Finance & Operations Manager

Finance & Operations Manager (Part-Time)
The Role
This is a hands-on, part-time role created to give CLIMATEX the financial, legal, and administrative backbone it needs through a critical period: closing a seed financing round, managing grants and funding, building the financial infrastructure for licensing at scale, and keeping the company legally sound and operationally sharp.
You will be the primary lead for all financial and administrative operations, working directly with the CEO-designate and alongside our board-level advisors. You will translate numbers into decisions, keep the company compliant and organised, and be a trusted partner to the CEO-designate on everything legal, administrative and finance-related.
What You Will Own
Financial Management
Monthly financial reporting: P&L, balance sheet, cash position, burn rate, and runway
Manage relationships with external accountants, fiduciaries, and financial service providers
Oversee payroll, contractor invoices, expense approvals and payments
Monitor and flag anomalies in cost lines (e.g. legal, patents, marketing)
Maintain financial models for investor reporting and board updates
Prepare monthly reporting materials for the board and investors
Fundraising Support
Prepare investor-ready financials: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow projections
Build and maintain top-down and bottom-up financial models and forecasts
Support due diligence processes for the seed financing round, grants, and future investment rounds
Actively identify and pursue grant and public funding opportunities (EU, Swiss national, sector-specific) - and administer ones already granted
Manage grant drawdown processes, financial reporting to grant bodies, and compliance with milestone-based payment requirements
Build and maintain a 24-month financial forecast
Own and maintain the investor data room: version control, document accuracy, and timely updates
Coordinate equity round administration through to close: cap table maintenance, shareholder documentation, and coordination with legal counsel and notaries
Licensing Business
Own the financial model for the licensing business: royalty projections, licensee tiers, scenario planning, and revenue forecasting
Maintain and update the business plan: financial narrative, licensing strategy, commercial assumptions, and partner pipeline
Manage all licensing administration: agreements, royalty tracking, invoicing, compliance with contract terms, and renewal schedules
Coordinate legal aspects of licensing: liaise with external counsel on licence agreements, IP protection matters, and partner negotiations
Administration & Compliance
Ensure Swiss legal and tax compliance (VAT, withholding tax, social insurance)
Manage contracts, NDAs, vendor agreements, and deal-related documentation including term sheets and investment agreements
Oversee IP cost tracking and patent renewal schedules
Handle insurance, banking relationships, and regulatory filings
Operations
Implement simple financial processes and controls suited to an early-stage company
Support HR administration: contracts, onboarding, payroll coordination
Support the CEO on day-to-day administration: scheduling, correspondence coordination, meeting preparation, and follow-up on action items
Be the go-to person for financial, legal, and administrative coordination - from board materials to supplier invoices
What We Are Looking For
Must Have
5+ years in finance or accounting, ideally in a startup or scale-up environment
Experience preparing investor-ready financial reports and models
Strong financial modelling skills including scenario planning, runway management, and top-down / bottom-up forecasting
Comfortable with Swiss accounting standards, VAT, and payroll
Highly organised and self-directed - you run your own agenda
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving early-stage environment with limited structure
Experience coordinating with external stakeholders including accountants, legal counsel, investors, and grant bodies
Clear communicator who can translate financials into plain language
Advanced Excel / Google Sheets skills and proficiency in standard accounting and reporting software
High attention to detail and discretion when handling financial, legal, and shareholder-related information
Nice to Have
Experience supporting grant applications and public funding processes (EIC, Innosuisse, Horizon Europe or similar), including proactive opportunity identification
Background in deep tech, materials, or impact-driven companies
Familiarity with licensing business models, royalty structures, and IP commercialisation
German or French language skills alongside English
What We Offer
A meaningful role at the heart of a company solving a real problem in circular fashion
Direct access to and collaboration with the CEO-designate
Flexible working - remote-friendly with Swiss presence
Competitive part-time compensation commensurate with experience
The opportunity to grow into a full CFO role as the company scales jidaec50eaa jit0521a jiy26a