Head of Debt Capital Markets

Summary

Join Cleo, a rapidly growing fintech company, as their Head/Director of Debt Capital Markets. You will lead and execute the debt financing strategy, manage complex transactions, and build relationships with banks and investors. This pivotal role directly supports Cleo's growth objectives. You will be responsible for driving debt strategy, leading transactions, optimizing processes, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring excellent execution. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in debt capital markets and strong leadership skills. Cleo offers a competitive compensation package, including equity, a clear progression plan, flexibility, and various other benefits.

Requirements

• Experience: 7–10 years of experience in debt capital markets, investment banking, private equity, or a similar field, with a strong focus on financing structures and transactions
• Expertise: Advanced knowledge of various debt structures, including venture debt, warehouse debt, forward flow, and LTV-based financing, with proven ability to lead complex transactions from negotiation to closing
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, engage with senior executives, and collaborate across functions
• Legal and Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of legal documentation and transaction closing processes in the context of debt financing
• Analytical Skills: Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize data into actionable insights
• Execution: A track record of successfully managing and executing high-stakes financing transactions in a fast-paced environment
• Communication: Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership and board members

Responsibilities

• Drive Debt Strategy: execute and improve on current debt capital markets strategy, aligned with company growth objectives and ensuring optimal financing structures
• Transaction Leadership: Lead complex financing debt transactions, including optimising current venture debt and warehouse financing and look to develop other cost structuring from negotiation through to closing
• Process Optimization: Identify and implement best practices and tools to streamline financing operations and future-proof the Debt Capital Markets function
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and manage relationships with third-party banks, investors, and financing partners to secure and maintain access to capital
• Execution Excellence: Oversee transaction structuring, term sheet negotiation, due diligence, legal documentation, and closing processes with external parties
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with teams across the organization, including Finance, Legal, Credit, Data, and Commercial, to ensure smooth execution of capital markets initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in fintech, particularly within high-growth startups or companies with lending-focused business models
• Familiarity with working across global teams and time zones, particularly in North America and the UK business

Benefits

• A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with reviews every 8 months
• Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Sofina, Balderton & EQT Ventures
• A clear progression plan
• Flexibility: We work to live, we don’t live to work. Cleo works with everyone on our team to ensure that they have the balance they need to reach their full potential
• Work where you work best. We’re a globally distributed team. Our US team works fully remotely, but we host virtual socials and an annual company offsite in Europe with all expenses paid
• Other benefits; 15 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo)
• Company-wide performance reviews every 8 months e.g every 2 terms, in line with our termly cycles (Jan-April, May-Aug, Sept-Dec): Generous pay increases for high-performers and high-growth team members
• Equity top-ups for team members getting promoted
• 401k matching
• Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision care
• Generous Parental Leave
• 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo
• Regular socials and activities, online and in-person
• We'll pay for your OpenAI subscription
• Online mental health support via Spill