Finance Director

StrideUp is leading a new era of values-driven finance. Ranked the 5th fastest growing fintech in the UK and Ireland in 2025, we have already deployed hundreds of millions in property finance, supporting people in achieving their financial goals.

What makes us different is how we combine purpose with performance. We began with home finance, creating an alternative trusted by the Muslim community and welcomed by anyone seeking fairer, more transparent products. This product-market fit has powered our growth, and is only the beginning. Our vision is bigger; to expand our offering and build a financial institution that opens doors for communities often left behind.

Joining StrideUp means being part of a high-performing, values-driven team at the most exciting point in our journey. We have proven success behind us and huge opportunity ahead, and now we are ready to build beyond. Are you?

 

StrideUp is backed by leading VC and private equity investors, having raised over £40m in corporate funding, and over £600m in institutional funding lines.

The Role

We are looking for a Finance Director to lead StrideUp's Finance function as we enter our next phase of growth. This is a senior leadership role at the centre of a fast-growing, FCA-regulated fintech with accountability for financial control, audit, an expanding set of funding lines and structured finance arrangements, and a growing investor base.

Reporting to the CEO, you'll take ultimate ownership of the Group's financial control environment, lead the business through its annual audits, and be the credible face of StrideUp's finances with auditors and regulators while playing a key supporting role alongside the CEO on fundraising and investor relations. 

You Are

• Technically credible, with an audit background and significant in-industry experience within banking or specialist lending
• Deeply knowledgeable in structured finance and financing lines, comfortable with complex, multi-entity balance sheets
• A proven people leader, with a track record of leading and developing finance teams
• Confident operating at a strategic, ExCo level, connecting finance to the wider business
• Credible in front of auditors and investors, able to represent StrideUp's numbers and judgement calls with authority
• A clear, structured and measured communicator, with good judgement under scrutiny
• Comfortable in a scale-up environment, building processes and governance as the business grows

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership

• Sit on StrideUp's Executive Committee (ExCo), contributing to company-wide strategy and decision-making
• Advise the CEO and ExCo on funding strategy and capital structure, keeping the business financially prepared for future strategic corporate activity

Financial Control & Governance

• Own the integrity of the Group's financial statements and control environment
• Design and continuously strengthen internal controls, governance and risk management as the business scales
• Line manage the members of the Finance function

Audit Leadership

• Lead the business through annual audits as the primary contact for external auditors
• Own the resolution of audit findings and use them to strengthen controls

Funding Lines & Structured Finance 

• Own the accounting treatment, financial reporting and audited financial statement impact of a growing number of funding lines and structured finance arrangements
• Maintain oversight of sources and uses of funds for financial reporting and control purposes, including SPV consolidation, partnering with Capital Markets, who own origination, negotiation and day-to-day operational management of these facilities

Fund Raises & Investor Relations

• Provide the audited financials, technical accounting positions and financial credibility that underpin fundraising, alongside the CEO (who leads investor relationships) and Capital Markets (who lead data room and due diligence material for institutional funding)
• Contribute financial insight to investor updates, conversations, funding lines/equity raises etc.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the Finance team - currently the Group Financial Controller and a Finance Apprentice
• Set clear standards and objectives for the function, and mentor the Group Financial Controller and apprentice

Regulatory & Compliance

• Own the Group's relationship with the FCA on financial matters
• Strengthen capital adequacy, solvency and regulatory reporting processes as the business grows

Management Reporting & Planning

• Own month-end close and Group management reporting to the CEO and ExCo
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting and the Group's financial model

• ACA qualified (or equivalent)
• 8+ years post qualified experience, including significant in-industry experience within banking or specialist lending, following an audit background
• Strong technical expertise in structured finance and financial instruments
• Proven track record owning financial control and audit relationships in a regulated environment
• Track record leading and developing finance teams
• Working knowledge of tax fundamentals, with experience working with specialist tax advisers
• Comfortable operating at ExCo/strategic level and representing the business to external stakeholders
• Regulatory and compliance awareness (e.g. capital adequacy, solvency, regulatory returns) about the broader fintech and financial services landscape.

Bonus

• Top 10 accounting firm background
• Audit within financial services
• Experience supporting equity fundraising rounds

• Salary: Competitive, based on experience
• 25 days annual holiday
• Birthday Leave
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Hybrid working environment
• 3% pension contribution
• Enhanced Parental Leave & Pay
• Monthly socials
• Central London location 
• Friendly and informal startup environment with a focus on performance and impact

Equal Opportunity Employer

StrideUp is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We celebrate the diversity of our team and encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and look forward to seeing how you can contribute to our mission.