Finance & Strategy Manager

🎯 Finance & Strategy Manager 🌍 London, N4 🏛️ 4 days in our office, 1 day working from home 🤝 Reporting to CEO, Insiya Jafferjee 💰 £ SALARY RANGE £50-60K (depending on experience) + equity Shellworks is a London-based materials science company developing Vivomer™ - a fully compostable, microbially-derived alternative to single-use plastic. Backed by leading investors and with major commercial partnerships already in place, we're at an inflection point: scaling from proof-of-concept to mass-market production. We've closed our Series A and are working with some of the world's most recognised brands to replace plastic at volume. This is a rare opportunity to sit at the centre of a company that genuinely matters. The Role We're looking for a sharp, commercially driven operator to own our strategic finance and corporate development agenda. This isn't a finance controller role - it's for someone who wants to build things: funding structures, decks, models, and relationships. You'll work directly with the CEO and report into the leadership team, sitting alongside our Operations Lead as a core part of the commercial engine. What You'll Do Creative & Structured Financing Own the working capital and debt financing agenda - identify, negotiate and close facilities (receivables financing, grant structures, blended finance instruments) Lead grant applications and non-dilutive funding opportunities, including government schemes and philanthropic capital Build and maintain relationships with banks, lenders and alternative finance providers Corporate Development Drive M&A analysis, including evaluation of potential manufacturing facility acquisitions Support fundraising processes - build and own the investor materials Manage ongoing investor relationships and leverage the investor network proactively on behalf of the business Financial Modeling & Reporting Own the company financial model and keep it current Build deal models, scenario analyses and business cases for major commercial decisions Support commercial negotiations with financial analysis and structuring input Investor & Partner Decks Be the person who holds the pen - take a brief from the CEO and come back with something excellent Translate complex financial and commercial dynamics into clear, compelling narratives for external audiences Who You Are 2–4 years in investment banking (M&A, infrastructure, or sustainable finance preferred) - you know how to model, structure deals, and build a deck under pressure One tour in a high-growth startup (Series A–C) - you've seen how the engine room works and thrived in ambiguity Genuinely excited by the sustainability / materials space - you don't need to be an expert, but you need to care Self-directed: you take a problem, go away, and come back with a solution, not more questions Strong communicator - written and verbal; comfortable with founders, investors and blue-chip partners High tolerance for ambiguity and low tolerance for bureaucracy What We Offer Competitive salary and meaningful equity Direct access to leadership and genuine strategic responsibility from day one A chance to work on something that matters - at a company that's already proving it can w in