Finance Manager

Job Title: Finance Manager

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Sector: Retail Industry

Work Structure: Onsite

About the Client

Our client is a renowned diversified impact funding & investment firm, with diversified businesses multiple sectors. The firm is now expanding into premium retail, representing a global brand in Nigeria through flagship physical and online stores.

About the Job

You are the financial steward and business intelligence driver for the retail business. You will ensure accurate financial reporting, maintain cash flow health, protect profitability, and support data-driven decision-making across the organisation. This role bridges operations and finance, ensuring strong controls, compliance, and financial discipline while enabling growth in a fast-paced retail environment.

Outcomes You Are Responsible For

• Accurate and timely financial reporting delivered monthly, quarterly, and annually
• Strong financial controls and audit readiness, ensuring clean audit outcomes
• Optimized cash flow and working capital, with early identification of funding needs
• Improved profitability through margin monitoring, cost control, and performance insights
• Business partnering that drives performance, providing actionable insights to operations, buying, and marketing
• High-performing finance team, with robust processes and strong operational discipline

Principal Duties / Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Own end-to-end financial reporting, including monthly management accounts and statutory statements
• Ensure compliance with Nigerian GAAP/IFRS, tax regulations, CAC requirements, and external audit standards
• Manage external audits and maintain audit-ready books year-round

Profitability & Performance Management

• Monitor margins by category, SKU, and store; identify pricing, discounting, and shrinkage risks
• Control operating expenses and ensure OPEX remains within budget
• Provide store-level P&L insights and performance recommendations

Cash Flow & Working Capital Management

• Forecast cash flow and working capital needs (inventory, CAPEX, store openings, seasonal demand)
• Manage banking and treasury operations, ensuring liquidity and mitigating FX exposure

Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts 
• Conduct variance analysis and provide clear insights to leadership
• Support financial modelling for new store business cases and promotional strategies

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Build and lead a high-performing finance team
  
• Develop SOPs for month-end close, reporting, and audit preparation
  
• Coach the team on commercial partnership and stakeholder engagement
  

Internal Controls & Risk Management

• Design and enforce financial controls across cash handling, procurement, payments, and expense management
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including fraud, revenue leakage, and compliance breaches.

Job Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related discipline
• Professional qualification (ACA/ICAN, ACCA, CPA)
• 12+ years in finance leadership, ideally in retail or multi-site operations
• Strong experience in retail finance, working capital management, and multi-store P&L oversight
• Proven track record of clean audits and strong financial controls
• Excellent Excel and ERP/accounting system skills
• Strong commercial judgment and business partnering capability
• CFA certification
• Experience with greenfield/early-stage finance infrastructure
• Prior exposure to consumer electronics, fashion, FMCG, or hospitality retail
• Experience in high-growth environments and scaling operations