Head of Finance - Logistics, Hospitality, Travel, Tourism- Abuja

Job Summary
The Head of Finance will serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team, directing all financial, accounting, treasury, tax, and risk management operations. In the context of Abuja's travel market, the Head of Finance will focus on FX risk management, optimising cash flow for airline bookings (BSP/IATA), managing corporate and government debt collection cycles, and ensuring strict compliance with local regulatory frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Financial Leadership & Planning
   Lead long-term financial strategy, annual budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation aligned with the agency's growth targets across corporate, diplomatic, and retail travel lines.
   Provide data-driven financial insights to the Board to support capital investments, technology adoption (GDS/booking engine integrations), and new branch expansions.
   Evaluate and model profitability across different business segments (e.g., flight ticketing, corporate travel management, visa consulting, luxury tours, and VIP charter services).
2. Treasury, FX & Cash Flow Management
   Foreign Exchange Strategy: Develop robust hedging and liquidity management strategies to navigate volatile FX markets, parallel market rates, and official Central Bank (CBN) windows for international airline ticketing and supplier settlements.
   Working Capital Control: Manage daily liquidity to ensure seamless settlements through the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) and avoid ticketing suspensions.
   Maintain strategic relationships with commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, and FX liquidity providers in Nigeria.
3. Credit Control & Revenue Assurance
   Establish and enforce strict credit policies for corporate clients, embassies, and government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Abuja to minimize bad debt exposure.
   Oversee credit evaluation processes and negotiate favorable payment terms with high-volume corporate clients while keeping DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) low.
   Oversee commission reconciliations with Global Distribution Systems (GDS, such as Amadeus and Sabre), airlines, hotels, and consolidated travel partners to prevent revenue leakage.
4. Regulatory Compliance, Tax & Governance
   Ensure full compliance with Nigerian tax laws (FIRS and FCT-IRS), including timely remittance of Withholding Tax (WHT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), and employee PAYE.
   Stay current on new tax legislation and regulatory adjustments affecting service industries and foreign travel transactions in Nigeria.
   Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards, working closely with external auditors to ensure seamless year-end financial audits.
5. Financial Reporting & Internal Controls
   Deliver accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
   Implement robust internal control systems to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud in high-volume, multi-currency transaction environments.
   Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Gross Margin Per Ticket, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) vs. LTV, and Operating Cash Flow ratios.

Requirements

Required Qualifications & Experience
Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field. A Master's degree (MBA, MSc in Finance, or Data Analytics) is a strong advantage.
Professional Certification: A recognised professional accounting qualification (ICAN or ACCA) is mandatory.

Experience:
A minimum of 5–7 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 3–5 years in a Senior Financial Management or Head of Finance role.
Direct experience in the travel, aviation, hospitality, or logistics sectors is strongly preferred (familiarity with IATA BSP settlement structures, GDS commissions, and multi-currency accounting).

Skills & Competencies
Advanced financial modelling, valuation, and capital management skills.
Deep understanding of Nigerian macroeconomic factors, CBN monetary policies, and local tax structures.
Proven track record of managing credit risk with public sector entities and corporate institutions.
Proficiency in ERP software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and travel-specific accounting systems

The preferred candidate MUST RESIDE IN ABUJA.