Business Operations Associate

About the role

You will serve as a force multiplier for the Head of Finance & Operations, taking ownership of diverse initiatives that directly influence how the business scales. You will act as a generalist problem-solver who connects finance rigor with operational execution across the organization. This role requires you to be comfortable wearing multiple hats, switching context between financial analysis, people operations, and back-office administration without losing momentum. You will build and maintain the financial and operational infrastructure that allows Kernel's agents to function reliably in production environments. The position is designed for someone who thrives on variety and is energized by tackling ambiguous challenges with creative solutions. You will be expected to act with ownership, treating every project as if it were your own and seeing it through to completion. Ultimately, you will help define how the business operates today so that agents can scale tomorrow.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Partner with the Head of Finance & Operations to serve as a versatile force multiplier across finance and operations initiatives.
• Drive financial planning and analysis activities, owning forecasting, budgeting, unit economics, and KPI dashboard development.
• Manage cross-functional planning cycles, aligning finance inputs with product, engineering, and go-to-market teams.
• Take ownership of the economics behind Kernel's products, including agent utilization, LLM spend, cost per customer, and gross margin analysis.
• Handle back-office finance and operations responsibilities, such as reviewing accounting statements, managing Carta, and supporting SOC 2 compliance.
• Administer vendor contracts and office lease agreements, ensuring terms are optimized and compliance is maintained.
• Lead operational projects related to compensation design, software procurement, and office operations.
• Support the implementation and optimization of financial systems, including Salesforce and Notion integrations.
• Collaborate closely with GTM, sales operations, and revenue teams to align data, targets, and performance initiatives.
• Use data visualization platforms to translate complex metrics into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Learn new domains quickly and build workflows using AI tools like Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor to automate repetitive tasks.
• Act as the operational glue between teams, ensuring projects move from ambiguity to execution with minimal friction.

Requirements

• Hold 2-4 years of professional experience in consulting, investment banking, or a high-performing startup environment.
• Demonstrate strong financial acumen, including comfort with financial modeling, data analysis, and quantitative problem-solving.
• Exhibit high numeracy and analytical skills, with proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for complex analyses.
• Be prepared to learn new tools and platforms quickly, including Salesforce, Notion, and data visualization software.
• Show a proven ability to manage ambiguous, cross-functional projects from initial planning through to execution.
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking, distilling complex topics into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations.
• Maintain intellectual curiosity and self-direction, working independently with minimal oversight in fast-paced settings.
• Display the capability to solve unfamiliar problems by building workflows and leveraging AI where appropriate.
• It is a plus if you have prior experience with agentic workflows, automation, or operational tooling in B2B SaaS environments.
• Prior exposure to early-stage or high-growth startups is preferred due to the rapid iteration and shifting priorities involved.
• Experience in GTM operations, sales operations, or revenue operations at a B2B SaaS company is a strong advantage.
• You are comfortable working in an office setting 4-5 days per week in central London.
• You understand that this role includes unglamorous back-office work such as accounting reviews and compliance tasks.
• You are willing to accept ambiguity and make progress even when requirements are not fully defined upfront.
• You avoid rigid 9-to-5 expectations and are open to occasional work-from-anywhere arrangements when necessary.

Nice to have

• Experience using AI tools such as Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor to build operational workflows.
• Background in compliance, vendor management, or contract administration within a SaaS context.

Practical notes

This role is based in London and requires availability for 24 days of holiday per year, plus bank holidays. The position offers 2 weeks of work-from-anywhere flexibility, a £450 monthly office dinner allowance, a generous parental leave policy, a pension plan, and top-spec equipment. The pace is high, collaboration is in-person 4-5 days per week in central London, and the successful candidate will thrive in a fast-moving, mission-critical environment.