Finance Associate

Relay

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. THE TEAM • ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data • 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research • Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle • An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation Work Alongside Industry Leaders Karthik Harith - VP Operations Karthik is an operator and GM with a track record scaling multi-channel retail and operations across the UK, Germany, and France. Prior to Relay, he operated at VP/General Manager across multiple markets and brands (Getir, Gorillas, and Frichti). He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering (Brown) and an MBA in Finance (HEC Paris). At Relay, Karthik leads Operations, bringing rigorous execution and scaling experience to solve hard, real-world logistics problems end-to-end. Relay’s Mission Relay exists to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. The Opportunity Relay's network runs on forecasts. Every day, models predict how many parcels will arrive, which ones to sort tonight, how many shifts to release, and how many bags each route needs. The Network squad owns those forecasts and the operational processes that turn them into action. When teams plan to the right number, the network runs efficiently. When they over-plan, capacity goes to waste; when they under-plan, cost surges and operational performance suffers. At a high level, the outcome you will drive is excellent day-to-day forecast guidance -ensuring teams across the network plan to the right number every day. This is one of the most powerful cost levers in the business. As Senior Operations Associate, you will own the day-to-day operational processes that drive this outcome. You will be the squad's operational backbone: the person who keeps the network on track, steps in when things break, and coordinates the right teams when the operation is under stress. This is fundamentally an operational role - high-context, high-ownership, and central to how the network runs every day. Alongside the day-to-day execution, you will have the opportunity to keep critical projects moving forward across the squad. As a Senior Operations Associate, Network at Relay at Relay, you'll: * Own the quality of day-to-day forecast guidance. Co-build and operate the systems that decide how much volume flows through our network every day, ensuring teams plan to the right number - neither over- nor under-planning. Continually improve these systems, partner with other Operations teams to resolve issues, and maintain a clear specification for Data and Engineering to automate further as resources become available. * Plan the business through scheduled operational moments. When demand is going to deviate from the norm - busy shopping periods, holidays, planned promotions - you will develop the operational plan and make sure all relevant teams are prepared, aligned, and acting on the same source of truth. * Lead the response to unplanned incidents. When something disrupts the network - adverse weather, supply-side shocks, or unexpected client behaviour - you will step in to own the recovery and run the retro process to ensure follow-ups are actioned. * Work shoulder-to-shoulder with the data team. When forecasts look off or operations flag a problem, you will dig into the numbers, interrogate the models, and help the Data Scientists and Analysts pinpoint where the models are creating real-world friction. You will not be building the models - but you will be a trusted partner in pressure-testing them. * Help keep the squad's programme of work on track - beginning with coordination and follow-up, and growing into a role that guides what the squad prioritises as you build context and credibility. Who Will Thrive in this role? * Resilience and high ownership. You enjoy being at the centre of how the network runs each day. The work spans daily execution and complex, ambiguous problem-solving, and you take real pride in owning the outcome of both - including stepping in when other teams or processes need support. * Project literacy. You have run projects or worked closely with Programme Managers in prior roles. You're comfortable absorbing the administrative scaffolding of a programme without requiring a senior PM to direct you. * A bias for action. You would rather get something working today than design the perfect solution for next quarter. You know when to escalate and when to just fix it. * Strong written communication. At Relay, a well-structured doc or one-pager is often how you get things done - it's how you align people, define problems, and create momentum without a meeting. * 3–5 years of experience in operations, programme management, consulting, or a similar function - ideally somewhere fast-moving where the playbook was being written in real time. * Data literacy. Comfortable with SQL and able to query data independently to investigate operational issues. You can articulate the data and insight you need with sufficient clarity that an AI agent or analyst can act on it. You don't need to be building dashboards yourself - but you should be capable of pulling your own numbers when you need to. The qualifications and experiences above act as a loose guide to what we're looking for. We'd still love to hear from you if you have more or less experience, so long as the core skills can be demonstrated. Fast and Focused Hiring Process 1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 30 min 2. Hiring Manager Interview - 45min 3. Case Exercise - 90min 4. Final Interview w/ VP Operations - 30min 5. Decision and offer within 48 hours, our process mirrors our pace of work, typically completed in a week. Who Thrives at Relay? * Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. * Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. * 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. * All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. * People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. * Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we. If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect. Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.

Relay

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. THE TEAM • ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data • 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research • Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle • An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation The Opportunity We're building a finance function that scales faster than the business — not by adding headcount, but by designing a system where AI, automation, and clean architecture do the heavy lifting. We're looking for someone to build that system from scratch: the finance stack, the AI workflows, and the operating model that ties it all together. Reporting to our CFO, you'll work directly with founders and functional leaders to turn Relay's finance function into a real-time decision engine. This is not a "transformation" role in the traditional sense. This is a 0 to 1 build role with direct leverage on company velocity. What you’ll own * Design the finance function from first principles. Own how finance operates in an AI-native, high-growth company — not as an improvement on legacy systems, but as a definition of the default state. Rebuild core processes (R2R, P2P, O2C, FP&A) to eliminate manual work before it takes root. * Deploy AI across every high-leverage workflow Identify and ship use cases in weeks, not quarters — AI-driven forecasting and scenario modelling, automated reporting and commentary, close and reconciliation workflows, and collections, risk, and anomaly detection. * Build and own the technical stack Select the minimum viable, maximum scalable architecture. Make strong calls on ERP vs lightweight tooling, build vs buy, and data design. Ensure everything is modular, API-friendly, and AI-ready from day one. * Work directly with engineering and data teams Translate financial logic into production systems. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role — you're putting ideas into production, not handing them over. * Redesign the operating model around augmentation Define how humans and AI work together — including which roles don't need to exist. Build a function where one great operator and AI outperforms five traditional hires. * Deliver the outcomes leadership needs Reduce time to close, time to forecast, and time to decision. Give leadership real-time, high-quality financial insight, and build systems that scale from current revenue to £100M+ without breaking. Who will thrive in this role * You've built or redesigned finance systems and operating models end-to-end — not just advised on them. * You've deployed automation or AI in real finance workflows. Production, not strategy decks. * You're fluent in the TA and Ops/data hybrid: FP&A, R2R, funnel diagnostics, and partnering with RevOps/FP&A to forecast and drive decisions. * You think in systems, not processes — and you're comfortable making decisions with incomplete information. * You've worked closely with CFOs, founders, or operators on scaling finance in high-growth environments. * Proven experience owning finance programs and delivering systems implementations end-to-end * Hands-on deployment of AI or automation in real finance workflows * Experience in hypergrowth startups or scale-ups * Strong technical fluency — comfortable working directly with engineering and data teams * Structured, clear communicator with strong stakeholder management skills Compensation & Benefits * Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success. * Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it. * 25 days of holidays * Enhanced parental leave. * Hardware of your choice. * Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more). Fast and Focused Hiring Process 1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 30 min 2. HM interview - 45min 3. Case Exercise - 90min 4. Final round Interview - 60 min Decision and offer within 48 hours, our process mirrors our pace of work, typically completed in a week. Who Thrives at Relay? * Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. * Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. * 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. * All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. * People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. * Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we. If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect. Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.

Relay

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. THE TEAM • ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data • 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research • Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle • An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation The Opportunity Relay is hiring a Senior Operations Account Manager to own and strengthen the day-to-day operational relationships with our biggest UK clients, from Vinted to Gymshark and other leading e-commerce platforms and brands. Sitting within the Commercial team, you’ll work closely with our Strategic Account Managers to ensure high-volume accounts moving millions of parcels through the UK run smoothly, issues are resolved quickly, and clients feel consistently supported. While the Strategic Account Manager leads on profitable growth initiatives and long-term growth strategy, you’ll act as the operational backbone of the account to ensure profitable operational performance. That the operational performance does not stand in the way of growth — In a logistics environment where complexity and lots of moving parts are the norm, you’ll be the person who is able to build trust by being clear-headed and bring in solutions, maintain momentum on operational changes and improvement initiatives for clients, and is a natural problem solver. Who Will Thrive in This Role? * You take pride in being dependable, calm, and highly effective in complex operational environments. * You thrive under pressure and love solving problems * You like being close to the detail rather than managing from a distance — understanding what is happening on the ground, untangling issues quickly, and improving the system behind them. * You are comfortable operating between demanding clients and busy internal teams, and you know how to stay credible, structured, and constructive under pressure. * You are naturally process-minded: when something breaks, you do not just fix it once — you look for the root cause and improve the workflow so it does not keep happening. * You build trust through consistency and clarity. Clients feel heard when they work with you, even when the message is difficult. * You are an excellent communicator and can switch easily between external client conversations and internal coordination without losing nuance. Must-Haves * 5+ years of experience in an operational, account management, or client-facing role within logistics, supply chain, cross-border e-commerce, or related environments. * Strong operational judgement and a high tolerance for ambiguity — you can triage, communicate clearly, and move issues forward when things do not go to plan. * A sharp eye for detail, paired with a practical bias for action. * Strong cross-functional coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across commercial, operations, finance, and customer-facing teams. * A structured communication style, whether in day-to-day updates, incident management, or formal escalations. Compensation & Benefits * Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success. * Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it. * 25 days of holidays. * Enhanced parental leave. * Located in Shoreditch, our office set-up enables the kind of in-person interactions that drive impact. We work 4 days on-site, with 1 day remote. * Hardware of your choice. * Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more). Fast and Focused Hiring Process 1. Talent Acquisition Interview — 45 min 2. Hiring Manager Interview — 60 min 3. Case Study — 90 min 4. Culture & Team Fit Conversation — 30 min 5. Decision and offer within 48 hours; our process mirrors our pace of work. Who Thrives at Relay? * Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. * Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. * 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. * All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. * People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. * Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we. If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect. Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.