Fractional CFO | Innovative Climate-Tech Scale-Up

Fractional CFO | Innovative Climate-Tech Scale-Up | Bristol The Client

Harmonic is delighted to be partnering with a climate-tech business at the point where deep science becomes commercial reality. Backed to date by angel investment and UK government grant funding, this founder-led business is moving from startup to scale-up and preparing for a landmark Series A. It sits in a capital-intensive corner of the market and is genuinely mission-led, building the technology and the team to make a real dent in industrial decarbonisation.

A rare chance to help shape the finance function and lead the raise that takes them to their next stage of growth.

The immediate mandate is to prepare for and help lead a Series A raise. Working alongside the CEO and the existing finance team, the Fractional CFO will own the integrated financial model, valuation, capital strategy, investor materials, due diligence and term-sheet support. This is a strategic, investor-facing appointment; you will complement the existing team rather than take over the routine finance function.

The first priority is to get the business genuinely Series A ready, then to sit shoulder to shoulder with the CEO through fundraising, due diligence and negotiation. Expect two to three days a week, with the flexibility to ramp up around key pitch sprints. Initially fractional or interim, with a genuine possibility of becoming permanent as the business scales.

• Prepare the business for a Series A raise of circa £20m and help lead it through to close.
• Build and own the integrated financial model, valuation and capital strategy.
• Produce investor-ready materials and the numbers behind the equity story.
• Run the financial due diligence process and support term-sheet negotiation.
• Navigate a blended funding picture: venture equity alongside grants and project finance.
• Present alongside the CEO to investors, partners and external stakeholders.
• Partner with the CEO and existing finance team, complementing rather than duplicating the day-to-day function.
• Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) or qualified by experience at CFO level.
• Has personally led and closed a substantial institutional equity raise, not simply supported one as part of a wider finance team.
• Comfortable with pre-revenue technology and first-of-a-kind deployment, across grants, project finance and conventional venture equity.
• Background in climate-tech, energy, cleantech, deep-tech, engineering or another capital-intensive technology business (strongly preferred).
• Credible and confident presenting alongside a founder or CEO to investors, partners and external stakeholders.
• Commercially sharp and hands-on, willing to challenge constructively without bringing unnecessary corporate machinery into a lean, founder-led business.
• Able to be on site in Bristol for the core working days.
• Track record of building investor-ready models and valuations from the ground up.
• Existing relationships with relevant VCs or institutional investors.
• Experience of UK government grant funding.
• Openness to converting to a permanent CFO in time.

Day Rate: £800-1,000 per day (dependent on experience)

Days: Circa 2 to 3 days per week, flexing up around pitch sprints

Location: Bristol, on site for the core days with some remote flexibility; travel to London and occasionally Europe for investor meetings

Start Date: October / November 2026