Finnace Associate

Company Overview 

Spurt! is a technology solutions company that helps entrepreneurs to build more efficient, more productive, and strategic businesses. Our practice is focused on deployments of technology, human-centred design thinking, and data analytics for business growth and expansion. We leverage digital and social technologies to trigger and nurture the transformative growth of businesses. Our group’s operations are clustered into five operating arms: S.T.E.P., Paperclip, Solutions, MadeIn! and SpurtX! 

Our Profile 

Spurt! was founded to develop local companies into regional global giants. Local companies struggle to scale due to bureaucracy, inaccessible financing, organisational challenges, and sub-Saharan Africa’s geopolitical conditions. Our objective is to catalyse and support the growth of large local companies with sufficient scale and capacity to add value locally and regionally.

We are seeking a self-motivated, detail-oriented, and strategic thinker with a proven track record in financial management, preferably within the technology or startup sector. Your ability to navigate complex financial landscapes, build collaborative relationships, and drive operational excellence will mission of revolutionising the way teams collaborate and achieve their goals. If you are a finance professional with a passion for innovation, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to make a lasting impact, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity at Spurt! 

Responsibilities 

The ideal candidate is a strategic financial leader with the expertise to drive our growth and success. As a key member of our team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy, ensuring fiscal discipline, and guiding critical business decisions. This is an opportunity for an individual who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and is passionate about contributing to the mission of a disruptive technology company. In this role, you will have the unique opportunity to: 

1. Provide strategic financial counsel: Leverage your financial acumen and business insights to advise the leadership team on financial planning, risk management, and strategic investments that fuel our growth and profitability. 
2. Drive financial excellence: Establish and maintain robust financial processes, controls, and reporting systems to ensure transparency, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory requirements. 
3. Optimise resource allocation: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimise resource allocation, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure efficient utilisation of capital to maximise returns on investments. 
4. Facilitate decision-making: Analyse financial data, identify trends, and provide insightful analyses to support informed decision-making at various levels of the organisation. 
5. Investor relations and fundraising: Play a key role in investor relations, fundraising efforts, and capital management, ensuring effective communication and fostering strong relationships with investors and stakeholders. 
6. Mentorship and talent development: Contribute to the development of a high-performing finance team by providing leadership, guidance, and mentorship opportunities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. 

In your day to day, you will be expected to: 

1. Participate in meetings with management, clients, or other team members to discuss sales goals or marketing strategies  
2. Maintain knowledge of competitor’s pricing and products  
3. Manage all aspects of financial accounting system, including managing cash flow, and tracking expenditures.  
4. Oversee budget and forecast preparation and analyse actual performance against budget or forecast and advise on how adverse variances could be mitigated or averted in the future. 
5. Ensure that monthly financial statements and management information are prepared and submitted in a timely manner to enable management/the Board to review and guide the company’s operations effectively. 
6. Monitor and ensure clients and suppliers account balances are updated and reconciled on monthly basis.  
7. Manage the annual external audit process to ensure it is effectively and efficiently completed for a clean audit report consistent with comprehensive implementation of smooth operating systems within the company’s operations.  
8. Establish and maintain relationships with bank relationship managers, regulatory bodies and stakeholders to help mitigate product release issues. 
9. Advise team on forex risk and adopt strategies to manage the forex exposure on all transactions 
10. Offer support and liaise with HR to determine training, development opportunities for the team. 
11. Ensure the effective implementation of finance policies and procedures.  
12. Complete timely filing of statutory returns and compliance with all regulatory financial requirements. 

Qualifications 

1. Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is required. 
2. Professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or MBA are highly preferred. 

Experience  

1. Extensive experience in financial planning, analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. 
2. Proficiency in financial reporting, including the preparation of financial statements and management reports. 
3. Deep knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 
4. Expertise in financial modelling, valuations, and investment analysis. 
5. Advanced proficiency in financial modelling and analysis tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, SQL, Python). 
6. Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and finance-related software. 
7. Experience in navigating complex regulatory environments and compliance requirements.  
8. Understanding of recurring revenue models, subscription-based pricing, and SaaS metrics.  
9. Experience in capital structure optimisation, cash flow management, and working capital management. 
10. Knowledge of technology trends, industry regulations, and their financial implications. 

Skills:  

1. The ability to analyse financial data, identify trends, and draw meaningful insights is essential in this role. Proficiency in financial analysis techniques and tools is highly desirable. 
2. A solid understanding of financial principles, accounting concepts, and financial statements is crucial. Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling is advantageous. 
3. Familiarity with financial software and tools such as Excel, QuickBooks, or ERP systems is important for data analysis, financial reporting, and budget management. 
4. A good grasp of mathematical concepts and the ability to perform calculations accurately are necessary for financial analysis and modelling. 
5. Being able to identify and address financial issues, propose solutions, and make informed recommendations based on analysis is crucial. 
6. Time management and organizational skills: The ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and prioritize work effectively is important in a fast-paced finance environment. 
7. The finance field is constantly evolving, and a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies, regulations, and industry trends is highly valued. 
8. Handling financial data and information requires maintaining confidentiality, adhering to ethical standards, and demonstrating integrity in all financial activities. 
9. A strong command of Excel is crucial for financial analysis, data manipulation, and creating financial models. Skills in using formulas, functions, pivot tables, and data visualisation tools are highly valuable. 
10. Competency in data analysis tools and techniques, such as statistical analysis, regression analysis, and data visualization, can enhance your ability to extract meaningful insights from financial data. 
11. Proficiency in building financial models, including forecasting models, valuation models, and scenario analysis, is valuable for analyzing investment opportunities, evaluating business performance, and making informed financial decisions. 
12. Familiarity with financial reporting standards (such as GAAP or IFRS) and experience in preparing financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, is important for accurate and compliant financial reporting. 
13. Knowledge of risk management principles, internal controls, and regulatory compliance requirements is valuable for ensuring financial integrity and  
14. Proficiency in conducting financial research, utilizing online financial databases, and staying updated on market trends and industry benchmarks can enhance your ability to provide insightful analysis and support strategic decision-making. 

Desired Traits: 

1. Motivated, optimistic, and passionate about our mission 
2. Strong business acumen and understanding of operational processes. 
3. Exceptional track record of leadership; strong ability to build relationships and trust as part of a small team 
4. Obsessive attention to detail, responsive communication, thoughtful problem-solving and an execution mindset; sero inbox mentality is strongly preferred 
5. Ability to work autonomously, incredibly professional, discreet, and trustworthy 
6. Willingness to be flexible and nimble including availability to work flexible hours as needed 
7. Most importantly, abundant curiosity about how to make this world a better place to live in