Job Summary
We are searching for a Finance and Ops Director to lead our company’s financial planning and accounting operations through a phase of ambitious growth
Minimum Qualification:
MBA / MSc
Experience Level:
Executive level
Experience Length:
10 years
Job Description
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 processes 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.
