growing biotechnology company. We run a lean structure with a strong work ownership and collaborate closely to keep the company development on track.

Responsibilities:

• Bookkeeping: Maintain meticulous, up-to-date financial records, and perform regular reconciliations to ensure accuracy. Oversee timely preparation and submission of VAT returns.
• Payroll and Pension: Collaborate with Bactobio's external accountants to ensure timely and accurate processing of monthly payroll and pension payments.
• Three-Way Receipt Matching: Ensure consistency between purchase orders, goods receipts, and invoices for accurate financial control and auditing.
• Procurement Management: Manage the full purchase order process, ensuring smooth ordering, receipt, and invoice matching.
• Annual Accounts & R&D Tax Credit Claims: Work closely with Bactobio's external accountants to prepare and finalize annual accounts in compliance with accounting standards. Lead the preparation and submission of R&D tax credit claims, optimizing benefits for the organization.
• Grant Management: Support the financial management of Innovate UK grants, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and delivering accurate, timely financial reports.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop and maintain accurate financial forecasts, providing insights to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
• Cash Flow Management: Manage and optimize cash flow by identifying cost-saving opportunities and efficiently managing transfers between accounts to secure the best interest rates.
• Financial Reporting: Assist in preparing and presenting accurate financial reports, ensuring stakeholders have the insights needed for informed decision-making.
• Financial KPIs: Contribute to the development, tracking, and analysis of key financial performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor business performance and support continuous improvement.

You should have:

• BS/MA degree in Finance, Accounting or similar.
• Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent is preferred.
• Proven experience in financial management and accounting, preferably within a startup or biotechnology company.
• Strong knowledge of UK accounting standards and financial regulations.
• Experience in handling Innovate UK grants and R&D tax credit claims is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in financial software and tools, including bookkeeping software, Excel, and financial forecasting platforms.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Benefits include:

• Competitive compensation (£45,000 - £60,000)
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension plan
• Opportunity to use your skills to help shape our innovative platform
• The chance to be part of a fun, multicultural, kind, and ambitious crowd that are impact-driven
• Daily access to academic leaders, business leaders, and unicorn founders
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• Flexible start and finish times within the company's core hours to fit your preferences
• Diverse team of colleagues (check out our website to meet us)
• Weekly team activities including board games, sports activities, and socials on Fridays
• Complimentary snacks, fruits, tea, coffee, soft drinks,...
• Access to 1000s of training courses through Udemy and Codecadamy, with an allowance for both personal development and work-related training
• Bike2Work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering structured counselling, life and career coaching, legal and financial advice