Head of Commercial Finance, NG & EWA at Unilever Nigeria Plc

Unilever Nigeria Plc - Welcome to Unilever, a global multinational and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company with products sold in over 190 countries and more than 2 billion consumers across the world who use our amazing products everyday!

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Commercial Finance, NG & EWA

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Function: Finance
Reports to: Head of Finance EWA
Terms & Conditions: Full time

Job Description

• We’re looking for a Head of Commercial Finance, NG & EWA to lead financial strategy, governance, and performance delivery across one of Unilever’s most complex and dynamic markets.
• This role combines commercial finance leadership with full end‑to‑end finance accountability, ensuring sustainable growth, strong governance, and long-term value creation.
• You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that truly matters — for people and the planet.

Key Responsibilities
Commercial Finance Leadership – Nigeria:

• Act as a strategic business partner to the Managing Director, jointly accountable for delivering in-year performance, profitable growth, value creation, and cash
• Lead the 3-year strategic and financial planning horizon, including strategic choices, resource allocation, and investment prioritisation
• Drive Integrated Business Planning (IBP) across Nigeria markets to align demand, supply, financial targets, and execution
• Own the S&OP cadence, business performance reviews, and monthly/quarterly rhythm within the market
• Partner cross-functionally (Sales, Business Operations, Marketing, HR) to deliver topline, margin, and cash performance
• Support the MD on high-sensitivity topics, including business cases, investment decisions, and strategic trade-offs
• Provide deep financial insight into a market with distinct regulatory, commercial, and operational dynamics
• Engage with customers and represent Finance in commercial and strategic forums
• Actively contribute as a member of the Nigeria Leadership Team, with strong linkage to regional and global finance leadership
• Lead and develop direct reports within Commercial Finance, building strong capability and performance culture

Head of Finance – Nigeria (Enterprise & Governance Scope):

• Provide end-to-end finance leadership for Nigeria, ensuring integration across Commercial Finance, Supply Chain Finance, FET, Controllership, Tax, Treasury, and Shared Services
• Act as the “Face of Finance” for Nigeria, representing the function internally and externally
• Hold Statutory Director responsibility for Nigeria entities, ensuring fiduciary, governance, and legal compliance
• Own financial controls, reporting integrity, compliance, and risk management across the market
• Lead finance risk assessments and ensure mitigation actions are embedded in business execution
• Ensure statutory accounts, audits, tax filings, and regulatory submissions are delivered accurately and on time
• Act as primary interface with external stakeholders including auditors, banks, insurers, and advisors
• Ensure adherence to Unilever global finance policies, controls, and standards
• Strengthen finance talent capability, succession, and performance across the Nigeria organisation

Additional Board Responsibilities (Listed Entity):

• Act in the best interests of the company and all shareholders, beyond management priorities
• Exercise independent judgment in board-level decision-making, including in relation to executive leadership
• Demonstrate duty of care, diligence, skill, and good faith in all governance matters
• Ensure full transparency and avoidance of conflicts of interest in all decisions and actions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field AND CPA
• Significant experience (10+ years) in Finance leadership roles, including Commercial Finance and business partnering
• Proven ability to operate at Executive / Leadership Team level
• Strong experience in emerging markets or complex, regulated environments
• Deep understanding of financial planning, governance, risk management, and compliance
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with senior stakeholders internally and externally
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing large, diverse finance teams
• Commercial acumen with ability to link strategy to financial outcomes and value creation

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online