Country Finance Director And Transformation Officer

SOLEVO is the leading speciality chemical distribution platform in Africa, which is the fastest growing speciality chemicals distribution market globally. Solevo is serving B2 B market, active in 11 countries and exporting to 20 more, focusing on two high margin segments (Life Science and Industrial applications).

Solevo operates one of Africa's most comprehensive chemical distribution networks, combining hard infrastructure with digital capabilities and 1100+ FTEs. The platform combines 80+ warehouses, 26+ laboratories, 11+ blending facilities and access to 11+ strategic ports covering focus countries and export destinations.

Solevo has continued to significantly strengthen its platform over the past five years, achieving a strong and resilient organic and inorganic growth across market cycles: multiplying revenue and Ebitda by more than 3.5 times, expanding geographically (4 new countries added since 2022).

To support this growth, we are currently looking for a Country Finance Director and Transformation Officer for our Nigerian subsidiary. The position is based in Lagos (Nigeria).
Multichem Nigeria, now part of the Solevo Group, is a well-established distributor of specialty chemicals and raw materials across diverse industries. With decades of experience and a strong presence in Nigeria, we have built a solid reputation for reliability, technical expertise, and supply chain efficiency.
Reporting Line

The Finance Director will report to the Group Chief Finance Officer.
What are we looking for?

The Country Finance Director and Transformation Officer is a key stakeholder in the organization, acting as a business partner to the Country Managing Director and Regional Business Managers in defining, implementing and monitoring the short-, medium- and long-term strategy of Solevo. He will interact with various internal and external stakeholders both centrally and a country level. He will be instrumental in combining long-term sustainable growth with short-term results / budget achievements.

What do we expect from the candidate?

As Country Finance Director, the incumbent will be responsible for Accounting, Controlling FP&A, Treasury, Credit risk, Tax and IT. He will develop a strong finance team and maintain robust controls over financial accounting systems ensuring full compliance with group accounting procedures and controls. He will monitor the Net Working Capital, alert the business and Group Management on any potential deviation and implement remediation actions. He will develop and implement an efficient treasury management system in compliance with group treasury policy, ensuring an optimized cash upstream. He will ensure compliance with the local and international tax regulations and manage with the support of the Group Head of tax, any tax claim or litigation.

He/She will build a high-performing finance organization by developing capabilities, empowering team members, and creating a strong ownership culture. He will act as a role model for Solevo's values, foster cross-functional collaboration, and ensure successors and key talents are identified, coached, and retained.

As Transformation Officer, the incumbent will coordinate the integration journey of the entity. In this capacity, he will ensure the implementation of group standards, procedures, operational and organizational framework leading to an optimal set up to deliver the full potential of the business.
The key responsibilities: Strategy, Planning and Reporting:

Deliver a best-in-class performance monitoring framework

Support the Managing Director and Regional Business Managers in defining strategy and Budget targets

Coordinate and deliver the budget and re-forcasting process, ensuring consistency and accuracy of the deliverables

Implement the group performance monitoring framework (quality and timing)

o    Weekly flash
o    Monthly performance review
o    Quarterly business review
o    any relevant reporting required by the group

Track variance against defined targets, challenge the performance across businesses and provide useful insights leading to remediation actions

Monitor mitigation, remediation actions identified

Anticipate and proactively manage potential underperformance drivers

Define when not existing the relevant set of KPIs (operational, commercial and financial) to steer the business from a value creation perspective

Support the implementation of systems, software to provide critical financial and operational information
Revenue Assurance, accounting and controlling:

Ensure data transparency and compliance to relevant internal and external procedures and standards

Review and ensure application of appropriate internal controls, compliance and financial procedures

Ensure an efficient and reliable functioning of the required financial systems, database and software

Supervise the month / year end closing process and deliver monthly and annual financial statements in compliance with local and international accounting standards

Manage the relationship with external auditor and coordinate the external audit

Prepare board material and organise board meeting
Net Working Capital and Treasury Management:

Optimize the net working capital usage and deliver a strong cash conversion cycle

Monitor the Net Working Capital Usage and implement improvement initiative

Ensure adequation of inventory level with market trends, challenge the S&OP process

Implement the credit risk policy, monitor the credit risk and organise the monthly credit meeting

Manage cash flow planning process and ensure fund availability

Ensure compliance to group treasury policy, develop and implement an efficient treasury anagement system and optimize cash upstream

Manage the forex exposure in compliance with the relevant group policies

Manage relationship with banks, financial institution and local suppliers
Tax Management:

Ensure compliance and manage the tax risk

Ensure compliance with local and international tax regulations

Ensure timely submission, completeness and accuracy of periodical tax returns

Support the Group Head of Tax in managing audit and claims

Implement the tax control framework

Monitor and anticipate legislation change

Manage relationship with external tax advisors / counsels
People Development & Empowerment:

 Build an empowered, high-performing team with strong ownership and talent depth

Identify high potentials and critical positions; implement succession planning and back-up coverage

Promote collaboration between Finance, Sales, Supply Chain and Operations to improve decisions and performance

Ensure knowledge