Chief Financial Officer at Bridgemead Consulting

About the role

• The Chief Financial Officer will provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation and play a central role in financing and developing the new assets.
• The CFO will lead the company’s financial strategy, develop funding plans, raise capital across debt, equity and structured finance, and serve as a key interface with investors, financial institutions, development finance institutions, family offices, regulators and strategic partners.
• The ideal candidate will combine strong senior finance leadership with direct upstream oil and gas experience, capital-raising capability and the commercial credibility required to translate technical asset plans into compelling investment and funding cases.

Responsibilities
Financial Strategy & Business Leadership:

• Partner with the CEO and Board on corporate strategy, upstream asset strategy, investment decisions and long-term financial planning.
• Develop comprehensive financial plans for the newly acquired blocks, covering work programmes, capital expenditure, operating budgets, cash requirements and funding needs.
• Evaluate investment, partnership, farm-in and farm-out opportunities and provide commercially sound recommendations to management and the Board.
• Provide strategic financial leadership across both the existing contracting business and the emerging upstream business.

Capital Raising & Investor Relations:

• Lead fundraising activities across debt, equity and structured finance, engaging banks, development finance institutions, family offices, private investors and other capital providers.
• Develop and oversee financial models, reserves-based investment cases, information memoranda, investor presentations and other materials required for fundraising.
• Personally represent the company in investor, lender and financing discussions and communicate the company’s investment proposition with credibility.
• Negotiate financing terms and maintain strong relationships with lenders and investors, including ongoing reporting, covenant monitoring and compliance.

Upstream Finance, Reserves & Project Economics:

• Oversee reserves-related financial analysis and ensure reserves information, field economics, development assumptions and cost data are appropriately reflected in financial planning, reporting and funding cases.
• Work closely with subsurface, drilling, operations and other technical teams to translate development plans into robust cost estimates, budgets and financial models.
• Monitor project expenditure against approved work programmes, budgets and investment decisions.
• Ensure the finance function appropriately supports upstream development, asset economics and investment decisions.

Financial Reporting, Treasury & Compliance:

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with IFRS, the Petroleum Industry Act, applicable regulatory requirements and contractual obligations with partners.
• Oversee financial requirements relating to joint ventures, production-sharing arrangements and other upstream commercial structures where applicable.
• Manage cash flow, liquidity, foreign exchange exposure and banking relationships across the contracting and upstream businesses.
• Lead tax planning and compliance, external audit, internal controls and financial risk management, including considerations arising from oil and gas fiscal terms.
• Establish and strengthen the financial policies, systems, controls and reporting infrastructure required to support a larger asset base and increased external stakeholder requirements.
• Provide clear and timely monthly financial reporting to the CEO, Board and investors.

Finance Team & Organizational Development:

• Lead, coach and develop the Finance Manager and wider finance team, strengthening capabilities as the business expands into upstream operations.
• Identify and recruit additional upstream finance talent required to support the development and operation of the new assets.
• Establish clear roles, processes and accountability within the finance function and build a scalable finance organisation capable of supporting the company’s growth.

Key Success Measures

• Success in the role will be demonstrated through:
• Development and Board approval of a clear funding plan for the newly acquired oil blocks, followed by successful mobilisation of the first capital against the plan.
• Establishment of strong, credible and sustainable relationships with investors and lenders, supported by reliable and timely reporting.
• Effective budgeting, cash forecasting and expenditure tracking across both the contracting and upstream businesses.
• Timely financial and regulatory reporting, clean audits, effective tax and compliance management, and minimal financial or regulatory surprises.
• A stronger and scalable finance function with clearly defined responsibilities, strengthened leadership capacity, and a structured plan for developing upstream finance capabilities.

Requirements
Essential:

• First Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent.
• Minimum of 15 years of well-grounded finance experience, including significant senior leadership experience within a finance function.
• Direct experience in the oil and gas industry, preferably upstream, with practical understanding of reserves, field economics and upstream project financing.
• Experience within or exposure to the financial services/investment environment, including banking, investment banking, project finance or financial advisory.
• Proven track record of raising capital for companies or projects, with direct experience engaging banks, investors, family offices, development finance institutions or similar capital providers.
• Strong technical command of IFRS, budgeting, financial modelling, taxation and audit.

Desirable

• MBA, MSc in Finance or CFA Charter.
• Experience with joint venture or production-sharing accounting and knowledge of the Nigerian upstream fiscal regime.
• Experience within, or working alongside, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC/EPIC) businesses.
• Previous experience as a CFO, Deputy CFO or Head of Finance within an indigenous exploration and production company or an operator’s finance function.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Ability to provide financial direction across a business undergoing significant transformation and growth.
• Capital Raising & Investor Management: Credibility and confidence in engaging investors, lenders, banks, family offices and development finance institutions.
• Commercial & Investment Judgement: Ability to evaluate opportunities and translate technical development plans into commercially sound investment and funding cases.
• Upstream Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of reserves, field economics, project costs, upstream funding structures and oil and gas fiscal considerations.
• Executive Communication: Persuasive and articulate in meetings with investors, bankers, regulators, Board members and technical specialists, with the ability to communicate complex financial matters clearly.
• Leadership & Team Building: Ability to lead, coach and develop the existing finance team while building the additional capabilities required for upstream operations.
• Governance, Risk & Controls: Strong commitment to financial discipline, regulatory compliance, internal controls and risk management.
• Integrity & Discretion: High level of professional integrity, confidentiality and willingness to challenge decisions where the financial analysis does not support them.
• Adaptability & Execution: Comfortable operating at pace in a growing business where systems and processes are still being developed.