Job Summary
The Head of Finance will be instrumental in guiding the organization’s financial and strategic initiatives, shaping its future trajectory through informed decision-making.
This senior leadership role will involve building and managing the finance department from the ground up while safeguarding the organization’s financial stability and spearheading strategic business development initiatives.
Oversee and execute all critical operational duties, ensuring adherence to established protocols and standards while maintaining efficiency and accuracy across all tasks. Develop, implement, and monitor strategic initiatives to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and achieve organizational objectives. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align efforts, resolve challenges, and drive cohesive project execution. Maintain meticulous records, perform thorough data analysis, and generate insightful reports to support informed decision-making. Ensure strict compliance with industry regulations, safety protocols, and internal policies to mitigate risks and uphold organizational integrity. Actively identify opportunities for process improvements, cost reduction, and innovation to optimize performance and deliver measurable value.
Providing high-level financial strategic direction, this role involves overseeing fiscal planning, analysis, and decision-making to support organizational objectives. Key responsibilities include developing long-term financial strategies, managing budgetary processes, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The position demands a deep understanding of financial management principles, strong analytical skills, and the ability to guide executive leadership in making data-driven financial decisions. Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, along with a minimum of seven years of progressive financial leadership experience. Professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or CMA are highly preferred.
Develop, execute, and manage all financial operations, encompassing budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, risk management, and reporting.
Offer seasoned strategic financial guidance to the executive team and directors, ensuring alignment between both immediate and long-term objectives with the organization’s overarching goals.
Develop and implement strategic approaches for capital structuring and funding initiatives.
Develop, oversee, and assess the company’s comprehensive corporate strategy alongside senior management and business unit leaders, with a primary focus on profitability, capital investment, and strong corporate governance to elevate the organization’s overall corporate value.
Business Development and Expansion: Spearhead strategic initiatives to identify and pursue new business opportunities, fostering sustainable growth and strengthening market presence. Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and customer needs to develop innovative solutions that drive revenue and enhance profitability. Cultivate and maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, partners, and industry leaders, to expand the company’s network and secure long-term business alliances. Lead cross-functional teams to execute growth strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and maximizing opportunities for scalability and market penetration.
Drive commercial insight initiatives to uncover expansion prospects, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives to surpass revenue targets and enhance overall profitability.
Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the organization’s growth and business development objectives.
Lead the development of innovative strategies aimed at uncovering untapped revenue opportunities and optimizing financial outcomes.
Conduct financial analysis and develop strategic plans to support organizational objectives, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of financial performance, forecasting future trends, and identifying key opportunities for growth and efficiency improvements. Prepare detailed financial reports, analyze variances between actual and budgeted figures, and provide actionable insights to senior management for informed decision-making. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial strategies with business goals, optimize resource allocation, and enhance profitability through data-driven recommendations.
Prepare comprehensive reports highlighting essential financial metrics, perform detailed variance analysis, and deliver actionable insights tailored for management review.
Prepare and deliver financial performance reports, along with key performance indicators, to the Board of Directors for review and strategic decision-making.
Ensure the finance team adheres to established accounting principles while maintaining accurate and compliant financial record-keeping systems.
Responsibilities include managing all Finance and Accounts operations, performing monthly financial consolidations, overseeing budgeting processes, implementing risk management strategies, and ensuring robust internal controls.
Budgeting and Financial Planning entails the development, implementation, and oversight of financial strategies to ensure optimal resource allocation, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with organizational objectives. This role involves preparing detailed financial forecasts, analyzing budget variances, and advising leadership on cost-saving measures and investment opportunities to enhance financial performance and sustainability. Proficiency in financial software, strong analytical skills, and the ability to interpret complex financial data are essential for success in this position. Additionally, collaboration with cross-functional teams is required to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with regulatory standards.
Develop and enforce comprehensive guidelines for both annual and recurring budgets. Supervise the budgeting process and ensure strict adherence to approved financial allocations.
Responsible for developing and executing long-term financial strategies and cost control measures that align with the Group’s strategic objectives.
Ensure all funds are utilized in strict compliance with established budgetary objectives.
Evaluate the organization’s performance in comparison to the established budget and long-term strategic goals.
Responsible for overseeing treasury operations and optimizing cash flow management to ensure financial stability and liquidity. This includes managing daily cash positioning, forecasting cash flow needs, and executing strategies to enhance working capital efficiency. Additionally, the role entails monitoring and mitigating financial risks, coordinating with banking partners, and maintaining compliance with financial regulations. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in financial software, and experience in treasury functions are essential.
Balance immediate financial priorities, including cash flow and liquidity management, with profitability objectives while aligning them with the organization’s long-term vision and commitment to sustainable success.
Work collaboratively with banks, financial institutions, and advisors to enhance the firm’s financial standing and broaden access to growth capital.
Manage financial resources by directing capital allocation, maintaining liquidity, and overseeing cash flow to ensure strategic deployment across the firm’s portfolios and operational activities.
Leadership & Team Development: Spearhead efforts to cultivate high-performing teams through strategic mentorship, coaching, and performance management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Foster an inclusive culture that empowers employees, enhances collaboration, and drives professional growth. Develop and implement tailored development programs to nurture talent, improve retention, and strengthen leadership pipelines. Assess team dynamics, address gaps, and optimize productivity by leveraging data-driven insights and feedback mechanisms. Collaborate with stakeholders to align development initiatives with business objectives, measuring impact through key performance indicators.
Collaborate with fellow senior management team members to share strategic leadership responsibilities, ensuring the finance/accounting function aligns with and supports both the strategic and operational objectives of the business.
Oversee all daily financial and accounting operations to confirm strict adherence to established Standard Operating Procedures across all departments.
Foster a culture of accountability and high performance across all departments.
Taxation and Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring adherence to applicable tax laws, regulations, and reporting standards is a critical responsibility. This role involves staying current with evolving tax legislation, preparing and filing accurate tax returns, and managing potential audits or inquiries from tax authorities. Additionally, the position requires maintaining meticulous records, conducting thorough financial analyses to optimize tax positions, and implementing strategies to mitigate compliance risks while maximizing efficiency and accuracy in all reporting obligations.
Ensure that all legal and regulatory documents are submitted punctually while maintaining strict adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with tax authorities and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and facilitate smooth interactions.
Responsibilities include supervising and managing both internal and external audit procedures to ensure compliance with established standards and regulations.
Education in accounting or finance, with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree or professional certification (such as CPA or CMA) is highly desirable. A minimum of five years of progressive accounting experience is necessary, preferably within a corporate or public accounting environment. Strong proficiency in GAAP and IFRS standards is essential, along with experience in financial reporting, auditing, and tax compliance. Expert-level knowledge of ERP systems, particularly SAP or Oracle, is preferred. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are critical, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. Prior experience in a leadership or supervisory role is a plus.
A Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a closely related discipline is required.
Obtaining a recognized professional certification such as ICAN, ACA, ARCA, CPA, or CMA is essential for this role.
With a decade to fifteen years of advancing expertise in finance, you possess a deep proficiency in financial analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning.
Manufacturing experience is highly advantageous for this role.
Proven track record in leadership roles, with extensive experience in people management and strategic decision-making.
Skilled in utilizing financial management software, with a primary focus on platforms such as SAP, Tally, Microsoft Dynamics, and ODOR.
Demonstrates extensive knowledge of Nigerian tax laws, regulatory compliance frameworks, and financial reporting obligations.
Maintains high ethical standards and performs effectively in high-pressure situations.
Proven expertise in analytical reasoning and financial modelling, coupled with the capacity to distal complex data into strategic, decision-enabling insights.
Demonstrated expertise in business strategy and the capacity to effectively engage and persuade executive leadership and board members.
Key Qualifications: Demonstrates proficiency in a range of essential skills and attributes critical to the role. Requires strong analytical abilities to interpret complex data and derive actionable insights. Must exhibit exceptional problem-solving capabilities to address challenges efficiently and creatively. Expects excellent communication skills to articulate ideas clearly and collaborate effectively with stakeholders. Proficiency in relevant software or tools is mandatory to perform duties accurately. Exhibits adaptability to evolving priorities and a commitment to continuous learning to stay current with industry trends. Prioritizes attention to detail to ensure precision in all tasks and deliverables.
A strategic thinker with unwavering integrity and a comprehensive grasp of financial risk is essential.
Strong written and verbal communication abilities, along with the capacity to engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders, are essential.
Demonstrates exceptional analytical abilities and aptitude for solving complex problems, coupled with meticulous attention to detail.
Detail-oriented and highly organized, this role requires the capacity to juggle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines while maintaining precision and efficiency.
Possesses the ability to make well-informed and timely decisions with confidence and clarity. Demonstrates sound judgment under pressure while evaluating risks and opportunities to drive effective outcomes.
Qualified and enthusiastic applicants are encouraged to submit their CVs to cv@ascentech.com.ng, ensuring the job title is clearly indicated in the email subject line.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
10 - 15 years
