FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Position based in Accra, Ghana, West Africa

 

Company description

 

Ethical Apparel Africa is a sourcing company that provides international apparel brands with ethical, cost competitive and quality manufacturing solutions in West Africa. Our vision is to demonstrate that ethical manufacturing can and should be done at scale, not just associated with luxury or expensive products. Based in Ghana and Benin, EAA has a dynamic team bringing decades of experience from around the world in product development, quality assurance, account management, social impact, operations and finance.

EAA is working to unlock the tremendous potential of the West Africa apparel industry, supporting African-owned factories to grow exports to the US, UK, and Europe. EAA focuses on developing factories in a lean, sustainable, and ethical way that sets the standard for garment manufacturing in a West African context. We work closely with government and development agencies to develop an ecosystem for industrial growth -- including the launch of a Center of Excellence for local skill development and efforts to catalyze investment in an integrated cotton value chain. By 2023 we aim to create 2,500 worthwhile jobs in the apparel sector in West Africa. This is an exciting time to join EAA.

 

Position overview

 

We are searching for a Finance and Operations Director to lead our company’s financial planning and accounting operations through a phase of ambitious growth. The Finance and Operations Director will work closely with EAA’s CEO and COO to establish strategy, projections and targets and oversee and analyze performance against these targets while managing risk, improving the rigor of the Company’s processes, and developing others on the team. This person will directly manage an Operations Manager in Ghana.

We are looking for an accomplished accountant and hands-on Finance professional who is capable of simultaneously engaging in detailed accounting and process improvement while providing strategic financial insight as an integral member of EAA’s leadership team. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator with outstanding interpersonal and leadership abilities. The Finance and Operations Director will be based in Accra (Ghana) and will report directly to the COO based in the US. They will be accountable for the following areas:

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Responsibilities

 

Team and Industry Leadership

• Engage across the team as a dynamic leader bringing the EAA departments together and promoting inter-team collaboration (across operations, technical, accounts, impact / compliance)

• Model the EAA values and connect across the team to find creative ways to develop a working culture that embodies these values

• Alongside EAA’s Technical and Accounts Director and other senior staff based in Ghana, represent EAA within the West Africa apparel community at networking events and meetings with government, development agencies, and other stakeholders. In particular focus on stewarding the development of EAA’s relationship with the Ghana government.

• Support the rest of the Leadership team to keep the broader team engaged and aligned to the EAA vision, mission and KPIs

 

Financial management

• Take full ownership of all Company accounting and financial operations, keeping comprehensive management accounts up to date at all times

• Work with EAA’s Auditors to complete year-end Accounts and ensure proper filing to regulatory requirements in both the UK and Ghana

• Working closely with the CEO and COO, complete projections with clear roadmaps to financing growth in EAA’s two Company divisions: EAA Sourcing and EAA Manufacturing.

• Analyze performance against projections across both divisions, provide detailed financial reports, and distill analysis into clear dashboards showing how performance on key metrics is driving profitability

• Lead analysis of profitability by order / client and continuously improve and streamline Company tools used for this analysis

• Proactively identify root causes of any underperformance and recommend solutions

• Prepare financial reports for EAA development agency partners for specific projects or areas of technical capacity building funded by them

• Support the CEO and COO to develop monthly reporting for investors that provides high leverage, clear updates with thorough backup documentation

• Be a clear voice anticipating risk and spearheading proactive management of risks within the Company’s leadership team

• Develop the Company’s internal SOP’s for finance and accounting management, ensuring that approach to key processes (procurement, reconciliation, reporting) is standardized and rigorous

• Set up the Company’s finance department and functions for success given the Company’s ambitious growth plans

• Manage and train accounting and finance team members across divisions

• Supervise all audit and internal control processes ensuring the rigor of these processes to anticipate any potential for abuse or mismanagement

• Lead all coordination and relationship development with external financial entities in Ghana on behalf of the Company

 

Operations management

• Oversee EAA office operations to optimize value and ensure we are proactively preparing our infrastructure for growth

• Analyze and make suggestions to improve process strength across the organization with particular focus on areas of overlap between departments

• Identify areas where we could be better nurturing / developing talent and bring these suggestions to strategic leadership discussions

 

Qualifications & Attributes

 

• At least 10 years’ experience working in Finance and experience leading a team, either at a similar position in the industry or at a Consultancy/ Accounting firm.

• In-depth knowledge of accounting, corporate principles, and financial analysis. Experience managing the books for or at a high-growth organization.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills across cultures.

• Outstanding leadership skills as well as an analytical and entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for improving process and developing people.

• Ambitious, big picture thinker who is highly motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of an industry.

• Dynamic energy with a passion for working in an enterprise with a social mission

• Evidence of the following characteristics: Proactive, self awareness; resilient and adaptable; persistent and resourceful; able to work under pressure and respect deadlines, apt at both strengthening relationships and resolving problems, poised, active listener; fun to work with; full of integrity; ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• Fluent in English.

 

Benefits

 

• Salary level dependent on candidate experience and profile

• Transportation allowance

• Health insurance

• 25 days of annual leave in addition to Ghana national holidays

• Opportunity to join a key department of an award-winning, dynamic, and mission driven organization that welcomes strategic input from all members

 

How to apply

 

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

• Please send a resume and specific cover letter for the position to talent@ethicalapparelafrica.com with the reference in the subject line “FIN DIR 2020”

• Only completed applications with accurate reference will be considered and only the most qualified candidates shortlisted for interview

 

For more information: www.ethicalapparelafrica.com

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