The Role

The Head, Finance & Accounts will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Finance and Accounts function, ensuring sound financial stewardship, effective financial reporting, regulatory compliance, budgeting, treasury management, taxation, and financial controls across Produce for Lagos.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the successful candidate will oversee all finance and accounting operations, ensuring that the organization maintains strong financial discipline, robust governance, and accurate financial information to support strategic decision-making. The role will also support the management of the Produce for Lagos Offtake Guarantee Fund by providing timely financial insights, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards, and strengthening financial accountability.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional financial leadership capabilities, extensive accounting experience, strong analytical skills, and a proven ability to build effective financial systems within high-growth or public-private institutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy & Planning

Develop and implement financial strategies that support Produce for Lagos' strategic objectives.
Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
Lead the annual budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting processes.
Monitor organizational financial performance against approved budgets.
Develop long-term financial sustainability plans and funding strategies.
Advise Executive Management on financial risks, opportunities, and investment decisions.

Financial Reporting & Accounting

Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS and applicable accounting standards.
Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to Executive Management, the Board, government agencies, and relevant stakeholders.
Maintain complete and accurate accounting records, general ledger, journals, and financial documentation.
Supervise all accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and general accounting.
Ensure timely month-end and year-end financial close processes.

Budgeting & Cost Management

Coordinate the preparation and consolidation of departmental budgets.
Monitor budget implementation and expenditure control.
Conduct variance analysis and recommend corrective actions.
Develop cost optimization initiatives that improve operational efficiency.
Monitor financial performance against key organizational targets.

Treasury & Cash Management

Manage cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
Ensure adequate funding for operational and programme requirements.
Optimize cash management and banking relationships.
Monitor investments, fixed deposits, and short-term financial instruments.
Supervise payment processes and treasury operations.

Financial Controls & Compliance

Develop and strengthen internal financial control systems.
Ensure compliance with IFRS, tax laws, financial regulations, procurement policies, and internal financial procedures.
Coordinate statutory and external audits.
Ensure timely filing of statutory financial and tax returns.
Maintain compliance with anti-fraud and financial governance requirements.

Taxation

Develop tax planning strategies that ensure compliance while optimizing tax efficiency.
Oversee preparation and remittance of all statutory taxes.
Liaise with tax authorities and regulatory agencies.
Ensure compliance with VAT, WHT, PAYE, Company Income Tax, and other applicable tax regulations.
Manage tax audits and regulatory reviews.

Risk Management

Identify financial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
Strengthen financial governance and enterprise risk management practices.
Monitor financial exposures and recommend appropriate controls.
Support business continuity planning from a financial perspective.
Ensure compliance with organizational risk management frameworks.

Fund & Grant Financial Management

Provide financial oversight for donor-funded projects, grants, and development programmes.
Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements and funding agreements.
Monitor utilization of grant funds and project expenditures.
Prepare financial reports for government agencies, donors, and development partners.

Leadership & People Management

Lead and develop a high-performing Finance and Accounts team.
Establish performance objectives and monitor team effectiveness.
Promote a culture of accountability, professionalism, continuous improvement, and ethical conduct.
Mentor and develop finance professionals across the organization.
Drive automation and digital transformation within finance operations.

Qualification & Skills

Minimum of 15–20 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, with at least 8 years in senior financial management roles.
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related discipline.
MBA or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field is highly desirable.
Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent is mandatory.
Strong knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Extensive experience in financial reporting, budgeting, treasury management, taxation, and financial controls.
Proven experience managing finance functions within large organizations, government agencies, development programmes, financial institutions, or public-private partnerships.
Strong analytical, financial modelling, and business planning skills.
Demonstrated experience implementing ERP and financial management systems.
Excellent understanding of Nigerian tax laws and financial regulations.
Strong leadership, coaching, and team management capabilities.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
High level of commercial and business acumen.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting software.
Experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments