Head of Finance

Head of Finance

Safi operates the recycling industry's first digital B2B marketplace, underpinned by AI-enhanced material quality control. We combine technology and deep industry expertise to simplify every step of the trading experience and are proud to count 400+ of the most forward‑thinking recycling facilities across the globe as our customers. We closed our Series A in November 2024 raising $19.5m, and are backed by US' & UK's most renowned Climate Tech investors, including Chris Sacca's Lower Carbon Capital.

Ultimately, our mission is to make recycled commodity trading hyper‑efficient so we can eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the unnecessary use of virgin materials in new packaging.

This hands‑on Head of Finance will be responsible for overseeing all financial operations, driving financial strategy, ensuring statutory compliance, and managing the company’s financial systems and teams. This role requires a strong technical accounting background, hands‑on operational experience, and strategic leadership.

This is a UK‑remote position. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in UK accounting standards and experience managing UK‑based financial operations.

• Accounting & Treasury Management
  • Accountability over all financial control processes, including month‑end close, P&L and balance sheet review, and revenue/inventory reconciliation
  • Oversee cashflow forecasting, working capital planning, and Opex funding decisions
  • Execute Foreign Exchange planning and hedging strategies. Manage commission accounting and margin deposit requirements for trading activities.
  • Oversee more technical accounting issues (e.g., derivatives, equity, revenue recognition)
• Statutory Compliance
  • Manage the preparation and filing of year‑end statutory accounts for all jurisdictions (UK, Irish, Greek branch filings)
  • Lead the end‑to‑end external audit process
• Tax Management
  • Ensure timely and accurate submission of all corporate and indirect tax returns (VAT, Corporate Tax) across all relevant regions
  • Manage R&D tax credit claims and oversee tax planning, including permanent establishment risk
• Payroll & Equity Management
  • Oversee the monthly payroll cycle, including review, commission instruction, and associated compliance (PAYE)
  • Oversee employee equity administration (Capdesk, option issuance/cancellation) and required HMRC valuations and accounting
• Leadership & Reporting
  • Prepare high‑quality financial reports for Safi's investors, including monthly updates and responses to ad‑hoc queries
  • Mentor finance team members and manage banking relationships, insurance renewals, and general ad‑hoc legal/financial requests

• Essential
  • ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with experience as a Lead Controller or a hands‑on Head of Finance
  • Proven ability to improve existing processes and policies, or to build them from scratch
  • Experience managing statutory filings, tax compliance (VAT/Corporate Tax), and audit processes and UK accounting regulations
• Desirable
  • Experience with foreign exchange hedging, margin deposits, and complex working capital cycles in a trading or marketplace environment
  • Familiarity with managing share option schemes and cap tables

• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age or any other protected characteristic.
• If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.