Finance & Operations Manager

About the Company

Cnuic Technologies is a venture backed deep-tech company in Edinburgh, developing next-generation optical systems that will redefine precision manufacturing and nanoscale engineering. Backed by leading venture capital funds and UK innovation grants, we have the runway to solve exceptionally hard hardware problems. Our fast-moving, collaborative team gives exceptional engineers the resources and freedom to do their best work.

About the role

We're now looking for our first finance hire: a hands-on Finance & Operations Manager who will run day-to-day finance, related operations and build our systems and processes from the ground up.

You'll work closely with the founders, our external accountants, and our project management and technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

Finance

• Keep the books accurate and up to date and reconcile bank accounts and company cards.
• Process, pay and track supplier invoices, running regular payment runs.
• Manage staff expenses.
• Alongside external accountants, prepare monthly management accounts (profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow).
• Alongside external accountants, prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns.
• Act as the main contact for our external accountants, including on year-end accounts and corporation tax.
• Liaise with our payroll provider so everyone is paid correctly and on time.
• Monitor cash closely and keep the cash flow forecast up to date.

Operations

• Set up and run the purchasing process: getting quotes, comparing prices, raising purchase orders and placing orders.
• Find, onboard and manage suppliers, agreeing prices and payment terms.
• Chase orders and deliveries so parts and equipment arrive on time.
• Manage stock and inventory, keeping accurate records of parts, materials and equipment, and maintain the company asset register.
• Partner with the project manager to allocate costs to the right projects, track spend against each project budget and flag overspends early.
• Prepare project costings for new projects, grant applications and quotes.

Systems, controls and strategy

• Set up finance systems and processes from scratch, including accounting software, purchase orders, expenses and approvals.
• Put financial controls in place, such as spending limits and sign-off rules, and improve processes as we grow.
• Support the founders in owning & updating the financial model and setting the annual budget, then track spend against it.
• Alongside external accountants, prepare financial board packs, including monthly or quarterly financial reports.
• Support fundraising by preparing financial information for investors.

Funding and compliance

• Track funds from each investor and grant funder, ensuring spend and reporting meet their terms.
• Prepare grant claims and progress reports with the project manager and accountants and keep records audit-ready.
• Support R&D tax credit claims with our accountants.
• Keep company records and statutory filings up to date, working with the accountants.

About You

• Experience as a finance and operations manager, finance manager or similar in a start-up or SME.
• Solid bookkeeping experience and the ability to prepare monthly management accounts.
• Experience preparing and submitting UK VAT returns and working with external accountants on year-end accounts.
• Experience of purchasing and managing suppliers.
• Experience setting up finance systems or processes from scratch.
• Experienced user of cloud accounting software (ideally Xero), with advanced Excel skills (e.g. lookups, pivot tables, financial modelling).

Experience & Qualifications

Ideally ACCA, CIMA or ACA qualified, or with equivalent experience. We're also happy to consider part-qualified or AAT candidates where there is a particularly strong fit. We'd particularly welcome people who trained in audit before moving into industry.

How you work

• Organised and accurate, with a careful eye for detail.
• Hands-on and happy to do everything from data entry to strategic planning.
• Comfortable working on your own and using your initiative.
• Follows things through, happy to pick up the phone and keep chasing until an issue is resolved.
• Able to explain numbers clearly to people without a finance background, including engineers and scientists.
• Adaptable: comfortable with shifting priorities in a small, growing team.
• A practical problem solver.
• Trustworthy with confidential information.

Nice to have

• Experience in a hardware, engineering, manufacturing or science business.
• Experience managing grant funding and grant claims (for example, Innovate UK).
• Experience of R&D tax credit claims.
• Experience of stock control or inventory systems.
• Experience preparing board packs.
• Experience supporting a fundraising round or investor due diligence.

Don't tick every box? We'd still love to hear from you. If this role excites you and you have most of what we're looking for, please apply.

What we offer

• Eligibility to participate in employee share option plan (ESOP)
• 34 Days leave plus birthday leave
• Insurance Benefits
• A modern, well-equipped workspace in West Edinburgh

Equal opportunities

Cnuic Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are happy to discuss any adjustments you need during the process.