Finance Project Lead

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To provide strategic financial leadership and decision support for the maize grits capacity expansion project, ensuring robust financial governance, effective CAPEX management, and alignment with the Company's long-term growth objectives. The role acts as a key finance business partner, driving performance, risk mitigation, and value creation across all phases of the project lifecycle.

RESPONSIBILITY

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2. Project Leadership

Provide financial leadership and project support for the establishment of local maize grits production capacity, including upstream and downstream supply chain development and regional export readiness.

Lead cross-functional collaboration between Finance, Supply Chain, and Project teams to ensure alignment on strategic project milestones, risk mitigation, and project priorities.

Drive a culture of continuous improvement, fact-based decision-making, and cost consciousness across all project streams, with a focus on strategic project execution.

1. 
   
2. Business Partnering and Decision Support
   Act as a key finance partner in the maize grits capacity expansion project, supporting scenario modelling, investment evaluation, and export strategy development for internal and external markets. Develop and evaluate business cases for further capital and capacity extension investments, ensuring alignment with Company strategic goals and providing financial insights to support decision-making. Collaborate with Functional leaders to identify and unlock business opportunities, lead financial workstreams in the project, and ensure robust financial governance.

1. 
   
2. Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
   Lead the financial planning cycle for the maize grits project, including integration into the Company 3-Year Strategic Plan, Annual Plan (AP), and Rolling Forecasts. Provide financial challenge and support to ensure realistic, data-driven planning assumptions and alignment with broader OpCo objectives.

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2. Business Performance Management
   Develop and deliver high-quality performance reporting for the maize grits project, including KPIs, variance analysis, and commentary for internal and regional stakeholders. Monitor project spend and performance against targets, providing early warnings on deviations and recommending corrective actions. Champion the development of management information systems to support real-time tracking and reporting of project and operational financials after the plant becomes operational.

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2. Control, Compliance and Risk Management
   Ensure strong financial controls are in place for the maize grits project, including adherence to the Key Control Framework and risk mitigation strategies. Proactively identify and manage financial risks related to project execution, CAPEX, and asset capitalization, escalating issues as needed. Maintain the integrity of financial records and ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
3. CAPEX Planning, Tracking & Asset Management
   Design and implement a robust CAPEX tracking system to monitor actual vs. budgeted expenditures, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle. Establish and enforce clear, documented procedures for managing Assets under Construction (AUC) and transitioning to Assets Ready for Use (ARU), ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal controls. Support the preparation and review of fund applications related to strategic investments, including detailed financial analysis and risk assessments.

REQUIREMENTS

• University degree/master's in economics, Finance or Business Administration.
• Finance, Accounting, Internal audit background Professional certifications including: ACCA/CIMA /CPA
• 4 to 5 years of experience in Controlling
• Must have:
  

  ·Experience in leading change.
  · Challenging approach.
  · Influencing skills.
  · Excellent written and verbal communicator at all levels.
  · Leadership.
  · Skills and preparation of good business cases

  ·Proven commercial affinity.

  Nice to have:
  · Good understanding of the financial processes of the OpCo.
  · Junior control experience in Supply Chain or Commerce.