Head of Finance

Job Overview

Deloitte Human Capital is recruiting a Head of Finance on behalf of its client, a co-educational full boarding secondary school in Lagos. The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational financial leadership while advising the Principal and Board of Governors.

As a member of the school’s Core Leadership Team, the Head of Finance will oversee financial stewardship, support services and risk management. The role will also serve as the main liaison between the school and the Board’s Finance and Procurement Committees.

Job Details

About the Organization

The hiring organization is a co-educational full boarding secondary school that combines Nigerian and international curricula, including IGCSE and WASSCE, to prepare students for local and international opportunities.

Responsibilities

Banking, Treasury and Reporting

• Manage the profitable investment of excess funds.
• Ensure compliance with banking requirements to support the smooth operation of school accounts.
• Monitor the appropriateness of bank charges across all accounts.
• Prepare loan proposals when required.
• Prepare periodic management reports for review by the Board and its Finance and Procurement Committees.
• Advise the Principal on the school’s financial position, including banking positions, creditors, receivables and other assets.
• Prepare annual final accounts for presentation to external auditors.
• Provide financial information to the Board’s Finance and Procurement Committees to support decision-making, both periodically and when required.
• Implement directives from the Board’s Finance and Procurement Committees on financial and related matters.
• Advise and support other Board members as required.

Budgeting and Financial Management

• Prepare the annual budget and financial statements for approval by the Principal and Board.
• Ensure effective implementation of the financial budget.
• Conduct periodic budget performance evaluations and escalate adverse or unforeseen performance appropriately.
• Develop strategies for proper working-capital management, including keeping receivables to a minimum.
• Monitor and advise on cash-flow position and trends.
• Advise on and institute cost-reduction strategies.
• Report on the school’s business and financial performance.
• Ensure value for money in purchasing and procurement.
• Work with relevant functions to ensure physical assets are maintained to serve the school effectively for their projected lifetimes.
• Ensure that loan proposals presented to the Board are justified and supported by clear, realistic repayment strategies.

Accounting, Compliance and Regulatory Matters

• Oversee accounting functions, including journal postings, maintenance of the general ledger, management and final accounts, billing, invoicing and other accounting activities.
• Maintain a proper structure for recording and accounting for the school’s tangible assets.
• Ensure compliance with the Financial Manual and the Administration and Procurement Operating Manual, particularly in capital purchases and procurement.
• Provide training, support and guidance to staff to build capacity for compliance with prescribed requirements.
• Ensure the Financial Manual, Catering, Procurement and Administration Operating Manual are updated to reflect the school’s current needs and operating realities.
• Maintain relationships with the school’s bankers, external auditors and tax authorities.
• Ensure compliance with financial laws and regulations at Federal and State levels, including Corporate, Staff PAYE, Withholding Tax, VAT and other relevant taxes and levies.
• Ensure payments due to relevant authorities are made and that statutory deductions, including pension contributions, are deducted and remitted on time.

Leadership, Operations and Collaboration

• Provide strategic direction, technical guidance and leadership to the finance team.
• Provide operational support to departments under the Chief Operating Officer’s oversight, including Administration, Procurement and delivery of goods and services, and Facilities and Maintenance.
• Support the Principal and Chief Growth Officer in promoting the school nationally and internationally in line with its strategic growth objectives.
• Assume financial responsibility for executing the annual marketing plan in line with the school’s priorities.
• Collaborate with the Chief Growth Officer, Marketing and Communications Officer and Admissions Officer on the marketing plan.
• Work with Core Leadership Team members and other heads of department to run the school and execute the Board’s strategic agenda.

Requirements and Qualifications

• MBA or master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Recognised professional accounting certification such as ICAN, ACCA or CPA.
• Strong analytical skills and deep knowledge of Accounting and Finance, Cost Control, Payroll, Risk Management and relevant regulatory matters.
• Demonstrable working knowledge of Administration and Facilities Management.
• Excellent IT skills and knowledge of updated accounting software.
• Experience leading and managing a team, including hiring, performance management, training and professional development.
• Strong business orientation, including setting short- and long-term priorities and charting an informed, sustainable and ambitious future.
• Ability to communicate the short- and long-term financial implications of decisions effectively to stakeholders.
• Strong technological capability, including expertise with enterprise-wide financial systems.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience managing multi-department operations covering Finance, Administration and Procurement is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with boarding-school operations is an advantage.
• Experience or exposure to a school or non-profit organisation is desirable but not mandatory.

Quick Eligibility Check

• Minimum qualification: MBA or master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline
• Professional certification: ICAN, ACCA, CPA or an equivalent recognised accounting certification
• Required experience: 10–15 years of progressive financial-leadership experience
  Location:Lagos, Nigeria
• Employment type: Full Time
• Core expertise: Financial management, accounting, cost control, payroll, risk management and regulatory compliance
• Preferred experience: Education, boarding-school or nonprofit-sector experience

Application Readiness Checklist

• Make the required qualification easy to verify in the education or certification section of your CV.
• Show evidence of the required experience through relevant roles, dates and measurable responsibilities.
• Tailor your CV to the verified responsibilities and Finance skills stated in this vacancy.
• Confirm that the vacancy is still open before submitting your application.
• Highlight examples of budgets managed, cost savings achieved, audit outcomes, financial controls introduced and teams supervised.
• Make your professional accounting certification and experience with enterprise financial systems easy to identify on your CV.

Vacancy Verification

This vacancy was checked by AfriJobSpace on September 5, 2026 against the employer’s official recruitment source. View the official vacancy source.

Before You Apply

Applicants should ensure that their CV clearly shows the required postgraduate qualification, professional accounting certification and 10–15 years of progressive financial-leadership experience. They should highlight budgets managed, financial controls, regulatory compliance, enterprise financial systems and teams supervised. Experience within education, non-profit organisations, boarding schools or multi-department operations is desirable but not mandatory.

Application Safety

Apply only through the official employer channel provided on this page. Do not pay anyone to submit or process your application, and verify unexpected recruitment messages directly with the employer.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application through Deloitte’s official SmartRecruiters platform using the Apply for Job button on this page. Deloitte is managing the recruitment process on behalf of its client.