Associate Finance and Operations Officer at Sankore Investments

Sankore Investments is a global investment and advisory boutique with a strong focus on African markets. Drawing on the strengths of our people and our strong global partnerships, we provide investment advisory services, wealth management services and offer a variety of funds designed to cater to the needs of a global clientele of both individuals and institutions. Sankore is named for the most famous learning centre of ancient Africa - the Sankore Madrasah of Timbuktu. The name signifies our dedication to the acquisition of knowledge and expertise in our key markets and investments. We believe that this focus on research and knowledge building will distinguish us from our competitors and allow us to create value for our clients and investors. "treasures of wisdom can only be found at Sankore" - 15th Century Malian Proverb

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title:  Associate Finance and Operations Officer

Location: Lagos
Job Type: Full time

Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting, Control & Compliance:

• Maintain accurate financial records and supporting schedules to ensure readiness for financial reporting, management accounts, and audits.
• Prepare data inputs and draft materials for regulatory reporting, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Flag reporting risks or inconsistencies to the Financial Controller and recommend corrective actions.
• Collect necessary data and prepare accurate tax filings in compliance with tax laws and regulations.
• Monitor accounts receivable and payable transactions, ensuring accuracy and adherence to internal policies.
• Manage lease agreements and ensure compliance with IFRS 16 in lease-related accounting.
• Support internal financial controls, including adherence to approval processes and compliance with company policies.
• Prepare payroll schedules and ensure accurate computation of salaries, benefits, and statutory deductions.

Fund Accounting:

• Maintain fund ledgers, track inflows/outflows, and prepare supporting schedules for financial reporting.
• Calculate and verify net asset values (NAVs), ensuring accurate pricing and expense allocation.
• Track fund-level expenses including management fees, custodian fees, and administrative costs.
• Prepare fund performance reports (income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements) for internal use and regulatory submission.
• Process and post fund transactions, ensuring compliance with IFRS and regulatory timelines.

Cash Flow, Treasury & Asset-Liability Management:

• Monitor and manage daily cash flow to ensure liquidity for operations, fund transfers, and redemptions.
• Execute cash transfers, payments, and receipts efficiently to maintain smooth financial operations.
• Support short-term cash forecasting and tracking of bank account activity.
• Monitor and reconcile key balance sheet exposures across assets and liabilities.
• Track asset utilization and liability obligations to ensure financial stability and compliance.

Reconciliation & Payment Management:

• Perform reconciliations of bank statements, intercompany accounts, and ledger balances.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies across systems, custodians, or third-party accounts.
• Oversee and process payments and disbursements, ensuring transactions are completed accurately and on time.
• Ensure vendor invoices and reimbursements are processed within policy limits.

Expense & Cost Management:

• Track and allocate operational and fund-related expenses, ensuring accuracy and compliance with internal policies.
• Monitor vendor invoices and expense reimbursements for completeness, accuracy, and timely processing.
• Analyze cost drivers across business units to support expense optimization and cost of funds (COF) management.
• Support periodic cost allocation exercises, including preparation of schedules for management fees, custodian fees, and other operating expenses.

Performance, Planning & Analysis:

• Track financial performance metrics and variances, and prepare analysis for senior review.
• Maintain and update financial forecasting templates, ensuring data accuracy and timely refreshes.
• Maintain and run financial models, performing scenario testing and validating outputs.

Audit & Assurance Coordination:

• Compile necessary financial data for audit schedules and documentation.
• Assist in responding to auditor queries and gathering supporting materials.
• ERP & Financial Systems Proficiency
• Use ERP and accounting tools to input, extract, and validate financial data.
• Troubleshoot basic system issues and assist in system upgrades or integrations affecting finance operations.

Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement:

• Review and optimize internal finance processes to enhance accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement to streamline finance operations.
• Support ad-hoc financial projects, system enhancements, or process improvement initiatives as directed by senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. 
• A professional certification such as ICAN, ACCA is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in financial reporting, finance operations management, or a similar role.
• Demonstrated experience with financial assets/liabilities reporting, tax & regulatory compliance, budgeting, and reconciliation processes.
• Advanced proficiency in financial software and tools (e.g., Infoware, QuickBooks, etc).
• Strong knowledge of tax regulations, regulatory reporting, and audit requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to analyze large datasets effectively.
• Exceptional attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Proactive problem-solving approach with a focus on continuous improvement.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: sankoreglobal.zohorecruit.com using the job title as the subject of the email.