Head of Finance, Africa at Zipline

About the Role

As the Head of Finance for Zipline Africa, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of our operations across the continent. Embedded within Zipline’s Africa Leadership Team, you’ll report to the Global Head of Finance based in the US, collaborating closely with local finance and accounting teams to ensure robust financial health and sustainable growth across African markets. This dynamic role offers flexibility in location, allowing you to be based in Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, or work remotely with frequent travel to these countries.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy and Leadership

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to Zipline’s Africa leadership, guiding financial planning, investment strategies, and growth initiatives.
  • Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis to optimize resources and ensure long-term sustainability.
  • Implement cost-efficiency measures to boost profitability while upholding operational excellence.
  • Create strategic financial models to evaluate market strategies and support expansion plans.

Accounting and Compliance

  • Collaborate with local accounting teams to enhance reporting accuracy and streamline financial processes.
  • Align with global finance leadership to standardize practices across Zipline’s international operations.
  • Support audit processes and engage with regulatory bodies to maintain compliance and transparency.
  • Work with tax advisors in local and US contexts to ensure full tax compliance across entities.

Operational Finance and Partnerships

  • Act as a financial strategist for African operations, guiding local teams through complex financial challenges.
  • Partner with engineering, logistics, and supply chain teams to drive cost-effective operations and strong unit economics.
  • Collaborate with government, donor, and commercial partners to develop financially sound contracts and partnerships.
  • Conduct strategic analyses to improve scalability and profitability of Zipline’s Platform 1 operations.
  • Contribute to planning and strategies for launching Platform 2 in African markets.

What You’ll Bring

  • Over 8 years of finance experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership role within a multinational or high-growth organization.
  • Deep understanding of accounting principles, with hands-on experience in IFRS and African market regulations.
  • Proven track record managing financial operations for an international company with exposure to African markets.
  • Strong skills in financial modeling, forecasting, and strategic analysis.
  • Experience with operations-intensive businesses, such as logistics, supply chain, or manufacturing.
  • Ability to influence senior stakeholders and collaborate across finance, operations, and commercial teams.
  • Exceptional communication and leadership skills, thriving in fast-paced, evolving environments.