Head of Finance- Neat Micro-credit at Charles Ardor & Company

Job Summary

• The Head of Finance will provide both operational and strategic financial leadership to NEAT Micro-credit, establishing strong accounting, control, and reporting systems while supporting management with accurate, decision-ready financial information.
• This role requires a hands-on finance professional who can build structure in a lean, high-transaction environment and guide the organization toward disciplined financial management, compliance, and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Oversight

• Lead the finance and accounting function, ensuring all financial activities are recorded accurately and timely.
• Design and implement financial systems, procedures, and controls suited to NEAT’s lending operations.
• Supervise and mentor the existing team of accountants and bookkeepers to improve performance, accuracy, and accountability.
• Coordinate the monthly and quarterly closing process and produce management reports for decision-making.

Treasury & Liquidity Management

• Oversee daily cash management to ensure adequate liquidity for loan disbursements, collections, and operational expenses.
• Monitor cash flow trends and prepare short-term cash forecasts to guide funding needs.
• Establish processes for cash handling, reconciliation, and bank management aligned with internal controls.

Loan Portfolio Accounting

• Supervise the accurate posting, reconciliation, and reporting of all loan disbursements and repayments.
• Ensure interest income, provisioning, and loan loss adjustments are recorded correctly and supported by documentation.
• Partner with the operations team to align loan performance data with financial reporting.

Budgeting & Planning

• Lead the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts, and financial plans in collaboration with management.
• Track performance against budget, highlighting variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Support management in assessing new lending initiatives or funding opportunities from a financial standpoint.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including tax, pension, and relevant financial reporting obligations.
• Prepare and submit accurate financial and management reports to regulators, investors, and funding partners as required.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulations applicable to microcredit and financial services institutions.
• Liaise with external auditors, tax consultants, and regulatory bodies as needed.

Systems, Policies & Process Improvement

• Implement and maintain financial policies, standard operating procedures, and internal controls.
• Identify areas of process inefficiency and propose improvements that enhance accuracy and accountability.
• Oversee the transition from manual to digital accounting processes where possible.

Governance & Strategy Support

• Advise senior management on financial implications of operational decisions and business strategies.
• Provide analysis to support pricing, funding, and cost management decisions.
• Ensure management has a clear view of the organization’s financial health at all times.

Key Performance Indicators:

Area

KPI

Reporting Accuracy

• Timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports

Compliance

• 100% compliance with all tax, statutory, and regulatory reporting requirements

Liquidity Management

• No loan disbursement delays or cash shortages due to poor liquidity planning

Documentation Quality

• Reduced audit adjustments and documentation errors quarter-on-quarter

Portfolio Integrity

• Accurate reporting of loan portfolio balances, provisions, and recoveries

Team Development

• Demonstrated improvement in finance staff performance and adherence to process discipline

Location & Availability:

• The role is based in Kaduna, where NEAT’s finance operations are situated. Candidates must be willing to relocate. Initial assessment sessions will take place in Abuja (preferred) and Kaduna for shortlisted candidates unable to travel.

Requirements

Required Qualifications, Experience & Skills

Education & Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• Professional qualification (ICAN, ACCA, or equivalent) required or in final stages.

Experience

• Minimum of 6–8 years of progressive experience in accounting or finance roles.
• Demonstrated exposure to micro-credit, microfinance, or SME lending operations.
• Hands-on experience managing accounting processes, reconciliations, and reporting in lean or semi-manual environments.
• Prior experience setting up or strengthening financial systems and controls is a strong advantage.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks preferred) and Microsoft Excel.
• Solid understanding of loan portfolio accounting, provisioning, and reporting principles.
• Working knowledge of statutory and regulatory reporting (CBN, NDIC, FIRS, PENCOM, etc.) as applicable.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented with a bias for accuracy and control.
• High integrity and commitment to confidentiality.
• Comfortable operating in lean, high-transaction environments with limited automation.
• Practical, process-driven, and able to design systems that work for scale.
• Strong communication and team leadership abilities.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work independently and drive accountability within a small team.
• Demonstrated initiative in automating or streamlining financial processes.
• Collaborative mindset: able to liaise across finance, operations, and executive management.
• Desire to build and strengthen financial infrastructure within a growing organization.