Financial Controller

About ENGIE Energy Access (EEA)

ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) and mini-grids solutions provider in Africa. The company develops innovative, off-grid solar solutions for homes, public services and businesses, enabling customers and distribution partners access to clean, affordable energy. The PAYGO solar home systems are financed through affordable instalments from $0.19 per day and the mini grids foster economic development by enabling electrical productive use and triggering business opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities. With over 1,700 employees, operations in nine countries across Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), over 1.6 million customers and more than 8 million lives impacted so far, ENGIE Energy Access aims to impact 20 million lives across Africa by 2025.

www.engie-energyaccess.com

Job Overview

The Financial Controller will manage financial planning and analysis, forecasting, budgeting, Capex, cost Control, cashflow and internal control. The Financial Controller will ensure that all internal reporting requirements are met and financial policies and internal controls are effectively executed. The Financial Controller will drive improvements in financial processes, systems, and reporting capabilities to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Budget and Plan 

• Working closely with Head of Finance to prepare annual budgets and  to formulate the business's medium to a long-term financial and strategic plans

• Deliver quality budgets on time with alignment of numbers with key stakeholders stating clear assumptions.
• Ensure that the guidance provided by the group regarding plan and budget is applied and challenge the business on the assumption taken.
• Provide weekly and monthly insights to senior management around financial modelling, forecasts and profitability

2. Reporting

• Prepare monthly reporting packages/presentations to support executive management. Report actual and forecasted results versus plan, PY and forecast, including variance analysis insights.
• Analyzing historical data and reporting on areas such as monthly financial analysis and variance analysis.
• Provide data-driven insights, facilitate decision making and influence strategy and resource allocation through monthly business reviews, ad hoc analyses, scenario planning and financial modeling
• Prepare management reporting packs in a timely and clear fashion, with risks and opportunities identified.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of country financial results (Full P&L, Line of business and FX reviews.
• Prepare and circulate Opex variance report by cost centre.
• Prepare weekly & bi-weekly gross margin performance report.
• Prepare Balance Sheet Review file and ensure monthly reconciliations
• Liaise with business units to provide insights to performance and efficiency to facilitate achievement of departmental Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Provide reports/recommendation to management on any control issues.

3. Analysis

• Analyze financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for growth
• Perform analysis of revenue performance and growth, profit and loss reports, operating variances, revenue reports and key performance indicators.
• Supporting decision-making by providing stakeholders with timely, detailed, and meaningful insights and visibility on business performance
• Evaluate potential investments to support growth initiatives and ensure preparation of business cases to support new investment, strategic and other business decisions
• Identify and research variances to forecast, budget, and prior-year expenses, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Review commissions and discounts for reasonability/ accuracy/competitiveness as part of the approval process

4. Internal Controls

• Ensure that the company`s control framework is effective and fit for purpose and is aligned to the group`s control framework.
• Provide reports/recommendation to management on any control issues.
• Assist in providing information for internal audits in line with set timelines.
• Assist the Head of Finance in enforcing controls including DOA compliance.

Knowledge and skills Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years experience in financial management.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting, controlling and finance operations. Knowledge of SAP, Navision, PASTEL
• Have strong experience working as a business partner in delivering better decision support and enabling strategic initiatives which help to improve the organization’s financial performance.
• Have excellent analytical skills as well as strong business acumen.
• Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact with various management levels
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to a changing, fast-paced environment
• Independent/Self-starter with superior attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects across an organization

Qualifications:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Master’s Degree in accounting, business, finance or related field strongly is an added advantage