Venture Garden Group is an Investment Holding Company that incubates, invests in and operates early revenue, technology companies implementing proven I.T. solutions that transform companies and governmental organizations in emerging markets to high performing establishments.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Position: Chief Financial Officer

Line Manager: Group CEO

Job Description

• Are you someone who is regarded as a whiz, a super hero with figures and calculations? Do you easily interpret financial data and make sound forecasts - smell the rain from miles away.
• Are you so strict on enforcing controls and compliance you sometimes come across as being ‘pinchpenny’ A Financial and Accounting guru that has what it takes to run the finance of a multi-billion dollar company, making sound financial decisions that has the power to affect Investors funds? We want you and if you have what it takes to build a multi-billion dollar company, we so so want you…!!!

Position Purpose

• To oversee all project finance, accounting, forecasting, budgeting, Audit, Tax, corporate Insurance and investor -related functions with Venture Garden Nigeria and all its Entities; directs all financial activities and advises and assists the CEO and management team in meeting or exceeding the overall financial and strategic objectives of the Company.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy Function:

• The CFO plays a key strategic role in developing, monitoring and evaluating overall corporate strategy with the CEO or MD and leaders of the various business units (entities) with emphasis on bottom line performance, working capital and enhancing shareholder value.
• This position will provide useful financial insights to help make better decisions about formulating and executing strategy.
• The CFO will interact effectively with other subsidiaries in the group; He establishes himself and is viewed as a trusted business advisor by merchandisers, not just the CEO or MD.
• Critical outcomes include supporting the executive team with key financial information and operational analytics, and driving a culture of accountability in managing the business, adding value to operating businesses and voicing well-substantiated dissenting opinions.

He performs his strategic function by fulfilling the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Conducts meaningful proactive analysis to improve key business decisions focusing on management of working capital
• Manages the accounting, finance, and investor relations departments
• Ensures efficient capital expenditures and minimizes taxes
• He defines the financial strategy
• He plays an integral part in formulating strategy, challenging and assessing strategy, monitoring for risks, investment, rates of return and assessing the competitive landscape.
• He assists in formulating the company’s future direction and supporting tactical initiatives
• Monitors and directs the implementation of strategic business plans, financial and tax strategies
• Develops performance measures that supports the company’s strategic direction
• Proactively manage cash flows in a leveraged environment
• Manages financial capital; communicates capital requirements/implications of business decisions to CEO, merchandisers and BOD
• Provides useful financial insights to help make better decisions about formulating and executing business strategy
• Establishes internal control processes required to manage and grow the business
• Drives the annual budget process and monthly reporting
• Manages and leads the organization in creating a competitive advantage for all company businesses or products
• Effectively leads the finance / accounting team by hiring and retaining top-grade talent
• Develops and coaches existing team and proactively replaces underperformers as required
• Drives effective internal and external communication interactions
• Effectively manages sponsors, banks, board of director and financial advisor relationships
• As a true business partner to the CEO/MD, he assesses organizational performance against both the annual budget and company’s long-term strategy.
• He develops tools and system to provide critical financial and operational information to the CEO/MD and make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations.
• Engages the board finance, audit, and investment committees around issues, trends, and changes in the operating model(s) and operational delivery.
• Assists in establishing yearly objectives and meeting agendas, and selecting and engaging outside consultants (auditors, investment advisors).
• Oversees long-term budgetary planning and costs management in alignment with the company’s strategic plan, especially as the organization considers new business ventures, potential acquisitions, and collaborations with external organizations.

Executive Management Function:

• Serves as a member of executive leadership team in ensuring business decisions taken are grounded in sound financial criteria.
• Participates in key decision making pertaining to strategic initiatives, operating model and operational execution.
• Represents the organization’s progress on strategic goals to external stakeholders.

Financial Planning and Analysis Function:

• Develops and executes analysis of various business initiatives (e.g., opening new operations, asset acquisition, new service or product launches).
• Develops and maintains capital budget.
• Assists in development of financial planning and analysis exercises/reports.
• Prepares and maintains regular financial planning reports; Monthly profit and loss forecast by division (vs. budget); Weekly cash flow forecast.
• Completes analysis of financial results; Develops recommendations (strategic and tactical).
• Participates in correspondences with Lenders.

Finance Function:

• Oversees Financing strategies and activities as well as banking relationships
• Develops and utilizes forward looking predictive models and activity based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans.
• Oversees cash flow planning and ensure availability of funds as needed
• Oversees cash, investments and asset management

Planning, Policy and Investor Relations

• Maintains an update on best practices, state and federal and laws regarding the I.T. industry.
• Investor Relations
• Oversees the issuance of financial information
• Personally reviews and approves all forms and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Participates in conference calls with the investment community
• Maintains all banking relationships with company bankers as the Liaison officer
• Provides financial vision and leadership for all the subsidiaries in the group
• Responsible for the financial aspects of risk assessment and abatement, strategic planning and new program development
• Coordinates the development and monitoring of all budgets
• Develop financial business plans and forecasts
• Participates in corporate policy development as a member of the senior management team
• Engages the finance committee of the board of directors to develop short, medium and long-term financial plans and projections
• Represents the company to financial partners, including financial institutions, investors foundation executives, auditors and public officials
• Represents the company with investment bankers and investors
• Accounting and Administration
• Effectively leads the team of financial professionals and motivates the team for high quality work as well as dedication to the mission of the organization
• Oversees the controller or head of accounts in ensuring procedures and computer applications system maintain proper records and affords adequate accounting controls and services
• Ensures maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures
• Ensures timeliness, accuracy and usefulness of financial and management reporting for the stakeholders and Board of directors and oversees the preparation and communication of regular and annual financial statements.
• Oversees the coordination of audits and proper filing of tax returns
• Oversees the analysis and consolidation of all cost allocations and procedures
• Ensures legal and regulatory compliance regarding all financial functions
• Oversees and directs all financial and pertinent statistical reporting
• As authorized by the Board of directors, he endorses tax returns, checks, contracts and other legal documents on behalf of the Corporation, customers and the general public.

Planning and Budgeting:

• Ability to prepare budgets
• Considerable knowledge of Computerized accounting and accounting packages
• Ability to analyze and interpret accounting and cost accounting records
• Ability to assemble, analyze and prepare both routine and complex financial reports and statements
• Ability to apply accounting principles to the solution of a variety of accounting or fiscal problems
• Ability to perform detailed work with written or numerical data.

Cash Management Function:

• Oversees weekly cash management; Approves weekly payables; Executes cheque signing
• Oversees AR management and provides support to collections activities
• Grows equity value - increases gross profit and reduces debt.

Team Management:

• Mentors and develops a direct team, manages work allocation, trainings, problem resolution, performance evaluation, and the building of an effective dynamic team.
• Guides larger, cross-divisional teams outside of direct span of control within the company’s strategic business units.

Corporate Development:

• Oversees and supervises acquisition, due diligence and negotiates acquisitions.
• Leads the financial aspects of potential M&A activity
• Leads the financial evaluation of mergers and acquisition candidates
• Represents company in efforts with investment bankers and potential investors
• Prepares various analysis and reports required by corporate development efforts
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Structures, negotiates, and finalizes purchase agreements.

International Funding Expertise:

• Creates funding for strategy implementation and execution set by the MD/CEO
• Ensures controls are in place to manage commodity positions and trading
• Develops processes and disciplines around monitoring and assessing risk in positions
• Monitors Cash balances and cash forecasts
• Arranges for Debt and equity financing including souring for potential lenders
• Invests funds
• Maintains all banking relationships with bankers on all transactions
• Expands financial reporting systems to determine daily and weekly gross profit estimates.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 10 years' of financial and management progressive experience with the day-to-day financial operations of a company
• 3-5 years in C-Level position or close to C-Level, - to be able to potentially have significant board level participation
• Proficiency in the use of accounting software - ERP
• Thorough understanding of project finance, budgeting, cash allocations and detailed financial planning and reconciliations
• Experience managing multiple portfolios.

Personality Traits, Desired Skills and Experience
Get-it-done, Execution Focused!

• Passionate; breathes Ownership.
• Strategic minded to be able to handle a complex TECH, Fin-tech business
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Strong rational, emotional and spiritual intelligence
• Highly Intelligent with excellent analytical skills
• Honest, straightforward and dependable
• Experience in a senior financial-management role, partnering with executive staff, resulting in the development and implementation of creative financial management strategies
• Understanding of creative business models, pricing models and the ability to tie business strategy to financial models - e.g. banking sector or finch.
• Strict and compliance driven.
• Must be self-confident yet humble
• Interpersonal relational skills, highly diplomatic and yet results-focused.
• Ability to apply accounting principles to the solution of a variety of accounting or fiscal problems
• Has tolerance for ambiguity, and at the same time has the intellectual swiftness and maps plans out.
• Tech company experience is a nice to have. Fintech or Ecommerce company nice to have
• Experience raising capital from VC/Private Equity
• Shared services structuring and cost allocation across multiple entities, countries, etc.
• Global exposure is a nice to have
• Local intelligence within Nigeria.

Qualifications

• A good Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance related field.
• An MBA and or CPA, Master's Degree in Accounting or Finance would be a plus. ICAN or ACCA will be an added advantage
• At least five years' experience as a CFO or equivalent, preferably in a Technology Company with a budget of at least $20 million.
• Experience working with information technology staff to manage finance, accounting software packages.
• Must have 10 years of broad finance experience inclusive of financial analysis, management and supervision, computerized accounting in a senior level position.

Remuneration
Competitive Based on experience.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward a customized cover letter and resume/CV to: bunmi@venturegardengroup.com

Note: Subject of mail: "Chief Financial Officer".