Commercial and Investment Analyst Rochford, England
Job description
Role Description
Job Title
Commercial and Investment Analyst
Employment Basis
Permanent part-time (20 hours per week)
Probation Period
3 months
Notice Period
1 month
Salary
£35,000 pro rata, based on a 35-hour full-time work week
Holiday entitlement
8 weeks pro rata (we think its really important people get to spend time with their families)
Job Location
Min.2 days per week at office, remainder of hours option to work from home; will be required to attend client workshops in the UK with advance notice – all travel paid, single day events but can be
12-hour days, typically 1-2 days per month
Working hours
By negotiation – hours to be spread over four days, start and finish times are negotiable
About Spark!
Spark! is a small but fast-growing management consultancy based in Rochford, Essex, working with companies all over the UK.
We help tech companies (startups and fast-growing SMEs) raise investment and create growth strategies (see www.spark-consulting.co.uk for more information). We also work with them on implementing corporate governance.
In addition, we work with some companies on a wider consultancy basis, carrying out reviews of part/all of their business to help them understand how to fix issues or set themselves up for growth.
We’re currently a permanent team of three, with other specialists and freelancers brought in as projects warrant it.
We’re targeting £1million in annual revenue within the next four years and want to find the right people to join us on that journey.
Our Ethos
We support the UN Global Development Goals, in particular the goals around innovation, economic growth, and equality.
As part of our commitment to these goals, we are particularly keen to offer employment opportunities to women who have taken career breaks to raise their families and now wish to return to the world of work.
In addition, we also donate 2% of all our revenue to charitable causes that support the goals, including Safe Steps, a Southend-based charity that helps women and children escaping domestic violence and our local foodbank in Southend-on-Sea.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Due Diligence on client companies, to determine financial and operational viability and find
‘red flags’ which may deter investors
- Review of investment slide decks, business plans and financial models, using Spark!’s structured assessment approach
- Writing summary reports on the viability/investability of businesses, using Spark!’s Startup
Assessment format
- Business Plan Writing: Write comprehensive and compelling business plans that outline the company's strategy, market analysis, financial projections, and growth potential.
- Pitch Deck Creation: Create content for persuasive pitch decks that effectively communicate the company's value proposition, market opportunities, and growth potential to investors
(no graphic design required, we use a separate designer for this part once the wording is prepared)
- Preparation of Client Diagnostic questionnaires, using our online templates
- Preparing materials for client workshops (reviewing data shared by the client and turning this into visuals which can be used during the workshop)
- Putting together proposal documents (using Spark! templates) to help win new business
- Attending client workshops and calls and writing up notes from these sessions
- Writing of client recommendation reports
Alongside the client work, we also have a culture of continuous improvement within the business. We are constantly seeking to improve processes, standardise and document processes wherever we can and create digital assets that allow us to be more effective and efficient than ever.
Role reporting line
The role reports directly to the CEO.
Training
We are committed to training and upskilling our employees and will provide working time to complete training courses where appropriate, as well as paying for necessary training courses.
Qualifications and Skills
No particular formal qualifications required - we value experience, common sense and an inquisitive mind above all else.
This role requires a strong understanding of financial analysis, market research, and business strategy. The ideal candidate for this role should have a strong background in finance, economics, or business, with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role. They should also have excellent analytical skills, exceptional writing and presentation skills, and the ability to effectively communicate complex information to a variety of stakeholders. Strong excel skills and experience in financial modelling are also a requirement.
Team Fit
We are a positive, enthusiastic team of people with can-do attitudes, who are willing to ‘muck in’ in different areas, as we are a fast-growing business and sometimes work will be required which is outside the role description. Our people are inquisitive and keen to learn. Our team not only follow our business processes but are always on the lookout for how to improve them too. We cheer each other on, contribute ideas to each other’s work and are supportive about managing work and home life.
Equipment
All employees are provided with a laptop, laptop bag, mouse and headset.
Other things you need to know
Our office is shared by the CEO’s two small dogs – so if you have a dog allergy/phobia, this role isn’t for you!
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 20 per week
Salary: £35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Rochford: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Rochford
Reference ID: Spark!-CA
