Head of Finance

Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy & Leadership:

• Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with the company's growth and profitability objectives.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to the CEO and senior management to support business decisions.
• Lead the finance function and ensure effective financial planning, reporting, and control.
• Support strategic decisions relating to lending, collections, liquidity, investments, and business expansion.

Financial Management & Reporting:

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timely preparation of management accounts and financial statements.
• Lead budgeting, financial forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Monitor cash flow, liquidity, working capital, and overall financial performance.
• Develop and monitor financial KPIs and provide regular performance reports to management and the Board.

Regulatory Compliance & Controls:

• Ensure compliance with applicable CBN regulations, financial reporting requirements, tax obligations, and other relevant Nigerian financial services regulations.
• Maintain strong financial controls and accounting policies.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure timely resolution of audit findings.
• Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks within the finance function.
• Ensure appropriate controls around lending, collections, reconciliations, payments, expenses, and company assets.

Treasury & Cash Management:

• Oversee cash management and ensure adequate liquidity to support business operations.
• Manage banking relationships and monitor the company's banking activities.
• Support funding and financing requirements where applicable.
• Ensure effective reconciliation and monitoring of bank and other financial accounts.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, manage, and develop the finance and accounts team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, processes, and controls.
• Build a culture of accountability, accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Identify training and development needs within the finance function.

Stakeholder Management:

• Build strong working relationships with banks, auditors, regulators, tax authorities, investors, and other external stakeholders.
• Present financial performance, risks, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to the CEO and Board.
• Work collaboratively with Operations, Risk, Compliance, Collections, and other business functions.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years’ progressive experience in Accounting/Finance.
• Previous senior-level experience as a Finance Manager, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, Chief Accountant, Senior Finance Manager, or equivalent.
• Must have worked in a CBN-regulated financial institution in Nigeria.
• Strong understanding of the Nigerian financial services regulatory environment and CBN requirements.
• Demonstrable experience overseeing accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow, reconciliations, controls, and audit processes.
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian accounting and financial reporting requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with accounting/ERP systems.
• Strong leadership, analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional qualification such as ICAN, ACCA, or equivalent.
• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Experience in lending, microfinance, fintech, consumer finance, digital lending, or collections.
• Experience dealing directly with auditors, banks, regulators, and senior management/Board members.
• Experience building or improving finance processes and internal controls within a growing financial institution.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Performance/annual bonus opportunity.
• Health insurance.
• Opportunity to work directly with senior leadership and influence the company's growth strategy.
• A high-impact leadership position within a growing financial services business.