Role Overview

We are seeking a commercially sharp, execution-focused Group Finance Manager to lead the financial strategy and governance of a fast-growing FMCG company with vertically integrated operations across East Africa, the UK, and Europe. This is a hands-on role for a finance leader who understands both the complexity of emerging markets and the demands of global consumer product businesses.

The Group Finance Manager will be a critical partner to the Managing Director, providing strategic insight while owning group-level financial planning, investor relations, risk management, and capital allocation. They will ensure financial discipline across all subsidiaries, build robust systems, and drive performance across the group.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Group Financial Leadership

• Own the consolidated P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow across all entities.

• Develop and execute a 12–36-month financial strategy, aligned with business growth and investment priorities.

• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning process across geographies.

Performance & Cost Management

• Implement margin improvement and working capital optimization initiatives.

• Drive group-level KPIs and financial accountability across business units.

• Oversee pricing strategy, transfer pricing, and intercompany transactions.

Capital Allocation & Fundraising

• Support the CEO in investor relations, fundraising, and capital structuring.

• Lead on use-of-funds planning, return-on-capital analysis, and scenario modelling.

• Manage relationships with banks, equity investors, grant providers, and financial partners.

Governance & Risk

• Strengthen internal controls, compliance, and risk management.

• Lead audit processes and ensure financial integrity across jurisdictions.

• Set and oversee group-wide financial policies and controls.

Team Building & System Scaling

• Build and mentor finance teams across business units.

• Standardize and upgrade financial systems and reporting tools (preferably via Microsoft 365 stack).

• Implement a group-wide reporting cadence (monthly, quarterly, annual).

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Remuneration and Compensation: market conform salary as per company scale with incentives depending on qualifications

Job Requirements

Qualification:

Must-Have Experience

• Multiyear senior finance leadership within FMCG, ideally across both developed and emerging markets.

• Prior experience as Group Finance Manager or Finance Director in a multi-entity, multi-country setup.

• Track record of investor engagement (debt and/or equity).

• Strong grip on cost control, forecasting, and FX risk.

• Proven success driving performance in high-growth, capital-constrained environments.

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a bias for execution.

• Hands-on, low-ego operator who can get into the numbers.

• Resilient, commercially minded, and comfortable with ambiguity.

• Strong communication and leadership skills across cross-cultural teams.

• Familiarity with African, UK, and EU regulatory and tax environments.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in impact-driven or Agri-based FMCG businesses.

• Background in growing founder-led businesses.

• ERP implementation and systems scaling experience.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates are invited to send their CV and cover letter to samuel@thelovegrass.com addressed to the Human Resource Department. Please clearly state “Group Finance Manager” in the subject line.

Deadline: 10 days from the date of this announcement. Early applications are encouraged, as shortlisting may begin before the deadline.