ashby

Senior Finance Controller - DFS @ M-KOPA

LagosOnsiteFull-timePosted 284 days ago

Opens on ashby

About this role

About M-KOPAM-KOPA is a UK-headquartered emerging market fintech platform that is transforming financial inclusion across Africa. Since our commercial launch in 2012, we have become a leading provider of affordable smartphones and digital financial services, with operations spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.

Our innovative financing model, built on daily micropayments and proprietary AI-driven analytics, has enabled us to extend over $1.5 billion in credit to more than 5 million underserved customers. We specialize in serving individuals who earn their income daily, providing them with access to life-enhancing products including smartphones, solar home systems, and a suite of digital financial services such as loans, data subscriptions, and insurance.

With a workforce of over 3,000 employees and 30,000 sales agents across our African markets, M-KOPA has been consistently recognized for excellence. We've been named among the Financial Times' "Africa's Fastest Growing Companies" for four consecutive years and featured by Time Magazine as one of the companies changing the world. Our commitment to financial inclusion and sustainable development has earned us recognition from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Fortune Magazine, and MIT Technology Review.

The Senior Finance Controller - DFS plays a pivotal role in maintaining the financial integrity and operational excellence of our Digital Financial Services business. This position is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting while driving strategic financial planning and operational efficiency across General Ledger, Accounts Payable & Treasury, and Asset Management functions.

Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Reporting & Compliance

Lead the preparation and maintenance of comprehensive financial records ensuring complete accuracy and regulatory compliance

Drive timely month-end and year-end close processes, meeting all reporting deadlines

Monitor, analyze, and reconcile general ledger accounts with meticulous attention to detail

Support both internal and external audits by providing thorough documentation and insights

Ensure full compliance with IFRS and local regulatory requirements

Financial Controls & Operations

Design, implement, and continuously improve financial controls and procedures to safeguard company assets

Lead process optimization initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and accuracy

Maintain robust internal control frameworks aligned with best practices

Conduct regular reviews of financial processes to identify improvement opportunities

Treasury & Cash Management

Oversee comprehensive cash flow forecasting and treasury operations

Optimize liquidity management strategies to support business growth

Maintain and strengthen banking relationships across multiple jurisdictions

Support financial risk management initiatives and investment activities

Ensure efficient working capital management

Accounts Payable & Vendor Management

Manage end-to-end vendor payment processes ensuring compliance with procurement policies

Oversee timely and accurate processing of invoices and expense claims

Implement vendor management best practices and payment optimization strategies

Maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and service providers

Strategic Partnership

Partner with business units to provide financial insights and support decision-making

Contribute to strategic financial planning and budgeting processes

Provide analytical support for business cases and investment decisions

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive financial performance

Required Qualifications & SkillsProfessional Qualifications

Essential: Chartered Accountant certification from ICAN, ACCA, or equivalent recognized professional body

Minimum 4 years of progressive finance experience.

Experience in fintech, digital financial services, or technology companies strongly preferred

Technical Competencies

Expert knowledge of IFRS and Nigerian financial reporting standards

Advanced proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and financial management tools

Strong command of Microsoft Excel and financial modeling techniques

Experience with treasury management systems and payment platforms

Understanding of digital payment ecosystems and mobile money operations

Core Competencies

Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities with data-driven decision-making skills

Outstanding attention to detail combined with ability to see the bigger picture

Strong organizational and project management abilities

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Proven stakeholder management and leadership capabilities

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Cultural sensitivity and experience working in multicultural teams

Performance IndicatorsFinancial Accuracy: Zero material errors in financial reporting and 99%+ reconciliation accuracy

Timeliness: Consistent achievement of reporting deadlines with month-end close within 5 business days

Compliance: 100% audit compliance with no significant findings

Process Efficiency: Demonstrated improvements in payment processing times and cash management effectiveness

Stakeholder Satisfaction: Positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders on financial support and insights

Control Environment: Strong internal control ratings with successful implementation of improvement initiatives

Why M-KOPA?At M-KOPA, we empower our people to own their careers through diverse development programs, coaching partnerships, and on-the-job training. We support individual journeys with family-friendly policies, prioritize well-being, and embrace flexibility.

Join us in shaping the future of M-KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m-kopa.com.

Recognized four times by the Financial Times as one Africa's fastest growing companies (2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and by TIME100 Most influential companies in the world 2023 and 2024 , we've served over 6 million customers, unlocking $1.5 billion in cumulative credit for the unbanked across Africa.

Important Notice

M-KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

M-KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of Forced or Child Labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and freely terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M-KOPA shall ensure that its Employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships.

M-KOPA does not collect/charge any money as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement. This means that we never ask for ‘recruitment fees’, ‘processing fees’, ‘interview fees’, or any other kind of money in exchange for offer letters or interviews at any time during the hiring process.

Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date.

If your application is successful M-KOPA undertakes pre-employment background checks as part of its recruitment process, these include; criminal records, identification verification, academic qualifications, employment dates and employer references.

Skills

CorporateFinance

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