Finance Manager at Proten

Role Summary

• Our client is seeking a seasoned Finance Manager to lead and build out the Finance & Accounts function from the ground up. This is a leadership role for a self-starter who thrives in environments that demand initiative, structure, and accountability. The ideal candidate will take ownership of the company’s financial operations, bring order to historical records, establish robust processes, and serve as the primary liaison with all external financial stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the Finance & Accounts unit, defining its structure, processes, workflows, and reporting cadence.
• Take full ownership of day-to-day accounting operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, general ledger management, and month-end close.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, management accounts, board packs, and statutory submissions.
• Lead the comprehensive clean-up, reconciliation, and organisation of all historical financial records to ensure completeness and audit-readiness.
• Develop and manage annual budgets, cash flow forecasts, and variance analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, tax advisors, legal counsel, and other professional consultants.
• Ensure full compliance with Nigerian tax laws and regulations, including timely filing of CIT, VAT, WHT, PAYE, and other statutory obligations.
• Implement and maintain robust internal financial controls, policies, and procedures.
• Manage payroll processing, statutory remittances, and employee-related financial obligations.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to financial systems and tools to enhance efficiency and reporting quality.
• Provide financial analysis, insights, and recommendations to the leadership team to support business growth and cost optimisation.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification required – ACA, ACCA, or equivalent.
• 6 to 8 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Demonstrated experience building or restructuring a finance function, including implementing systems and controls from scratch.
• Strong working knowledge of Nigerian tax legislation (CIT, VAT, WHT, PAYE, transfer pricing).
• Hands-on proficiency with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, Xero) and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Proven track record of working with external auditors and regulatory bodies.
• Strong understanding of IFRS and Nigerian financial reporting standards.