Job Description

A chief financial officer (CFO) is the senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company. The CFO's duties include tracking cash flow and financial planning as well as analyzing the company's financial strengths and weaknesses and proposing corrective actions.

 

COMPANY OVERVIEW

 

Adexen was mandated by a leading FMCG Company to recruit an expatriate Chief Financial Officer for its operations in Nigeria. The position is located in Lagos, Nigeria.

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• Set-up and lead a motivated finance team, to work alongside other group entities (Supply Chain, IT and Human Resources, technical teams and sales teams), to best support proactive decision making within the group

• Restructure the finance function, reorganising the existing set-up and establishing best-in-class processes to build up a modern finance department, functional across all group subsidiaries

• Manage the day to day accounting activities by ensuring adherence to the organisational rules and regulations, and statutory compliance; train and mentor staff by identifying the skills and gaps, ensure proper communication between team members, hire and terminate staff members whenever there is a requirement

• Maintain excellent relationship and establish and maintain credibility with other group entities (other employees, management, board, shareholders, unions) as well as external stakeholders (government organisation, insurance organisations, banks, audit and financial firms, etc.)

• Deployment and utilisation of appropriate IT tools

• Coordinate with the technological department to set up a proper and modern ERP system, and other required IT tools building on the company existing tools, to be used consistently across all group entities and subsidiaries, helping deliver sound financial reports

• Ensure adherence of all finance staff to the IT system, as well as optimal utilisation of the system functionalities

• Ensure adherence and proper and consistent utilisation of the IT system by other group entities, across subsidiaries

• Monitor and evaluate the IT system performance, and suggest improvements whenever needed

• Ensure proper execution of core accounting functions

• Information compilation and reconciliation

• Collate all the relevant financial information (expenses, liabilities, revenues, assets, etc.) and documentation that would ensure readiness and fast execution of the related economic activities

• Review the financial data and information, update it, identify inconsistencies and take remedial actions

• Ensure timely reconciliation of all accounts, verify its accuracy by tracking and monitoring the financial records, etc.

• Prepare periodic financial statements, including profit and loss accounts, budgets, cash flows, variance analysis and commentaries.

• Coordinate audits with external and internal auditors

• Spending/budget tracking

• Ensuring spending is kept in line with the budget, including cash and treasury management, working capital monitoring and optimisation, etc.

• Monitor debtors and ensure that collections are consistent within the given time limit.

• Manage all company taxes ensuring timely and accurate filing with tax authorities

• Manage exposure to FX fluctuations and develop hedging policy

• Leverage the finance department to become a key decision-making contributor to the company

• Internal reporting

• Develop and deploy relevant reporting tools and deliver regular reports & business updates to the management and the board, including specific analysis, the highlight of any red flag, etc. allowing for informed decision-making and strategy adjustment

• Assess the need and develop and deploy when relevant reporting tools for other departments (procurement, production, sales, etc.), to help make financial decisions

• Implement corporate governance procedures, risk management and internal controls

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of progressively financial responsibility

• At least 3 to 5 years of experience as CFO / Finance Director in a multinational FMCG, speciality chemicals company or other manufacturing and logistics businesses

• Previous work experience in emerging markets (ideally Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Nigeria and Ivory Coast)

• Effective leadership and communication skills, ability to manage and prioritise work according to requirements, excellent planning, analytical and time management skills

• Excellent written and oral English; fluency in French will be a significant plus

• A formal accounting or financial qualification would be an advantage, but an understanding of accounting and controlling and a visible and successful track record are more relevant

• Experience developing and implementing the basic building blocks of a finance function such as the chart of accounts, financial reporting, management reporting, budgeting, controls, pricing analysis, treasury management, etc. (vs experience operating only in structured multinational environments)

• Exposure to having worked with PE-owned companies in the past would be a significant advantage

• Computer proficiency skills in NAVISION or any other similar ERP

• Experience in implementing an MIS/ERP is a plus

• Entrepreneurial mindset compatible with a medium-size company planning to institutionalise its operations

 

Skills

Operation

Accounting

Finance

Analytical Skills

Financial Statements

Financial Reporting

Pricing Analysis

Infor Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Computer Literacy