Head of Finance

Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Oversight  

• Lead the finance and accounting function, ensuring all financial activities are recorded accurately and timely.
  
• Design and implement financial systems, procedures, and controls suited to NEAT’s lending operations.
  
• Supervise and mentor the existing team of accountants and bookkeepers to improve performance, accuracy, and accountability.
  
• Coordinate the monthly and quarterly closing process and produce management reports for decision-making.

Treasury & Liquidity Management  

• Oversee daily cash management to ensure adequate liquidity for loan disbursements, collections, and operational expenses.
  
• Monitor cash flow trends and prepare short-term cash forecasts to guide funding needs.
  
• Establish processes for cash handling, reconciliation, and bank management aligned with internal controls.

Loan Portfolio Accounting  

• Supervise the accurate posting, reconciliation, and reporting of all loan disbursements and repayments.
  
• Ensure interest income, provisioning, and loan loss adjustments are recorded correctly and supported by documentation.
  
• Partner with the operations team to align loan performance data with financial reporting.

Budgeting & Planning  

• Lead the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts, and financial plans in collaboration with management.
  
• Track performance against budget, highlighting variances and recommending corrective actions.
  
• Support management in assessing new lending initiatives or funding opportunities from a financial standpoint.

Compliance & Reporting  

• Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including tax, pension, and relevant financial reporting obligations.
  
• Prepare and submit accurate financial and management reports to regulators, investors, and funding partners as required.
  
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulations applicable to microcredit and financial services institutions.
  
• Liaise with external auditors, tax consultants, and regulatory bodies as needed.

Systems, Policies & Process Improvement  

• Implement and maintain financial policies, standard operating procedures, and internal controls.
  
• Identify areas of process inefficiency and propose improvements that enhance accuracy and accountability.
  
• Oversee the transition from manual to digital accounting processes where possible.

Governance & Strategy Support 

• Advise senior management on the financial implications of operational decisions and business strategies.
• Provide analysis to support pricing, funding, and cost management decisions.
  
• Ensure management has a clear view of the organisation’s financial health at all times.

• Area
  
• KPI
  
• Reporting Accuracy
  
• Timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports
• Compliance: 100% compliance with all tax, statutory, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Liquidity Management: No loan disbursement delays or cash shortages due to poor liquidity planning
  
• Documentation Quality: Reduced audit adjustments and documentation errors quarter-on-quarter
  
• Portfolio Integrity: Accurate reporting of loan portfolio balances, provisions, and recoveries
  
• Team Development: Demonstrated improvement in finance staff performance and adherence to process discipline

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
  
• Professional qualification (ICAN, ACCA, or equivalent) required or in the final stages.
  
• Minimum of 6–8 years of progressive experience in accounting or finance roles.
  
• Demonstrated exposure to micro-credit, microfinance, or SME lending operations.
  
• Hands-on experience managing accounting processes, reconciliations, and reporting in lean or semi-manual environments.
  
• Prior experience setting up or strengthening financial systems and controls is a strong advantage.
  
• Proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks preferred) and Microsoft Excel.
  
• Solid understanding of loan portfolio accounting, provisioning, and reporting principles.
  
• Working knowledge of statutory and regulatory reporting (CBN, NDIC, FIRS, PENCOM, etc.) as applicable.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  
• Detail-oriented with a bias for accuracy and control.
  
• High integrity and commitment to confidentiality.
  
• Comfortable operating in lean, high-transaction environments with limited automation.
  
• Practical, process-driven, and able to design systems that work for scale.
  
• Strong communication and team leadership abilities.
  
• Ability to work independently and drive accountability within a small team.
  
• Demonstrated initiative in automating or streamlining financial processes.
  
• Collaborative mindset: able to liaise across finance, operations, and executive management.
  
• Desire to build and strengthen financial infrastructure within a growing organisation.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary Package: Attractive compensation that reflects the strategic importance of the role.
  
• Relocation Allowance (Subject to Management Review): Support provided to ease transition and settlement into the new work location.
  
• Strategic Involvement in Financial Decisions: Opportunity to influence key financial policies actively, investment strategies, and institutional growth plans.
  
• Professional Growth and Leadership Exposure: Hands-on experience in financial management, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement within a dynamic sector.