Chief Financial and Investment Officer (CFIO)

Chief Financial and Investment Officer (CFIO)
Location: Nigeria (with international exposure)

Reports to: Board

About the Company
Our client is one of Africa’s foremost start-up companies, renowned for excellence, innovation, and bold market leadership. With a diversified portfolio encompassing multiple Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) across real estate (Luxury residential, five-star hospitality, and Commercial), Financial Services (Including Fintech and Retail mall development), media, sports, technology, and e-commerce, the company has an affiliation with a global brand name. Positioned for accelerated growth, through innovation, technology, sustainability it is strategically expanding across Nigeria and into key international markets.

To sustain this growth trajectory and strengthen its global capital base, the company is seeking a visionary Chief Financial and Investment Officer (CFIO) to lead its investment, treasury, Financing & Accounts Divisions and spearhead its capital raise and investing strategies across domestic and international markets.

Role Summary

The Chief Financial and Investment Officer (CFIO) will be a forward-thinking and globally minded financial strategist responsible for shaping the company’s investment vision, driving capital-raising initiatives, and ensuring sound financial stewardship across all business units. Reporting directly to the Board, the CFIO will play a pivotal role in defining the company’s financial future by designing robust financing structures, building long-term investor confidence, and securing capital both locally and internationally to fuel sustainable growth.

This position requires a dynamic leader with deep expertise in emerging markets, luxury real estate, and alternative investment strategies, combined with the ability to seamlessly navigate both the Nigerian financial landscape and global banking ecosystems. The ideal candidate will bring not only technical excellence but also vision, influence, and international credibility.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Operations:

Oversee all corporate finance functions, including accounting, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), treasury, tax, audit, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and maintain robust financial models to forecast performance, evaluate business scenarios, and support strategic decision-making.
Lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes, providing insightful variance analysis to the executive team and board.
Manage corporate cash flow, liquidity, and working capital to optimize financial efficiency.
Secure and manage corporate financing, including debt and equity raises, and manage banking and investor relationships.
Ensure timely and accurate preparation of all internal and external financial reports (GAAP/IFRS) and present financial results to the board, investors, and stakeholders. Financial Leadership & Risk Management.
Oversee financial planning, reporting, and analysis across the Group.
Ensure prudent liquidity management, risk assessment, and portfolio diversification.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with investors, financial institutions, and global partners.

Investment Strategy & Execution:
Develop, articulate, and execute the company’s overall investment strategy, including criteria for M&A, joint ventures, and other capital deployment opportunities.
Lead the end-to-end M&A process: sourcing deals, conducting preliminary analysis, leading due diligence, structuring transactions, and negotiating terms.
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential investment opportunities aligned with the company's strategic goals.
Create detailed financial models and investment memos to evaluate returns, synergies, and risks for potential investments.
Present investment recommendations and strategic rationale to the CEO and Board of Directors for approval.
Manage the post-investment integration process for acquisitions, ensuring realized synergies and financial targets are met.

Capital Strategy & Portfolio Management:
Determine the optimal capital structure for the company, balancing risk and return to maximizing shareholder value.
Make critical decisions on capital allocation across the business: operational investment, R&D, shareholder returns (dividends/buybacks), and external investments.
Monitor and report on the performance of the investment portfolio, making recommendations for hold/sell strategies.

Leadership & Team Development:
Build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams across finance, accounting, and investment functions.
Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within the department.
Serve as a key advisor to the board on all financial and strategic matters.

Core Competencies & Attributes:
❖ Strategic Visionary: Ability to anticipate market trends and translate them into actionable investment strategies.

❖ Financial Acumen: Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills with a deep understanding of capital markets.

❖ Leadership Excellence: Inspires confidence, builds strong teams, and drives organizational performance.

❖ Stakeholder Management: Strong relationship builder with investors, regulators, and business partners.

❖ Global Mindset: Adept at navigating both domestic and international investment landscapes. ❖ Integrity & Professionalism: Upholds the highest ethical standards in financial stewardship.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience:
❖ 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in finance, with a significant portion spent in both corporate finance (e.g., as a CFO, VP of Finance) and an investment-focused role (e.g., in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, or corporate development).
❖ Proven, hands-on experience leading multiple end-to-end M&A transactions or significant investment deals from sourcing to integration.
❖ Expert-level proficiency in financial modelling, valuation techniques (DCF, LBO, comparable company analysis), and due diligence processes.
❖ Deep understanding of corporate governance, regulatory compliance and risk management.
❖ Demonstrated experience in corporate fundraising (debt and equity) and managing banking relationships.
❖ Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. An MBA is highly preferred.
❖ CPA and/or CFA designation is a strong plus.