Strategic Finance Officer

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. WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Every forecast, every investor report and every board decision at Welcome2Africa depends on records that are right. Ours are varied: sponsorship and delegate income from forums, purchase and logistics costs on commodity shipments, advisory retainers, a lending portfolio, and grants from development partners that carry their own reporting requirements. Each entity needs its own clean set of books, and the group needs them to add up. This role is that foundation. You will keep the ledgers, reconcile the accounts, chase what we are owed and schedule what we owe. It is detailed, exacting work, and it matters enormously. For someone early in a finance career it is also a rare opportunity: you will see a group\'s finance function being built from the inside, working directly with the Strategic Finance Lead. WHAT YOU WILL OWN Maintain accurate, up-to-date books and ledgers for each entity in the group. Carry out bank, cash and inter-company reconciliations to a regular timetable, and resolve differences promptly. Manage receivables: raise invoices and follow up on sponsorships, retainers, facilitation fees and trade proceeds until they are collected. Manage payables: maintain the schedule of what we owe, prepare payments for approval and keep supplier records in order. Record costs and income against each trade transaction and mandate, so that margin can be seen deal by deal. Keep grant and donor-funded programme expenditure separately tracked and ready for partner reporting. Run day-to-day finance administration, including expense claims, petty cash and payment documentation, filed in the group\'s shared drive. Support budgeting and prepare the schedules that feed monthly management accounts. Keep records audit-ready and support statutory filings, tax returns and the annual audit. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS Books are closed each month to an agreed timetable, with every account reconciled. Receivables are collected faster and nothing owed to the group is lost from view. Payments are made accurately, on schedule and with complete documentation. The Strategic Finance Lead can rely on your figures without re-checking them. Auditors and development partners find organised records and clear trails. WHAT YOU BRING A degree in accounting, finance or a related field; progress towards a professional qualification (ACCA, ICAN or equivalent) is an advantage. Hands-on bookkeeping and reconciliation experience, and fluency with accounting software and Excel; experience with Zoho is useful. Precision, and the persistence to chase a discrepancy until it is explained. Discretion with confidential financial information. Curiosity about how the business works and ambition to grow with the finance function.