Margaret Curtayne

Chartered Accountant with 10+ years' experience across Big 4 audit and consulting and high-growth startup environments. Currently leading Finance & Operations at an EdTech company, working closely with founders to build and scale core business functions. Proven ability to establish finance infrastructure, manage external advisors, and operate across finance, commercial, and operational workstreams in a lean, fast-paced environment.

Combines strong financial discipline with a practical, hands-on approach, and thrives in environments requiring ownership, flexibility, and end-to-end problem-solving to support business growth and decision-making.

Head of Operations & Finance - LEVRA - London, UK

(2024-05)

• Work closely with founders across both strategic and operational execution, acting as a key operator in a lean, high-growth environment
• Built and now run the end-to-end finance function, including monthly accounts, reporting, and improved month-end processes
• Developed financial models and forecasts to support business planning, pricing strategy, and revenue growth
• Contributed directly to commercial decision-making, including pricing of products and supporting revenue generation initiatives
• Manage relationships with external accountants and advisors, including bookkeeping, VAT returns, statutory accounts, and corporation tax
• Partner with R&D advisors to successfully claim R&D tax credits across multiple years
• Own cash management and cash flow forecasting, ensuring strong financial discipline in a scaling business
• Work closely with COO on customer and supplier contracts, including drafting, reviewing, and managing commercial agreements
• Manage company secretarial responsibilities, including Companies House filings, statutory registers, and cap table maintenance
• Lead operational processes across the business, improving internal structure, coordination, and efficiency
• Coordinate cross-functional projects, including the Human Skills Framework (HSF) Insight Report, from data collection (2,700+ data points) through to analysis, publication, PR coordination, and client event delivery
• Introduced and implemented monthly business review meetings to improve visibility, accountability, and decision-making across the team
• Operate in a highly dynamic, lean environment, regularly stepping beyond core responsibilities to support broader business needs
• Contributed to revenue growth through pricing strategy and commercial input
• Successfully delivered a data-led industry report and event, increasing brand visibility and client engagement
• Established stronger financial controls, reporting cadence, and operational discipline
• Reduced reliance on founders across finance and operations through improved processes and ownership

Manager, Capital Markets Assurance - Ernst and Young - London, UK

(2021-06 - 2024-04)

• Led quality oversight reviews across large, listed clients, ensuring compliance with US and UK regulatory requirements (including SEC and PCAOB requirements) and in accordance with both IFRS and US GAAP standards
• Worked closely with senior stakeholders, including investment banks and legal advisors, on capital markets transactions
• Delivered financial analysis, technical accounting insights, and reporting across complex engagements

Senior, Audit & Assurance - Deloitte - Chicago, USA

(2018-01 - 2021-04)

• Led the audit of 15+ engagement team (made up of audit, actuarial, FAIT) on large SEC-listed property and casualty insurance company
• Performed detailed financial analysis and review of complex accounting areas, including fair valuations across multiple and complex insurance products
• Conducted comprehensive review of annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP (both for US listed and private clients. This includes review of US company's Form 10-K, and interim reports on Form 10-Q
• Led in testing the business processes updates/changes because of a change in the system implementation over the application which housed the client's the general ledger and payroll subledger
• Built strong communication and leadership skills through managing teams and client interactions

Audit Trainee (Articles) - Deloitte - Johannesburg, South Africa

(2015-01 - 2017-12)

• Completed Chartered Accountant training across a range of industries, developing strong technical accounting and audit fundamentals
• Performed comprehensive review of annual financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS
• Managed audit workstreams, coordinated teams, and delivered high-quality financial reporting under tight deadlines

Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting - Accounting - University of Cape Town (2014)

Bachelor of Business Science - Finance and Accounting - University of Cape Town (2010 - 2013)