Valuations Manager, Octopus Ventures
- Full-time
Company Description
At Octopus, we’re entrepreneurs and we’re investors, on a mission to back the people, ideas and industries that will change the world.
We think working here is great, but we’re understandably biased. Click here to explore Life at Octopus.
Job Description
What’s in it for you?
You’ll play a key role in shaping our valuation process, reporting, and analysis, as well as contributing to the Ventures’ valuation strategy across all investment vehicles. Working closely with the Head of OV Valuations, you’ll prepare portfolio valuations, analyse company data, and contribute to investment track record analysis. You’ll gain exposure to the full investment lifecycle, work with senior stakeholders, and help drive innovation in how we value and report on our portfolio.
Octopus Ventures, part of Octopus Group, is one of the largest VCs in Europe. We back founders who are changing the world for the better. We invest where we can make the greatest positive impact, getting behind businesses that put people, community and the environment first. Our teams are sector experts focusing on seven exciting and meaningful areas: B2B Software, Bio, Climate, Consumer, Deep Tech, Fintech and Health. We build long-lasting relationships with founders, investing as early as an idea on a page and supporting at every stage of growth – with funding, but also with humility and hands-on support for founders and their teams.
The Team
The valuations team was set up in 2022 as an independent function within Octopus Ventures and continues to grow and develop into an integral part of the fund operating and management processes. Part of the wider Octopus Ventures Operations function, this team is responsible for valuing all the portfolio companies we are invested in and reporting on the performance of the Ventures’ funds. The team currently consists of four valuation professionals, including two valuation managers and two associates reporting into the Head of OV Valuations.
The valuations team work closely with the Investment Managers to understand valuation drivers within our portfolio companies, the investment thesis, and company performance. We also work hand-in-hand with finance and operations teams to produce internal reporting, both Retail and LP investor reporting and Annual Reports, and other material key for Ventures’ stakeholder management. In addition, we also prepare fund performance analysis to help inform portfolio management decisions.
What you'll be doing?
You'll play a key part in shaping the valuation process, reporting and analysis. Reporting into Head of OV Valuations, you'll lead in the preparation of portfolio valuations, engage in the collection and analysis of portfolio company data, and be a key contributor to investment track record analysis.
The ability to engage well with various stakeholders and core colleagues will be important from the outset. Ideally you'll have experience in and passion for valuing private companies, be highly proficient with Excel, have strong attention to detail and enjoy working with data. You'll have a bias towards efficiency and take pride in the quality of your work output.
Key Responsibilities:
Portfolio Valuations
- Lead the preparation of individual company valuations on a bi-annual or quarterly basis, including forming draft valuation conclusions
- Own the end‑to‑end delivery of a portfolio of valuations, ensuring timely completion and coordinating reviews to meet internal and external reporting timelines.
- Gather and analyse portfolio data, market comparables, and build valuation models (including waterfall modelling)
- Draft valuation papers with commentary on company performance, methodology, and triangulation
- Present valuations to the Valuation Committee and support sign-off processes with the Fund Board and auditors
- Manage the audit process and ensure documentation is audit-ready
- Support the development of the Ventures Valuations team, contributing to a collaborative and high‑performing culture, which encourages continuous learning
Fund Performance
- Provide clear, data-driven analysis on fund performance and its key drivers
- Benchmark fund performance against relevant peers to support portfolio management decisions
Investor & Board Relations
- Support the preparation of investor reports, providing insights into portfolio performance
- Collaborate with Investment Partners and Marketing to develop materials for fundraising, AGMs, and board meetings
Qualifications
✅ Valuation experience essential - most likely in a consulting firm, some of which will have been spent working on portfolio valuations for private equity, venture capital or alternative investment space.
✅ ACA / ACCA qualified or CFA charter holder (preferred but not essential)
✅ An understanding of International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines.
✅ Venture capital knowledge: An understanding of venture capital deal structures is preferrable, including cap tables, preference waterfalls, and fund economics.
✅ Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling, scenario analysis, and working with large datasets
Additional Information
💰 A competitive salary, bonus, pension and share incentive plan
✈️ Untracked holiday
🏡 Hybrid working – most of our people spend 3 days a week in the office
⚓ Anchor (our wellness hub) which includes Headspace, one to one coaching through Wellness Cloud, Digital GP, Shout & more
👪 Up to 6 months paid parental leave regardless of gender
❤️ Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection
🏥 Private medical insurance for you and your family
🚗 Electric vehicle leasing
Our Values
At our core, we believe that how a company behaves is just as important as what it does. That’s why we chose to become an accredited B Corp (the equivalent of a Fairtrade coffee stamp but for companies) and to change our Articles of Association so that the interests all our stakeholders – employees, customers, communities, environment and shareholders – are considered in every decision we make.
We are committed to building a workplace where diversity is valued, and inclusion is a priority. By providing equal opportunities for growth and development, we embrace and celebrate all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. We believe teams achieve their best when every member feels safe, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves.
We're proud to be disability confident and are committed to supporting candidates with a disability, including neurodiversity and mental health conditions, throughout the recruitment process. Applicants are welcome to opt-in to the disability confident scheme as part of our application process. If you require any adjustments to the interview process, we’ll be happy to accommodate where possible.