Senior Accountant / Head of Finance

About the Role

• We are looking for a highly experienced, commercially minded and technically strong Senior Accountant / Head of Finance to lead the organisation’s finance and accounting function.
• This is not a general accounting role. We are specifically looking for a finance professional who understands the financial services industry and has hands-on accounting experience within environments such as Commercial Banks, Merchant Banks, Finance Houses, Lending Companies, Microfinance Banks, FinTechs or other regulated financial institutions.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring strong financial controls, accurate reporting, regulatory compliance, treasury oversight, budgeting, financial planning and sound financial decision-making across the business.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead and oversee the company's accounting and finance operations.
• Prepare and present accurate monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.
• Manage the company's financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow planning.
• Establish and maintain strong financial controls, accounting policies and processes.
• Monitor income, expenditure, receivables, payables and overall financial performance.
• Provide management with timely financial analysis and actionable business insights.
• Oversee reconciliation of bank accounts, ledgers and other financial records.
• Ensure accurate management of the company's books of accounts.
• Coordinate statutory financial reporting, audits and tax-related activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable financial reporting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with management to develop budgets and monitor performance against financial targets.
• Provide financial guidance for business expansion, investments, lending and other strategic decisions.
• Monitor financial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Oversee treasury and liquidity management.
• Liaise effectively with external auditors, regulators, banks, tax authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Supervise, mentor and develop members of the finance and accounting team.
• Drive automation, efficiency and continuous improvement within the finance function.
Requirements
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a closely related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant accounting/finance work experience.
• Mandatory: Significant hands-on accounting experience within the financial services industry.
• Candidates must have worked in one or more of the following: • Commercial Banks
• Merchant Banks
• Finance Houses
• Lending Companies
• Microfinance Banks

• FinTech/Financial Services Companies
• Other regulated financial institutions
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, accounting principles, financial controls and regulatory compliance.
• Strong understanding of financial services accounting and reporting.
• Proven experience managing finance teams and working with senior management.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent knowledge of accounting/ERP software and Microsoft Excel.
• High level of integrity, accuracy, confidentiality and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and take full ownership of the finance function.