Chief Financial Officer

Description

• SolarWorks! was founded in 2008 by two people that simply wanted to play a role in making the world a better place by offering superb solar products to people that live without access to electricity. Since the first ideas that originate from a graduation thesis at the University of Technology in Delft (The Netherlands), the company has developed several products and implemented a business model that resulted in spectacular growth: a pre-paid solar home system with which the customer will have lighting, phone charging or even tv and fridges in his house via a pre-paid rent to own model. SolarWorks! employs more than 100 people, mostly in Africa
• The Chief Financial Officer is primarily responsible for the financial health of the company and is motivated to a large extend by the possibilities to use his financial skills to improve the lives of people that live without electricity in Africa
• He/she is a sparring partner to the CEO and all other management team members and co-creator of corporate strategies, plans and objectives. He/she is responsible for all aspects of financial strategy, planning, management, analysis, and reporting which includes the preparation of investor/shareholders meetings together with the CEO. Although the emphasis in the first year will be on improving all accounting and reporting processes gradually he/she will play a more dominant role in fundraising and leading debt/equity capital discussions

Duties

• Financial Accounting/Audit:
• Define and harmonize accounting processes across all legal entities in order to produce consistent consolidated accounts on holding level
• Understand the interaction between the various systems (e.g. CRM, accounting, Pay As You Go transaction system, credit scoring system) and know how to bring the information together for good quality reporting (externally to shareholders and internally to management of which you are part)
• Lead preparation for and successful completion of annual financial audits
• Consolidate the statements on holding level
• Management Accounting and Controlling:
• Improve and maintain high quality management accounts and financial statements
• Regularly present and report clear, timely and accurate information on the financial and operational performance of the company
• Support other management team members with business cases (e.g. new activities, new suppliers, new countries, partnerships etc)
• Support country managers on how to effectively manage their loan portfolio and keep track of their key performance indicators
• Lead the annual budget round, updates (forecasts) and reporting cycle against budgets and forecasts
• Treasury:
• Rigorously manage the company’s cash flow to ensure adequate liquidity at all times
• Implement and maintain financial controls to ensure spending takes place only in accordance with approved plans and budgets,
• Introduce a good authorization scheme for expenditures and investments
• Ensure company’s compliance with all tax and other statutory financial requirements
• Keep good track of all intercompany loans and payments
• Manage the company’s foreign exchange exposure
• Corporate financie:
• Support management with fundraising efforts, including structuring and negotiation of new investment rounds as well as debt facilities
• Keep track of the key covenants in debt agreements
• People Management:
• Adequately staff the Finance organization in the countries with sufficient suitably qualified and experienced finance personnel

Requisites

• A Master’s degree in Accounting or equivalent business experience
• 6+ years of progressive responsibility and track record of success in finance in a major company, financial institution and/or accounting firm
• Languages: English and preferably Portuguese

Benefits

• Competitive covering a monthly salary and a variable pay reflective of the candidate’s experience and skills

Notes

• Only short listed applicants will be contacted