Chief of Staff to the Founder

Cleo
United Kingdom
HybridCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with experience in executive support and a passion for finance innovation, working in fast-paced environments with a hybrid work arrangement in the UK.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a track record of cross-functional leadership in high-growth startups
    — “Proven ability to influence and lead multiple large cross-functional teams”
  • Individuals who thrive in strategic, high-impact roles with a long-term vision
    — “This is a high impact strategic role where you will be helping to drive the operational execution of Cleo as a company”
  • Candidates who view their role as a launchpad for broader leadership opportunities
    — “You see Chief of Staff as a launchpad, not a ceiling, and want to grow into broader operational leadership”

Things to consider

  • The role demands high discretion and handling of sensitive information
    — “High EQ, discretion, and sound judgement with sensitive information”
  • Candidates must be proactive and self-directed without waiting for instructions
    — “Proactive: you don’t wait for instructions”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in managing strategic priorities and operating rhythms for executives
    — “Manage the CEO's priorities and time with discipline, enforce focus on what matters most”
  • Demonstrate your ability to lead initiatives cross-functionally with clear outcomes
    — “Take major initiatives off the Founder's plate and lead them cross-functionally across the business”
  • Emphasize your communication skills with examples of high-impact written prose
    — “Strong written and verbal communication, ideally with standout written prose”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • driving operational execution
  • managing CEO priorities
Typical background
executive supportoperationsleadership

Skills & requirements

Required

CEO SupportOperating RhythmCross-functional LeadershipCommunicationDecision-makingProblem-solving

Preferred

Founding A CompanyRunning A DivisionVC Firm

Stack & domain

CEO Support And EnablementOperating Rhythm ManagementMeeting And Forum ManagementCommunication And CoordinationOrganizational SkillsAttention To DetailWritten And Verbal CommunicationProblem-solvingDecision-makingDiscretionProactivityPrecisionCompany OperationsLeadership

About the role

Original posting from Cleo via Ashby

Most money apps talk at you. Cleo talks back ✨

We're not building another finance app. We're building the world's first AI financial assistant, one that actually understands your money and makes you better at it, and we're changing the world's relationship with money in the process 💰 For everyone, whatever their background or balance.

The proof: profitable, fast-growing, a unicorn with over $300M in ARR, and millions of people who now feel differently about their money.

We love original thinkers who challenge the status quo. We move fast, tell the truth, and there's nowhere to hide from good work here. If that excites you more than it scares you, you'll fit right in.

Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cleo-ai/ for new features and the occasional roast 🔥

MEET THE TEAM 👥

As Chief of Staff, you’ll work as a strategic partner to the CEO/Founder. You’ll shape what gets the CEO’s attention, run the operating rhythm for the leadership team, and own the initiatives that matter most, from fundraising and investor relations to our daily operations.

This is a high impact strategic role where you will be helping to drive the operational execution of Cleo as a company, delivering strategic company-wide initiatives.

ABOUT THE ROLE ✍️

We’re hiring a Chief of Staff to partner with our CEO. Working alongside the leadership team, you’ll be the right hand to our CEO, driving the priorities that matter most across Cleo 🌱

  • CEO Support & Enablement: Anticipate needs before they arise and solve problems before they escalate.
  • Priorities & Operating Rhythm: Manage the CEO's priorities and time with discipline, enforce focus on what matters most, and build a sustainable weekly, monthly, and quarterly operating rhythm. You’ll take major initiatives off the Founder's plate and lead them cross-functionally across the business. Partnering with his EA you will help to prioritise effectively.
  • Meeting & Forum Management: Design agendas, prep materials, and success criteria for CEO-led meetings. Run the operational execution of leadership team meetings, board preparation, and investor engagements. Track decisions and ensure follow-through.
  • Communication & Coordination: Take verbal or written direction and craft them into high-impact communications with clear briefs and actions items, delivered to the wider team/SLT on behalf of the CEO. Coordinate across stakeholders internal and external to drive alignment and execution.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR 🕵️

  • Several years experience supporting senior executives in fast-paced environments, with a clear progression into broader operational responsibility
  • Proven ability to influence and lead multiple large cross-functional teams
  • Exceptional organisation and attention to detail
  • Strong written and verbal communication, ideally with standout written prose
  • Comfortable making decisions and solving complex problems amid high ambiguity
  • Able to drive outcomes without formal authority
  • High EQ, discretion, and sound judgement with sensitive information
  • Proactive: you don’t wait for instructions
  • A doer who is organised, diligent, and takes pride in precision
  • You see Chief of Staff as a launchpad, not a ceiling, and want to grow into broader operational leadership
  • Where this could take you: Founding a company, running a division, or stepping into an associate or principal role at a top-tier VC firm

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer benefits package built to support you in and out of work. Benefits vary by country 🌍 and include meaningful equity, comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, mental health support, a paid one-month sabbatical after four years, a learning and development platform, pension or retirement contributions, and location-specific leave entitlements.

For the full breakdown on what's available in your location, visit our Candidate Hub https://meetcleo.notion.site/Cleo-Candidate-Hub-3b95c63b874580e9a068fdc6c8929ebf 👈

WHAT MATTERS

Cleo's mission is to change the world's relationship with money. We can't do that without building a brilliant, genuinely diverse team - and making sure our hiring process gives everyone a fair shot, running a fair and transparent recruitment process in which every candidate is considered on their metris.

We're glad to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process. If there's anything we can do to support you in showing us your best, please let your recruiter or one of the team know.

We may use AI-assisted tools during the recruitment process to take support the team in different ways like taking notes or referring back to conversations. They do not replace the team and all applications are reviewed by a Cleo employee thoroughly!

Source: Cleo careers (Ashby)

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