About the role
The Chief Financial Officer will provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation and play a central role in financing and developing the new assets.
The CFO will lead the company’s financial strategy, develop funding plans, raise capital across debt, equity and structured finance, and serve as a key interface with investors, financial institutions, development finance institutions, family offices, regulators and strategic partners.
The ideal candidate will combine strong senior finance leadership with direct upstream oil and gas experience, capital-raising capability and the commercial credibility required to translate technical asset plans into compelling investment and funding cases.
Responsibilities
Financial Strategy & Business Leadership:
Partner with the CEO and Board on corporate strategy, upstream asset strategy, investment decisions and long-term financial planning.
Develop comprehensive financial plans for the newly acquired blocks, covering work programmes, capital expenditure, operating budgets, cash requirements and funding needs.
Evaluate investment, partnership, farm-in and farm-out opportunities and provide commercially sound recommendations to management and the Board.
Provide strategic financial leadership across both the existing contracting business and the emerging upstream business.
Capital Raising & Investor Relations:
Lead fundraising activities across debt, equity and structured finance, engaging banks, development finance institutions, family offices, private investors and other capital providers.
Develop and oversee financial models, reserves-based investment cases, information memoranda, investor presentations and other materials required for fundraising.
Personally represent the company in investor, lender and financing discussions and communicate the company’s investment proposition with credibility.
Negotiate financing terms and maintain strong relationships with lenders and investors, including ongoing reporting, covenant monitoring and compliance.
Upstream Finance, Reserves & Project Economics:
Oversee reserves-related financial analysis and ensure reserves information, field economics, development assumptions and cost data are appropriately reflected in financial planning, reporting and funding cases.
Work closely with subsurface, drilling, operations and other technical teams to translate development plans into robust cost estimates, budgets and financial models.
Monitor project expenditure against approved work programmes, budgets and investment decisions.
Ensure the finance function appropriately supports upstream development, asset economics and investment decisions.
Financial Reporting, Treasury & Compliance:
Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with IFRS, the Petroleum Industry Act, applicable regulatory requirements and contractual obligations with partners.
Oversee financial requirements relating to joint ventures, production-sharing arrangements and other upstream commercial structures where applicable.
Manage cash flow, liquidity, foreign exchange exposure and banking relationships across the contracting and upstream businesses.
Lead tax planning and compliance, external audit, internal controls and financial risk management, including considerations arising from oil and gas fiscal terms.
Establish and strengthen the financial policies, systems, controls and reporting infrastructure required to support a larger asset base and increased external stakeholder requirements.
Provide clear and timely monthly financial reporting to the CEO, Board and investors.
Finance Team & Organizational Development:
Lead, coach and develop the Finance Manager and wider finance team, strengthening capabilities as the business expands into upstream operations.
Identify and recruit additional upstream finance talent required to support the development and operation of the new assets.
Establish clear roles, processes and accountability within the finance function and build a scalable finance organisation capable of supporting the company’s growth.
Key Success Measures
Success in the role will be demonstrated through:
Development and Board approval of a clear funding plan for the newly acquired oil blocks, followed by successful mobilisation of the first capital against the plan.
Establishment of strong, credible and sustainable relationships with investors and lenders, supported by reliable and timely reporting.
Effective budgeting, cash forecasting and expenditure tracking across both the contracting and upstream businesses.
Timely financial and regulatory reporting, clean audits, effective tax and compliance management, and minimal financial or regulatory surprises.
A stronger and scalable finance function with clearly defined responsibilities, strengthened leadership capacity, and a structured plan for developing upstream finance capabilities.
Requirements
Essential:
First Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent.
Minimum of 15 years of well-grounded finance experience, including significant senior leadership experience within a finance function.
Direct experience in the oil and gas industry, preferably upstream, with practical understanding of reserves, field economics and upstream project financing.
Experience within or exposure to the financial services/investment environment, including banking, investment banking, project finance or financial advisory.
Proven track record of raising capital for companies or projects, with direct experience engaging banks, investors, family offices, development finance institutions or similar capital providers.
Strong technical command of IFRS, budgeting, financial modelling, taxation and audit.
Desirable
MBA, MSc in Finance or CFA Charter.
Experience with joint venture or production-sharing accounting and knowledge of the Nigerian upstream fiscal regime.
Experience within, or working alongside, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC/EPIC) businesses.
Previous experience as a CFO, Deputy CFO or Head of Finance within an indigenous exploration and production company or an operator’s finance function.
Key Competencies:
Strategic Financial Leadership: Ability to provide financial direction across a business undergoing significant transformation and growth.
Capital Raising & Investor Management: Credibility and confidence in engaging investors, lenders, banks, family offices and development finance institutions.
Commercial & Investment Judgement: Ability to evaluate opportunities and translate technical development plans into commercially sound investment and funding cases.
Upstream Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of reserves, field economics, project costs, upstream funding structures and oil and gas fiscal considerations.
Executive Communication: Persuasive and articulate in meetings with investors, bankers, regulators, Board members and technical specialists, with the ability to communicate complex financial matters clearly.
Leadership & Team Building: Ability to lead, coach and develop the existing finance team while building the additional capabilities required for upstream operations.
Governance, Risk & Controls: Strong commitment to financial discipline, regulatory compliance, internal controls and risk management.
Integrity & Discretion: High level of professional integrity, confidentiality and willingness to challenge decisions where the financial analysis does not support them.
Adaptability & Execution: Comfortable operating at pace in a growing business where systems and processes are still being developed.