Finance Intern at Jaza Energy

Jaza is a solar energy start-up working to power Sub-Saharan Africa. We build solar-powered shops which charge batteries customers use to power their homes. In 2022, we achieved over 1.5 million battery swaps, providing approximately 186,000 people access to clean, affordable energy. We employ women from each community (known as Jaza Stars) to run the service, empowering our team to become leaders, entrepreneurs and drivers of economic growth within their communities. We’ve already successfully entered the Nigerian market, piloted several sites here and will grow to hundreds of locations over the next year. To support this expansion, we’re planning to hire over 200 people over the next 6 months.

We are recruiting to fill the position below

Job Title: Finance Intern

Location: Lagos

Position Overview

• The Finance Intern will support the Finance team in delivering efficient day-to-day finance operations by assisting with transaction processing, reconciliations, document management, audit preparation and month-end activities.
• The role provides hands-on exposure to accounting processes while ensuring routine operational activities are completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Working closely with the Finance Lead and the AP and AR Accountants, the Finance Intern will help maintain accurate financial records, strengthen internal controls and support the finance team's ability to meet reporting deadlines and business objectives.

Role and responsibilities
The Finance Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following
Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Support:

• Assist with matching supplier payments and customer receipts to invoices and supporting documentation, ensuring transactions are accurately recorded and outstanding items are identified promptly.
• Support vendor and customer account reconciliations by investigating differences and preparing supporting schedules for review by the accounting team.
• Assist in maintaining complete and accurate records of invoices, payment confirmations and supporting documentation to facilitate efficient processing and future reference.
• Follow up on outstanding documentation or transaction queries to ensure accounting records remain complete and up to date.
• Assist in uploading, publishing and organizing supplier invoices, receipts and supporting documents within Dext and other finance systems to maintain accurate digital records.
• Support the reconciliation of employee advances and expense claims by matching receipts to approved expenditures and identifying missing documentation.

Month-End Close Support:

• Assist the finance team with preparation of month-end reconciliations, supporting schedules and journal documentation.
• Support bank and mobile money reconciliations by comparing system records with bank statements and highlighting reconciling items for investigation.
• Assist in preparing reports and schedules required for monthly financial reporting and management review.
• Ensure all assigned month-end tasks are completed accurately and within agreed reporting timelines.

Audit & Compliance Support:

• Monitor country-level cash positions across all bank and mobile money accounts on a daily basis.
• Prepare monthly cash flow forecasts and flag projected shortfalls to the Financial Controller.
• Manage day-to-day banking operations and relationships with local banking partners.
• Process and approve payments within delegated authority limits, in line with internal controls.
• Coordinate cash injections with the Group finance team as needed

Other Support:

• Retrieve, organize and compile supporting documentation requested during internal and external audits.
• Provide general administrative support to the finance department, including organizing finance records and coordinating documentation requests.
• Support special finance projects, process improvement initiatives and new market activities as assigned by the Finance Lead.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Assigned finance tasks completed accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Finance documentation uploaded and maintained with a high level of accuracy and completeness.
• Month-end and audit support activities completed within required deadlines.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field (completed or in progress).
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate work.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively within a team.
• Willingness to learn, take initiative and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Why You Should Apply

• Be part of the most exciting growth phase of a company. We’ve proven our model and are focused on expansion. This position entails high impact, visibility, and opportunities to advance quickly. 
• Work with great teammates in an international environment. Our team is spread across Canada, China, Tanzania, and Nigeria. You’ll be interfacing with our CEO, CTO, and Chief of Staff on a daily basis.
• Gain hands-on business building experience. Although we are a startup, we don’t expect you to just figure it out on your own. You’ll be given lots of responsibility but also lots of support to help you succeed.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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