Chief Finance Officer – CFO at Great Abyssinia Group

Position Overview / Scope of Role The Chief Finance Officer provides Group-wide strategic and functional leadership for financial governance, financial control, treasury, financial reporting, budgeting, financial planning, and financial discipline across Great Abyssinia Group (GAG) and its subsidiaries. The position is responsible for establishing and maintaining a strong Group financial-management framework that promotes financial transparency, accountability, liquidity, cost efficiency, effective resource allocation, risk management, and compliance. The role provides consolidated financial visibility to the CEO and supports management decision-making through timely, accurate, and meaningful financial analysis. The Chief Finance Officer establishes common financial policies, procedures, accounting and reporting standards, internal controls, financial authority frameworks, and management-reporting requirements across the Group. The position also coordinates Group treasury and liquidity management, financing and banking relationships, budgeting and financial planning, working-capital management, and the financial assessment of major expenditures, investments, projects, contracts, and business decisions. While providing Group-wide functional leadership and oversight, the position operates through subsidiary General Managers and their respective Finance functions, preserving clear operational accountability for each subsidiary’s day-to-day financial management and overall business performance. Top Roles and Responsibilities Group Financial Governance and Leadership Develop, establish, and maintain Group-wide financial policies, procedures, accounting standards, financial controls, and governance frameworks. Establish clear financial-management principles and standards applicable across GAG and its subsidiaries. Promote financial discipline, transparency, accountability, cost consciousness, and responsible resource utilization throughout the Group. Ensure that subsidiary Finance functions operate consistently with approved Group financial policies, procedures, standards, and controls. Provide strategic financial advice to the CEO on major financial, commercial, operational, and investment decisions. Lead the continuous improvement of Group financial-management practices and governance systems. Financial Reporting and Group Consolidation Establish common financial reporting, accounting, and management-reporting standards across subsidiaries. Coordinate the timely consolidation and analysis of subsidiary financial information into Group-level financial reports. Provide accurate, timely, and meaningful financial information to the CEO and senior management. Review consolidated financial performance, financial position, cash-flow position, and key financial indicators of the Group. Develop and maintain Group financial dashboards and management reports that provide clear visibility of financial performance and risks. Analyze significant financial trends, variances, risks, and emerging issues and provide recommendations for corrective action. Ensure consistency, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial information submitted by subsidiaries. Financial Control and Risk Management Establish and monitor effective internal financial-control systems across the Group. Develop appropriate financial-control standards covering expenditure, revenue, cash, assets, inventory, receivables, payables, procurement, and financial reporting. Review subsidiary financial-management practices and identify control weaknesses, financial risks, and areas requiring improvement. Monitor compliance with approved financial policies, procedures, delegated authorities, and financial-control requirements. Require and follow up on corrective actions where material financial-control weaknesses or breaches are identified. Coordinate with relevant internal and external assurance functions on significant financial-control and risk matters. Escalate material financial risks, control breaches, irregularities, and significant financial exposures to the CEO. Treasury, Cash Flow, and Liquidity Management Establish Group-wide visibility and control over cash positions, cash requirements, and liquidity. Coordinate Group cash-flow planning and liquidity forecasting. Monitor subsidiary cash positions and identify current and projected liquidity requirements. Coordinate the efficient utilization of available cash resources across the Group, within approved authority and policies. Monitor cash-flow risks and recommend timely measures to maintain adequate liquidity. Coordinate Group financing requirements, banking arrangements, and major funding initiatives. Maintain appropriate relationships with banks and other financial institutions on Group-level matters. Provide the CEO with timely information on significant liquidity, financing, and treasury risks. Budgeting and Financial Planning Lead and coordinate the Group budgeting and financial-planning process. Establish Group budgeting guidelines, timelines, assumptions, reporting formats, and review mechanisms. Coordinate the consolidation and review of subsidiary budgets and financial plans. Monitor subsidiary performance against approved budgets and financial plans. Review significant budget variances and require appropriate explanations and corrective actions. Coordinate periodic budget reviews, reforecasts, and financial outlook assessments as required. Ensure that financial plans are aligned with approved business strategies, operational priorities, and available resources. Provide financial recommendations to management regarding resource allocation and cost optimization. Working Capital and Financial Performance Management Monitor Group and subsidiary working-capital performance, including cash, receivables, payables, and inventory. Establish appropriate monitoring standards and performance indicators for working-capital management. Review significant receivable, payable, and inventory positions and identify financial risks and corrective actions. Promote effective cash conversion and efficient utilization of working capital. Monitor collection performance and significant overdue receivables. Review major payable obligations and cash commitments in relation to available resources and approved plans. Monitor inventory-related financial exposure and recommend measures to improve inventory efficiency. Recommend financial recovery measures where working-capital or financial performance materially deviates from approved plans. Financing, Banking, and Funding Management Coordinate Group-level financing requirements and major funding initiatives. Lead or coordinate the financial aspects of financing arrangements, loan facilities, and major funding proposals. Coordinate relationships with banks and financial institutions on Group-level financing and treasury matters. Review financing terms, financial commitments, repayment requirements, and associated risks. Assess the financial implications of proposed borrowing and funding arrangements and advise the CEO accordingly. Monitor major financing obligations and ensure appropriate financial planning for repayment and servicing requirements. Support the development of financing strategies that align with the Group’s growth and investment priorities. Financial Assessment of Investments, Projects, and Major Commitments Review major expenditures, procurement commitments, contracts, investments, projects, and business proposals from a financial perspective. Provide financial analysis and recommendations on the affordability, viability, risks, and expected returns of major proposals. Review business cases and investment proposals and challenge financial assumptions where necessary. Assess the financial implications of major commercial and operational decisions. Provide financial input into new projects, ventures, acquisitions, expansions, and other significant growth initiatives. Identify significant financial risks and opportunities associated with proposed investments and major commitments. Ensure that significant financial commitments are consistent with approved budgets, financial policies, and delegated authority. Tax, Statutory, and Regulatory Compliance Monitor Group and subsidiary compliance with applicable tax, statutory, accounting, and financial reporting requirements. Establish appropriate financial compliance monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Coordinate with subsidiary Finance functions and relevant professional advisers on significant tax and financial compliance matters. Monitor significant tax exposures, statutory obligations, and financial compliance risks. Ensure timely escalation of material compliance issues and recommend appropriate corrective actions. Promote accurate and transparent financial records and reporting across the Group. Financial Authority and Delegation Framework Establish and maintain an appropriate Group financial authority, delegation, and approval-threshold framework. Develop recommendations for financial approval limits and authority levels based on organizational structure, risk, transaction value, and management accountability. Ensure that financial transactions and commitments are processed within approved Delegation of Authority and Financial Threshold requirements. Review the effectiveness of financial approval structures and recommend revisions where necessary. Monitor compliance with approved financial authorities and escalate significant breaches. Ensure that functional financial authority is exercised without creating ambiguity over operational or executive accountability. Financial Systems, Reporting Tools, and Process Improvement Coordinate the development and implementation of appropriate financial systems, reporting tools, dashboards, and financial-management practices. Promote standardization and automation of financial reporting and management information across subsidiaries. Support the effective use of ERP and financial-information systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, transparency, and control. Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting cycles, controls, and information quality. Promote digitalization and data-driven financial management across the Group. Ensure that financial systems and reporting tools provide management with timely and reliable information for decision-making. Leadership, Coordination, and Financial Capability Provide functional leadership, professional guidance, and technical support to subsidiary Finance Heads/Managers. Promote strong financial-management capabilities and professional standards across subsidiary Finance functions. Coordinate Group-level financial reviews with subsidiary GMs and Finance Heads/Managers. Promote knowledge sharing, consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Group Finance function. Support the development of finance talent, succession capability, and professional capacity across the Group. Perform other related duties as directed by the CEO. Group Functional Leadership and Authority Within approved Group policies, delegated authority, and established reporting arrangements, the Chief Finance Officer may: Establish and maintain approved Group financial policies, procedures, standards, and control requirements. Review and challenge subsidiary financial performance, financial plans, budgets, and financial-management practices. Establish common financial reporting, accounting, management-information, and financial-performance requirements. Monitor subsidiary cash positions, liquidity, working capital, receivables, payables, and inventory. Review and challenge significant budget variances and financial deviations. Review major expenditure, procurement, investment, financing, and contractual commitments from a financial-control and risk perspective. Coordinate Group cash-flow planning and liquidity requirements. Coordinate Group-level financing and banking arrangements. Review and recommend appropriate financial authority levels and approval thresholds. Assess the financial viability and implications of major projects, investments, business proposals, and strategic decisions. Require corrective actions where material financial-control, compliance, liquidity, or performance issues are identified. Recommend financial recovery and corrective measures where subsidiary financial performance materially deviates from approved plans. Escalate significant financial risks, control breaches, compliance issues, and funding requirements to the CEO. About You Educational Qualification Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. A Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field is highly desirable. Professional certification such as ACCA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent is highly desirable. Relevant professional training in financial management, treasury, risk management, taxation, corporate finance, or financial governance is an advantage. Experience Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible professional experience in finance, accounting, financial management, corporate finance, or related fields. At least 5 years of experience in senior finance management or financial leadership positions. Demonstrated experience in Group or multi-subsidiary financial management, consolidation, financial governance, and financial control. Proven experience in budgeting, financial planning, treasury, cash-flow management, working-capital management, and financial reporting. Strong experience in financial analysis, investment appraisal, financing, banking relationships, and major financial decision support. Demonstrated experience establishing financial policies, controls, reporting standards, and delegated financial authority frameworks. Experience in diversified business groups, manufacturing, trading, construction, real estate, FMCG, or other multi-business environments is highly desirable. Strong experience working with senior executives and providing financial advice for strategic business decisions. Critical Criteria / Skills to Be Successful in This Role Strong strategic financial leadership and corporate finance capability. Excellent understanding of financial governance, internal control, risk management, and financial discipline. Strong expertise in budgeting, financial planning, treasury, cash-flow, and working-capital management. Strong financial analysis and commercial judgment. Excellent understanding of financial reporting and Group consolidation. Strong knowledge of accounting principles, taxation, statutory requirements, and financial compliance. Excellent ability to analyze financial risks and translate financial information into practical management recommendations. Strong banking, financing, and negotiation skills. Strong leadership and ability to influence Finance teams across subsidiaries without undermining established operational accountability. Excellent communication, presentation, and executive-reporting skills. Advanced proficiency in ERP systems, financial reporting tools, Excel, and financial analysis applications. High integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and professional judgment. Strong results-oriented mindset and commitment to financial transparency and continuous improvement.