General Manager Finance

Department:
Operations

Location:
Africa

Description
Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.

High-Level Overview

Client:
Client is a global leader in decentralized renewable energy, operating hybrid solar mini-grids across Asia and Africa. In Nigeria, the business has scaled rapidly to nearly 400 employees, making it the anchor market for expansion across West & Central Africa. Having raised $100M in the past two years, Client is now preparing for a $500M+ raise and positioning for a future IPO (2028–2029).

Project:
To support this trajectory, Client seeks a GM, Finance – West & Central Africa to strengthen forecasting, planning, and project finance capabilities. Reporting directly to the VP, Business Development WA & Country Director, Nigeria, this role will focus primarily on financial planning and forecasting (~70–75% of time) while also structuring and monitoring project finance across the region. The GM, Finance will additionally drive process improvements, including ERP system upgrades and IFRS alignment, to ensure investor readiness and operational discipline.

The ideal candidate will be a senior finance professional with deep experience in financial planning, forecasting, and project finance, combined with a strong understanding of Nigeria's financial and regulatory environment. They will balance strategic foresight with hands-on execution, providing leadership across financial operations and embedding scalable systems to support the company's growth and fundraising strategy.

Role and Responsibilities
Role:
GM, Finance – West & Central Africa

Direct Report:
VP, Business Development West Africa & Country Director, Nigeria

Candidates Required:
1
Key Deliverables:

• Strategic financial planning:
  Lead forecasting, scenario analysis, and long-term planning to align with Client's growth and fundraising strategy, including multi-year models, sensitivity analyses, and continuous forecast updates. (~70–75% of time)
• Project finance:
  Structure, evaluate, and monitor project finance models across development, construction, and operational phases, including debt/equity structures, DSCR tracking, reserves, covenants, and capital drawdowns.
• Investor readiness & fundraising support:
  Provide robust financial models, analyses, and due diligence inputs, supporting investor decks, data rooms, and audit-ready documentation.
• Finance operations:
  Oversee the financial backbone of the organization, including:
• Regional financial operations:
  standardize and guide models, policies, and reporting across Nigeria and new markets.
• Cash flow & capital management
  : manage liquidity, working capital, and capital allocation, maintaining free cash flow thresholds and buffers.
• KPI tracking & dashboards:
  establish systems to monitor burn rates, DSCR, return metrics, and other KPIs, integrated with BI/operational data.
• Audit, compliance & controls:
  ensure readiness for audits, tax filings, and regulatory reviews while strengthening internal controls and investor compliance.
• Risk management:
  Identify and mitigate financial risks, running scenario and stress tests on key variables and recommending hedging and resilience strategies.
• Process improvement:
  Lead special finance initiatives such as ERP system upgrades and IFRS reporting alignment to strengthen systems and compliance.
• Capability building:
  Mentor and upskill the finance team (expected direct reports: ~5), embedding financial discipline, literacy, and accountability across business units.

Requirements
Experience Required:

• 10+ years of finance experience, with at least 5 years in senior finance leadership roles.
• Proven track record in financial planning, forecasting, and project finance.
• Experience in energy, infrastructure, utilities, or emerging markets preferred.
• Understanding of the Nigerian finance and regulatory environment is an important input for success (regional Sub-Saharan experience also valued).
• Demonstrated experience leading finance teams and implementing scalable systems.

Technical Requirements:

• Professional certifications: ICAN (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria) or ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
• Familiarity with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) is also expected for compliance with global investor requirements.
• Advanced financial modeling and forecasting skills.
• Strong grasp of project finance (pre-, during, and post-project phases).
• Experience supporting fundraising and investor due diligence processes.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and financial planning tools (current system: Tally)

Other Skills:

• Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management across senior leadership, investors, and regulators.
• Ability to thrive in complex, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments.

**Working Arrangement

Location:
Based in Abuja (full-time office-based, 5 days/week)
Travel:
Limited
Start Date:**
ASAP