Finance Director/ VP Finance (FT002)

Job Description

• Strategic Leadership
  • Mentor and develop the finance function, setting a strategic department vision and scalable organizational model.
  • Act as a strategic business partner to the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team
  • Evaluate financial performance against short-term & long-term operational goals, budgets, and forecasts.
  • Identify growth opportunities and strategic partnerships to drive business expansion.
  • Manage financial aspects of fundraising activities and evaluate potential mergers and acquisitions. (if needed)
• Financial Budgeting, Planning & Analysis:
  • Prepare and present monthly financial budgeting reports, analyzing profit and loss and cash flow projections.
  • Conduct analysis of business initiatives, product launches, and new service offerings.
  • Develop risk management strategies and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Explore new investment opportunities and provide recommendations on potential returns and risks.
  • Develop systems to manage budgets vs Actuals and align on key performance indicators and key cost drivers.
• Financial Management
  • Manage cash flow planning process and ensure funds availability.
  • Explore new investment opportunities and provide recommendations on potential returns and risks.
  • Maintain outstanding banking relationships and strategic alliances with vendors and business partners.
  • Build and utilize forward-looking models and activity-based analyses to provide financial insight into the organization’s plans and operating budgets.
  • Represent the company to banks, financial partners, institutions, public auditors, and officials.
  • Remain current on audit best practices globally as well at country state, federal, and local laws.
  • Work alongside business leaders to set up legal and financial compliance across all markets we operate in
• Innovation and Technology Integration
  • Champion the adoption of innovative financial tools and technologies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
  • Collaborate with other departments to  integrate financial systems and automate routine tasks.
  • Stay abreast of emerging financial technologies and trends, evaluating their potential impact on business operations.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
  • Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic financial guidance and insights.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with investors, board members, internal and external stakeholders.
  • Communicate financial performance and strategic initiatives effectively, translating complex financial concepts into actionable insights.
• Sustainability and Impact
  • Drive sustainability initiatives across financial operations, integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations.
  • Lead the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies aligned with the organization’s values and objectives.
  • Measure and report on key performance indicators related to sustainability and impact.
• Talent Development and Culture
  • Develop a high-performing finance team through mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement within the finance function.
  • Recruit and retain top talent, ensuring alignment with the organization’s values and strategic objectives.

You have

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field. An MBA, CPA, CFA certification is preferred, demonstrating advanced knowledge and expertise in financial management.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of proven experience as a financial leader in a hyper-growth company environment. Candidates should have a track record of driving financial strategy and operational efficiency in dynamic and rapidly evolving organizations.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to assess market trends, identify growth opportunities, and develop innovative financial solutions. Candidates should demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making in complex business environments.
• Analytical Skills: Exceptional analytical skills and proficiency in interpreting financial data and metrics. Candidates should be able to conduct in-depth financial analysis, forecast future trends, and provide strategic insights to support organizational objectives.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential for this role. Candidates should be able to effectively communicate complex financial concepts to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, investors, and external partners.
• Financial Software Proficiency: Proficiency in financial software and emerging technologies is required. Candidates should have hands-on experience with financial management systems, data analytics tools, and reporting software to drive operational efficiency and informed decision-making.
• Leadership and Team Management: Proven leadership skills and the ability to mentor and develop a high-performing finance team. Candidates should have a collaborative leadership style, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement within the finance function.
• Adaptability and Resilience: Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment characterized by rapid growth and change. Candidates should be adaptable and resilient, with the flexibility to navigate ambiguity and drive results in evolving business landscapes.
• Fluency  English
• Intermediate Excel skills is an added advantage

Work environment

• Our team is deeply field based. We hire from the areas that we are working, rather than focusing on hiring only from capital cities or major metropolitan areas.
• The individuals best suited for these positions are those who are comfortable speaking in relevant local languages and moving around rural areas frequently.
• Everyone needs to be able to work “on the go”: staff are expected to call into conference calls multiple times a week, and to submit communications on email and other mediums throughout the week. While it is difficult to keep a phone and other devices charged while working in rural areas, the best employees plan their movements well enough to ensure being in contact at the right times.

They Offer

• Growth potential: Our client work in over 19 countries across Africa and Asia, and by 2023, have facilitated crop insurance cover to over 5 million farmers, 40% of which are women. We are a for profit, and have raised over $25 million from leading venture and institutional investors as well as developed philanthropic relationships with private foundations and bilateral donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and German Insure Resilience Solutions Fund that have accelerated investments in our target markets.
• Market Leader: our Client is by far the market leader in it’s category with 11m farmers insured as of 2023.
• Solid: Our Client has been funded by leading venture capital investors (Omidyar Network, ACCION, MercyCorps) and global philanthropic institutions (MasterCard Foundation, CGAP/World Bank as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).
• Respected: Winner of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2019, Winner of The InsureTech of the Award, Africa. Featured on TED talks, The New York Times, The Economist.
• Impact and creation: This is a high-impact role, that offers a unique opportunity to bring the company to the next level, whilst developing new strategies, approaches and ideas.
• Leadership: The founders & CEO foster a culture of transparency, respect, high performance, pragmatism, execution and personal development.
• Purpose:  Our client is going through a second phase of accelerated growth that will naturally provide professional development, whilst contributing to the financial stability of small farmers in the emerging markets.
• Remuneration: Competitive base salary accordingly with seniority and experience, commission on closed sales and an employee share option plan that offers an attractive equity upside.

Their Process

Stage 1 The Culture Interview: Your complete applications will be reviewed and those shortlisted will be invited for a culture interview to understand if you have Pula DNA

Stage 2 The Technical Interview: Those that pass the culture interview will be invited to complete an assignment that will give you a good sense of what working at Pula is like. This way you will get to know if you like the job, and we get to know you. Those with completed assignments will be invited for a technical interview with the hiring manager.

Stage 3 The Panel Interview: Those that pass the technical interview will be interviewed by a panel of future colleagues who you will be working with at Pula so you can get to know your new colleagues and they can get to know you.

Stage 4 The Reference Check: as described 🙂

Stage 5 Offer: If you have gotten this far, you may pat yourself on the back- as you’ll receive an offer!

*Note: By submitting your application, you accept that iWIA will conduct pre-employment screening such as reference and screening checks.