Financial Accountant at Smart Partners

Location: Mainland, Lagos

Role Purpose

• The Financial Accountant provides strategic financial leadership across manufacturing operations, ensuring financial integrity, robust cost management, and insightful reporting to support operational efficiency and profitability.
• The role owns core accounting outcomes, drives cost and inventory governance, and partners with operations and executive management to enable informed decision-making.

Key Accountabilities
Financial Reporting:

• Lead the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
• Own the integrity of the general ledger, ensuring accurate postings, reconciliations, and timely month-end and year-end close.
• Establish, enforce, and continuously improve financial controls and accounting policies.
• Lead internal and external audit engagements and ensure full statutory and tax compliance.

Manufacturing Finance & Cost Leadership:

• Provide end-to-end oversight of cost accounting, including standard costing, BOM reviews, variance analysis, and overhead absorption.
• Analyze production efficiency, yield, wastage, and cost drivers, providing actionable recommendations to management.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives across production, procurement, and supply chain functions.
• Own product costing, margin analysis, and profitability reporting by SKU, production line, or plant.

Inventory, Assets & Working Capital Oversight:

• Provide strategic oversight of inventory valuation, controls, and reconciliation across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Lead periodic stock counts, variance investigations, and corrective action plans.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting, capital expenditure governance, and depreciation policies.
• Support working capital optimization initiatives, including inventory turnover and cash flow management.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management:

• Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long-range financial planning for manufacturing operations.
• Perform in-depth variance and trend analysis, translating financial data into executive-level insights.
• Develop and present management reports, dashboards, and financial models to support strategic and operational decisions.

Business Partnering & Leadership:

• Act as a trusted finance partner to Operations, Production, Supply Chain, and Procurement leaders.
• Provide financial guidance on pricing, capacity planning, make-or-buy decisions, and capital investments.
• Mentor and provide technical oversight to junior finance and accounting staff.
• Drive continuous improvement in finance processes, systems, and reporting frameworks.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline; Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of 6 – 10 years progressive finance experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing operations.
• Fully qualified professional accountant (ICAN, ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• Strong expertise in cost accounting, inventory management, and manufacturing finance models.
• Proven experience working with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic financial analysis and decision support
• Manufacturing operational finance
• Executive communication and stakeholder management
• People leadership and capability development.