Head of Finance

Lizone Consulting Limited is recruiting a Head of Finance on behalf of a client seeking an experienced senior finance professional to lead its finance function.The Head of Finance will provide strategic and operational leadership across the organization's financial activities, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, investment strategy, capital raising, treasury, financial reporting, performance management, governance and compliance.
The successful candidate will be responsible for safeguarding the financial integrity of the organization, optimizing resource allocation and providing management with timely financial insights that support strategic and operational decision-making.
This position requires a commercially astute and proactive finance leader with strong exposure to financial institutions, funding and investment activities, together with the ability to operate effectively in a dynamic and growth-focused business environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for the finance function.
  
• Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the organisation's growth objectives and long-term sustainability.
  
• Serve as a strategic financial adviser to executive management on major business, investment and funding decisions.
  
• Translate organizational strategy into financial plans, targets and performance measures.
  
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and provide appropriate recommendations to management.
  
• Lead the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes.
  
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses to support strategic planning and executive decision-making.
  
• Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts and provide clear variance analysis.
  
• Develop appropriate financial KPIs and management dashboards.
  
• Provide forward-looking insights into revenue, profitability, costs, cash flow and funding requirements.
  
• Lead initiatives to identify and secure appropriate funding for business growth and investment requirements.
  
• Develop financial proposals, business cases, investment papers and supporting financial models.
  
• Manage engagements with banks, financial institutions, investors and other funding partners.
  
• Evaluate financing options and recommend appropriate funding structures.
  
• Support negotiations relating to financing arrangements, leases and other financial partnerships.
  
• Assess potential investments and expansion opportunities from a financial and commercial perspective.
  
• Oversee the preparation of accurate and timely management accounts and financial reports.
  
• Ensure the integrity, completeness and reliability of financial information.
  
• Analyse financial performance and communicate key insights, trends, risks and opportunities to management.
  
• Provide financial analysis to support investment, operational and commercial decisions.
  
• Establish appropriate reporting standards and timelines across the finance function.
  
• Provide oversight of day-to-day accounting and finance operations.
  
• Ensure appropriate management of receivables, payables, cash flow, reconciliations and financial records.
  
• Establish effective financial processes and controls that support efficient business operations.
  
• Monitor working capital requirements and recommend measures to improve liquidity and cash utilisation.
  
• Ensure appropriate coordination between finance and other business functions.
  
• Oversee cash-flow planning and liquidity management.
  
• Monitor the organisation's short-, medium- and long-term funding requirements.
  
• Optimise utilisation of available financial resources.
  
• Maintain effective relationships with banking and financial partners.
  
• Monitor financing obligations, leases and other significant financial commitments.
  
• Analyse business-unit and organisational financial performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
  
• Work with departmental leaders to improve cost management, productivity and profitability.
  
• Identify opportunities to strengthen margins and optimise resource allocation.
  
• Develop financial performance measures that improve accountability across the organisation.
  
• Drive finance-related process improvements that support organisational agility and growth.
  
• Ensure compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, tax and financial-reporting requirements.
  
• Establish and maintain robust internal financial controls and governance processes.
  
• Coordinate financial audits and ensure timely resolution of audit findings.
  
• Monitor financial risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
  
• Ensure compliance with approved financial policies, delegated authorities and internal control procedures.
  
• Lead, manage and develop accountants and other members of the finance team.
  
• Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations and accountability across the function.
  
• Build finance-team capability through coaching, mentoring and continuous development.
  
• Promote a culture of accuracy, integrity, collaboration, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.
  
• Represent the organization in high-level engagements with financial institutions, investors, auditors, advisers, partners and other stakeholders.
  
• Prepare and present financial reports, investment proposals and recommendations to senior management.
  
• Communicate complex financial matters clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
  
• Support executive management in major commercial and investment discussions.
  
• Deputise for the Managing Director when required.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline.
  
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience in finance, with demonstrated progression into senior-level responsibilities.
  
• Demonstrable exposure to capital raising, leasing/funding arrangements and financial proposal development.
  
• Proven track record in a senior finance or management position.
  
• Strong financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance-management capabilities.
  
• Strong proficiency in financial modelling, financial analysis and management reporting.
  
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute financial strategies that support organizational growth and agility.
  
• Strong understanding of financial governance, internal controls and compliance.
  
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to evaluate investment and funding opportunities.
  
• Excellent analytical, leadership and problem-solving capabilities.
  
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage confidently with executive management, investors, financial institutions and other senior stakeholders.
  
  

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Requirements

• Previous experience within a finance, investment, leasing or other financial-services organisation.
  
• Relevant professional accounting or finance qualification.
  
• Experience supporting businesses through significant growth, investment or expansion.
  
• Experience dealing directly with banks, investors and other funding institutions.
  
• Willingness to work extended hours when business requirements demand.
  
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally as required.