Chief Financial Officer job at Credify Africa, Inc

JOB DETAILS:
Are you passionate about leveraging finance as a force for good and driving transformative change in Africa's economic landscape? At Credify Africa, we're on a mission to revolutionize the way trade is financed and logistics are managed across the continent. As the Head of Finance of our dynamic startup, you'll have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of African commerce and empower millions of importers and exporters to thrive in the global marketplace.

About Credify Africa Inc “Credify”:
Credify Africa Inc. is an early stage company based in Uganda and China. We are a digital freight forwarding and trade financing startup, a leading provider of innovative trade solutions designed to streamline and enhance global trade operations. Our platform enables businesses to request quotes, book shipments, track and trace their shipments, receive instant notifications and updates on their shipments, request financing in the form of Purchase Order financing, Supply Chain financing, and make payments—all within a seamless and transparent ecosystem. Having secured our seed round, we are seeking to embark on our next stage of growth.

The Opportunity:
Imagine a world where every entrepreneur, from the bustling markets of Kampala to the bustling ports of Abijan, has access to the capital and resources they need to unlock their full potential. As our Head of Finance, you'll be at the forefront of this transformation, leading our financial strategy and ensuring that we have the resources and financial infrastructure to scale our operations and drive sustainable growth.

The Role:
We are looking for an experienced leader at the level of Head of Finance who will lead Credify’s growth by establishing processes and systems that produce timely and accurate financial information that he or she will leverage to perform financial analyses that influence decision-making and ultimately drive measurable value. The Head of Finance will be a member of the Senior Management Team and will report to the CEO. The role combines operations (managing accounting and financial control functions) and strategy (working with the Senior Management Team to establish a financial strategy for the profitable, long-term growth of the business including financing plans). The role is reserved for someone who has 7+ years of experience in accounting, credit management and finance, including leadership and management experience in a financial institution.

Your Responsibilities
Strategy and Planning
• Lead fundraising activities and manage existing shareholder and debt provider reporting requirements, including the management of financial covenant monitoring and reporting
• Identify and execute financial analyses to identify opportunities to optimize business performance, to create value, and to help shape the strategic direction of the company
• Develop financial models to evaluate specific business initiatives
• Work with various Credify teams to refine financial models and understand the drivers of key assumptions
• Establish procedures for budget and forecast preparation, and prepare the annual budget in consultation with the CEO.
• Advise the company on the optimal capital structure, balancing equity and debt and support the company in accessing the capital needed to grow
Accounting, Reporting, and Operations
• Develop and maintain timely and accurate financial statements and reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and implement monthly variance reporting against budget
• Develop and maintain systems for cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, petty cash and treasury.
• Fully own the continuous development and maintenance of the loan management software
• Oversee all payroll functions to ensure timely and accurate processing
• Ensure that all statutory requirements of the organisation are met including income tax reporting and withholding payments
• Manage financial reporting to the Board of Directors
• Prepare all supporting information for the annual audit and liaise with the external auditors
• Lead the financial due diligence process with prospective investors
Risk Management
• Ensure that sound risk management models and measurement methodologies of risk reporting and controls are in place for the quantification and evaluation of risks
• Own the development of an Enterprise Risk Management framework and the Risk Appetite Statement
• Continuously monitor risk-taking activities and aggregate risk exposures to ensure they are in line with the organization’s financial position and plans

Your Profile
We are seeking a visionary financial leader with a passion for driving impact and creating positive change in Africa's trade ecosystem. This is a position in an early stage startup and therefore the ideal candidate should be able to:

Key Qualifications:
• Financial Expertise: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in finance, with a proven track record of success in debt fundraising and has a network of debt providers.
• Strategic Vision: We are looking for a strategic thinker who can see the big picture and translate our company's vision into actionable financial plans and initiatives.
• Leadership Skills: As a key member of our executive team, there will be responsibility for providing leadership and guidance to our finance department and across the organization. They should be able to impart a growth mindset on teams that they lead.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Our ideal candidate will be a self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get things done. They will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment, where creativity, adaptability, and innovation are valued. This environment comes with high levels of uncertainty and one should be able to persevere through this.
• Passion for Impact: Above all, we are looking for someone who is passionate about our mission of transforming African trade and empowering businesses to succeed. The ideal candidate will be driven by a desire to make a difference and leave a lasting impact on the countries we serve.

Additional Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience of progressive responsibility in accounting and finance, with at least 2 years of management experience.
• Experience in closing Series A+ funding rounds and institutional debt management
• Strong understanding of trade finance and supply chain management.
• Experience with the consolidation of multiple foreign entities, with multi-currency accounting and complex intercompany transactions. Familiarity with transfer pricing is an asset.
• Familiarity with foreign exchange risks and mitigants (for example hedging products)
• Experience working in emerging markets and/or with startups is a plus.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 84

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree