This role involves serving as the Head of Accounts within banking operations, tasked with leading and managing the entire accounting function. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the financial reporting system is accurate, fully compliant with banking rules and regulations (including IFRS and Central Bank directives), and that financial operations are managed effectively. This position demands strong leadership, technical accounting expertise, and a deep understanding of the banking environment.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- Control the bank's accounting process to maintain correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date financial statements within the adopted accounting standards.
- Prepare, review, and approve the financial statements on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, ensuring full compliance with IFRS and other applicable reporting requirements.
- Ensure strict compliance with regulations issued by the Central Bank, regulations in respect of financial reporting, taxation regulations, and all other relevant banking regulations.
- Be involved in managing the general ledger, which entails examining accounting entries, provisions, accruals, and adjustments.
- Monitor day-to-day accounting affairs, such as transaction processing, suspense account handling, and closing differences in account reconciliations.
- Oversee the budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning functions, and conduct in-depth variance analysis.
- Make available comprehensive financial reporting and analysis to senior management to facilitate their planning and decision-making process.
- Design and enforce effective internal control systems, accounting policies, and procedures to strengthen financial management processes.
- Coordinate internal, external, and regulatory audits. Ensure that these audits are done in time and that their results are addressed.
- Monitor all tax planning, tax computations, and compliance processes, including corporate taxes, VAT, withhold taxes, among other statutory requirements.
- Keep track of financial risk and help in enterprise risk management activities by ensuring correct reporting and compliance.
- Monitor, manage, oversee, and coordinate properly the usage, development, or integration of accounting processes or systems, as well as basic banking platforms.
- Lead, mentor, and manage the accounts and finances team through the setting of performance goals.
- Work closely with the treasury, risk, compliance, operations, and business teams to ensure alignment between financial reporting and operational activities.
- Maintain the highest ethical standards, confidentiality, and professionalism, as well as the security of financial data, and adhere to the code of conduct set by the bank.
Qualification, Experience and Knowledge
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field. A Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or MBA is an added advantage.
- Professional Certification: Professional accounting qualifications such as CPA, ACCA or equivalent is required.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in Accounting or Finance.
- Expertise: Experience in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and audit management.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of internal controls, risk management, and compliance.
- Core Competencies: Analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and decisiveness. Strong leadership skills, excellent communication skills and the ability to manage stakeholders. Strong integrity, detail-oriented, and ability to perform well in a fast-paced environment.
