GENERAL Job Description
The Finance Manager will be responsible for providing strategic and operational financial leadership to Protergia Energy Limited. The role will oversee the Company\'s accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, treasury, cash-flow management, financial controls, taxation, compliance, project costing, financial analysis, and management reporting functions.
The Finance Manager will work closely with the CEO, management team, project managers, operations, commercial/business development and technical teams to ensure that the Company\'s financial resources are effectively managed and aligned with its renewable energy projects and overall business objectives.
The role will also support the financial management of mini-grid, solar, energy-access and other renewable energy projects, ensuring that each project is financially viable, properly budgeted, adequately funded, and monitored against approved financial and operational targets.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy & Planning
Develop and implement the Company\'s financial strategy in line with its business plan and growth objectives.
Provide financial advice to the CEO and management on strategic and operational decisions.
Develop long-term financial plans, forecasts and financial models.
Assess the financial implications of new projects, investments, contracts and business opportunities.
Support management in evaluating expansion opportunities, new markets, products and renewable energy projects.
Develop financial scenarios and sensitivity analyses for major business decisions.
Provide recommendations on cost optimisation and profitability improvement.
Establish financial performance benchmarks across business units and projects.
Budgeting & Financial Forecasting
Lead the Company\'s annual budgeting and planning process.
Coordinate budget preparation across departments and project teams.
Develop project-specific budgets for mini-grid, solar and other renewable energy projects.
Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial forecasts.
Monitor actual expenditure against approved budgets.
Investigate significant budget variances and recommend corrective actions.
Maintain rolling cash-flow and financial forecasts.
Ensure departmental and project managers understand and operate within approved budgets.
Develop cost assumptions for future projects based on historical performance, market information and project requirements.
Management Accounts & Financial Reporting
Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts.
Produce monthly financial performance reports for management.
Prepare profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash-flow statements.
Analyse revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, and other financial performance indicators.
Provide financial commentary and explanations for significant variances.
Develop management dashboards and financial KPIs.
Prepare quarterly and annual financial reports.
Ensure management has timely and reliable financial information for decision-making.
Maintain accurate financial records in accordance with applicable accounting standards and Company policies.
PROJECT FINANCE
This is a critical aspect of the role.Responsibilities include:
Develop project financial models for mini-grid and solar projects.
Prepare project budgets and cash-flow projections.
Determine project capital requirements.
Analyse project CAPEX and OPEX.
Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.
Track project financial performance and profitability.
Review project procurement and expenditure from a financial perspective.
Monitor project milestones against financial commitments.
Analyse project revenue assumptions and tariff structures.
Assess project payback periods and other investment metrics.
Support feasibility studies and investment appraisals.
Conduct sensitivity analysis for changes in tariffs, customer numbers, energy demand, CAPEX, OPEX and financing costs.
Monitor project working capital requirements.
Ensure proper allocation of costs to individual projects and cost centres.
Prepare project financial reports for management, investors, lenders, donors and development partners.
Identify financial risks affecting project delivery and recommend mitigation measures.
GRANTS, DONOR & DEVELOPMENT PARTNER MANAGEMENT
Given the Company\'s renewable energy and energy-access activities, the Finance Manager will support the financial management of grants projects.
Responsibilities include:
Develop and monitor grant budgets.
Ensure expenditure complies with approved grant budgets and donor requirements.
Maintain proper supporting documentation for grant expenditure.
Prepare grant financial reports.
Track grant disbursements and utilisation.
Monitor counterpart funding requirements.
Ensure timely submission of financial reports to donors and development partners.
Support grant audits and financial reviews.
Maintain a clear audit trail for all grant-funded expenditure.
Monitor restricted funds and ensure they are used only for approved purposes.
Liaise with project teams to ensure project expenditure aligns with grant conditions
TREASURY & CASH-FLOW MANAGEMENT
Manage the Company\'s daily cash position.
Prepare weekly and monthly cash-flow forecasts.
Monitor cash inflows and outflows.
Ensure sufficient liquidity to meet payroll, supplier, project and operational obligations.
Review and approve payment schedules in accordance with delegated authority.
Monitor bank balances and reconciliations.
Manage relationships with banks and financial institutions.
Recommend appropriate banking arrangements.
Manage project-specific funding requirements.
Ensure efficient working-capital management.
Monitor receivables and payables.
Develop strategies for improving cash conversion and reducing cash-flow pressures.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Bachelor\'s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related discipline.
Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
MBA or Master\'s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or a related discipline.
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant accounting experience.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Strong experience in financial reporting, budgeting, cash-flow management and financial controls.
Experience in renewable energy, power, infrastructure, utilities, energy access or project-based businesses.
Experience managing donor-funded or grant-funded projects.
Experience with project finance and financial modelling.
Experience working with investors, lenders or development finance institutions.