Finance & Operations Officer
Reports to: CEO, Indirect to Board Financial Advisor & Auditor| ⏱ Full-Time, Mid-Level

Role Purpose

The Finance & Operations Officer will manage the end-to-end financial health of Cedar Africa and provide critical administrative support to the consulting team. Your goal is to ensure 100% compliance, seamless cash flow from our key accounts, and an organised operational environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Management (60%)

Accounts Receivable: Manage the billing cycle for key clients; ensure invoices are accurate and sent immediately upon project milestones.
Credit Control: Maintain professional relationships with client procurement/finance departments to ensure revenue is collected within credit terms.
Bookkeeping & Reporting: Maintain real-time records in QuickBooks. Prepare monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, and a 12-week rolling cash flow forecast.
Compliance & Tax: Ensure timely filing of all statutory returns (VAT, PAYE, WHT, Housing Levy).

2. Operations & Project Support (30%)

Consultant Support: Track project-related expenses and ensure these are re-billed to clients where applicable.
Vendor Management: Manage relationships with sub-contractors, office suppliers, insurance brokers, and travel agents.
Contract Admin: Maintain a repository of client contracts, NDAs, and project completion certificates.

3. Strategic Assistance (10%)

Unit Economics: Calculate and monitor profitability of consulting engagements.
Audit Readiness: Liaise with the external audit firm for end-of-year filings.
Board Reporting: Prepare concise quarterly financial packs for Board review, including commentary on performance, cash position, and key risks.

Candidate Profile

Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
Professional Qualification: CPA-K or ACCA (Intermediate or Finalist level).
Experience: 3-5 years in a professional services firm (Consulting, Law, or Creative Agency).
Tech Savvy: High proficiency in cloud accounting software and Excel.
Soft Skills: Diplomatic persistence for following up on payments with large corporate clients
Attention to Detail Meticulous approach to financial records, ensuring accuracy across invoices, statutory filings, and reports.
Ownership Mentality Takes full accountability for deadlines and deliverables without needing close supervision.
Adaptability Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, lean consulting environment where priorities can shift and initiative is rewarded.
Stakeholder Management Skilled at building trust with internal teams and external partners including clients, auditor and vendors

Success Metrics (KPIs)

KPI	Target
DSO	Keep average collection period under 45 days
Reporting Accuracy	Zero late filings for statutory obligations
Data Readiness	Books closed and monthly reports ready by the 5th of the following month

Why This Role is Unique at Cedar Africa

Unlike a traditional 'back-office' accountant, you will be a core member of a small, high-impact team. You will have a direct view of how a regional consulting business scales and will work closely with the leadership team.