Responsibilities:

Financial Set-up, Planning and Performance

• Complete the set-up of the finance function of the newly incorporated entity, including banking arrangements, accounting system, chart of accounts, financial policies and procedures.
• Translate the Mozambique business plan into annual budgets, cash-flow forecasts and measurable performance targets, in line with Group direction.
• Monitor performance against budget and business plan, analyse variances and recommend corrective actions to the Managing Director.
• Provide financial analysis and commercial insight on pricing, shipping-line and customer agreements, and investment decisions.
• Ensure disciplined allocation and effective use of financial resources.

Treasury, Settlement and Foreign Exchange

•  Manage treasury, liquidity and working capital, including the settlement of shipping-line invoices within agreed payment terms.
• Manage relationships with commercial banks and ensure effective cash management across MZN and USD accounts and all payment channels
• Manage foreign-exchange exposure and ensure compliance with Banco de Mocambique regulations.
• Structure and secure financial flows with the Group (management fees, royalties, intra-group services), in line with transfer-pricing rules and Central Bank registration requirements.

Credit Risk, Collections and Recovery

• Implement and operate the Group’s customer credit-risk framework, including onboarding checks, exposure limits and ongoing monitoring of VCS holders.
• Own the collection and recovery of amounts settled on behalf of customers, in coordination with operations and legal counsel, ensuring recovery documentation is enforceable under Mozambican law.
• Monitor bad-debt exposure, provisioning and recovery performance, and propose corrective measures where required.

Accounting, Tax, Governance and Compliance

• Oversee accounting, transaction processing and monthly closing, and manage outsourced accounting, payroll or tax service providers where applicable.
• Prepare statutory financial statements and regulatory filings and coordinate the annual external audit.
• Manage tax compliance (corporate income tax, VAT, withholding tax) and the relationship with the Mozambican Tax Authority
• Establish effective internal controls, segregation of duties and financial risk-management arrangements, in line with Group policies.
• Ensure compliance with KYC requirements and any licensing or regulatory obligations applicable to the activity.

Reporting, Leadership and Stakeholder Relations

• Provide the Managing Director, the Group and the Board with timely, accurate reporting on performance, cash, credit risk and opportunities.
• Act as a trusted business partner to the Managing Director and work closely with Group Finance to leverage existing systems, processes and best practice from Kenya and Tanzania.
• Recruit, develop and lead a capable finance team as the business grows.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with banks, auditors, tax authorities, the Central Bank and external advisers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline, with a professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, CA or equivalent). A Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum 7 years’ finance experience, including substantial experience as a CFO, Finance Director or Finance Manager.
• Demonstrated experience setting up or structuring a finance function, systems and internal controls in a start-up, new subsidiary or growing organisation.