Business Finance Specialist

Location: West Midlands (Home Based but must be able to attend regular client meetings in person)

Fixed Term – 31 March 2025

If you are experienced in raising funding, motivated, passionate about businesses in the West Midlands, and have financial skills in any of the following areas, please read on:-

• Equity investment
• Financial Forecasting
• Rasing finance
• Management or Financial Accounting

We are looking for another Business Finance Specialist to join our team of Experts. The role requires you to work first hand with businesses in the West Midlands area delivering hands on support to encourage investment in the region.

You will need exceptional client facing skills and knowledge/experience that makes you a credible Advisor. The role is varied every day and very rewarding. You will engage with both early stage and established businesses, helping them shape the development of successful growth plans to support a finance raise.

The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate experience in financial management, possibly from a management accountancy background or as a business leader with personal experience.

As well as expert knowledge, you will need the discipline to work within programme parameters to achieve the required impacts. As a member of the Access to Finance team you will work closely with OI Advice colleagues to deliver the programme to the highest industry standards.

Now about us ….

Oxford Innovation Advice is a commercial organisation recognised as market leading specialists in SME (small to medium sized enterprises) business growth support and development. Now firmly established as a key provider of advisory services to businesses, having successfully delivered numerous ERDF funded Business Support projects the UK

Oxford Innovation Advice are widely acknowledged as market leaders in the delivery of business advisory services to SMEs. We enjoy a reputation for exemplary customer service and the ability to deliver results. Our people are recognised for exceptional skill levels, the ability to get things done and for working in a light touch managerial environment where we trust our employees to perform with minimal supervision.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Work with clients to deliver financial models and associated materials to support a finance raise.
• Work with clients to develop applications for funding.
• Deliver workshops on selected areas of financial knowledge.
• Build effective relationships with individuals, organisations and stakeholders to develop a pipeline of high-quality referrals.
• Record interactions on our CRM platform
• Support other members of the delivery team, sharing knowledge and best practice.
• Assist in delivery of other programme initiatives as required.
• Gather data and information to demonstrate the impact of the business support provided.
• Any other duties as reasonably required.

About you

• Someone with strong interpersonal skills, business experience relevant to and appropriate for SME’s.
• You will have well developed analytical skills, and a good understanding of typical SME growth challenges and how they are overcome.
• You will have an eye for detail.
• Your skills may include a sound understanding of business planning/growth strategies.
• You may have experience of working in a finance role at Senior or Director level where you will have been responsible for financial control and forecasting.
• You will be confident and articulate and you will quickly win the trust and respect of our clients.
• You will be able to present effectively to small groups as well as give confidential advice in 1:1 settings.
• The ability to work both independently and with colleagues in the team, supporting in areas where you have specialist knowledge.
• You will have sound judgement and take a collaborative and solution focussed approach.

Strong active listening, networking and relationship building skills are key to this role, as well as an enthusiasm to undertake internal and external training as required and translate learning into positive interventions with clients.

The successful candidates will have a drive for quality and have experience in working in a demanding environment, where the willingness to meet the needs of the business, is crucial.

You will be educated to degree level (or have equivalent commercial experience).

A full driving license and access to a car is essential for this role.

If you think you fit the role, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you and discuss your suitability. After initial CV selection, a telephone interview will take place before you are offered a place on our recruitment day, so it’s a chance to discuss suitability and for us to answer any questions you may have.

More About Us…

Oxford Innovation Advice is a dynamic and fast-growing company where a culture of constant innovation and mutual respect delivers bottom line results from within a stimulating and challenging working environment. Part of SQW Group, our sister divisions provide flexible office space for start-up and growing technology companies, Angel investment networks and co-investment fund management plus public policy and economic development consultancy services in the UK, Europe and Asia. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Our closing date for applications is the 29 March 2024. We reserve the right to appoint prior to this date, therefore applications should be submitted as soon as possible.

Interviews and assessments will take place on the from the week commencing 25 March, therefore early application is advised.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.