Strategic Finance Lead

Welcome2Africa International is a trade and investment facilitation company with a special focus on Nigeria’s Agricultural and Maritime Sector. We support investors, multinationals, and key stakeholders within and outside Africa to advance their trade and investment goals, by providing an array of services and programs. Reports to : Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer Works closely with : Strategic Finance Officer (direct report); entity heads; Legal; the Board; investors, lenders and auditors Base : Abuja, with a group-wide and international remit WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Welcome2Africa has grown quickly, and its finances now span several entities, several jurisdictions and very different business models: event income at W2A Connect, commodity transactions at W2A Trade, advisory fees and lending at W2A Impact Capital, and grant-funded programmes at group level. The Group CEO needs one consolidated, trustworthy view of all of it on demand, and investors considering the holding company need the same. This role builds that view and then uses it. You will be the financial mind beside the Group CEO: forecasting cash through trade cycles, bringing order to the group\'s liabilities, moving our funding from short-term facilities to institutional capital, and standing behind the numbers in every investor conversation. No mandate should proceed to execution until Finance has validated its margin, and you will own that gate. Done well, this role is what allows the rest of the group to scale with confidence. WHAT YOU WILL OWN Set the group\'s financial strategy with the Group CEO, and translate it into budgets, targets and capital plans for each entity. Build a consolidated financial view across all entities, with rolling forecasts and a cash-flow model that anticipates the working-capital demands of trade cycles. Take ownership of the group\'s debts and liabilities: establish a complete register, agree settlement plans, manage creditor relationships, and shift funding towards longer-tenor institutional financing. Validate margins and commercial terms before any mandate or trade transaction moves to execution, and track margin through to completion. Build the financial models behind the holding company capital raise, entity business plans and the deals the group structures. Support investor relations: prepare financial information for investor materials and data rooms, respond to due diligence, and report to shareholders once they are on board. Produce monthly management accounts and a concise financial report for the Group CEO and the Board, including a rolling 90-day revenue forecast. Design the controls a multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction group requires: approval workflows, revenue assurance, inter-company cross-charges and grant accounting. Lead and develop the Strategic Finance Officer, and manage relationships with auditors, tax advisers and banks. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS The Group CEO and Board receive one consolidated, reliable set of management accounts every month. A live cash-flow forecast drives decisions, and no obligation arrives as a surprise. Liabilities are fully mapped, with an agreed plan against each that is being kept. Every mandate in execution has a validated margin, and margins on trade transactions are positive and protected. Investors receive financial information that is consistent, defensible and delivered quickly. WHAT YOU BRING A professional accounting or finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CFA or equivalent) and substantial experience in strategic finance, FP&A or corporate finance. Strong financial modelling skills and experience of supporting a capital raise or investor due diligence. Experience in a multi-entity or cross-border business; exposure to commodity trade, trade finance or investment advisory is a strong advantage. The confidence to tell leadership what the numbers say, and the judgement to offer a way forward with it. A builder\'s temperament: comfortable creating order where structure is still being formed.