Finance and Administrative Manager – A Downstream Petroleum Company

Company name: A Downstream Petroleum Company
Location: Ghana
Industry: Downstream Petroleum / Energy
Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Brief:

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Finance and Administrative Manager to lead the financial management and administrative functions of a downstream petroleum company.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective cash management, strong internal controls, efficient administration, and sound financial decision-making.

The role combines financial management with commercial responsibility, supporting the growth and profitability of the company’s fuel and lubricants business. The successful candidate will help identify profitable business opportunities, manage credit exposure, strengthen working capital, and improve the financial performance of stations and corporate accounts.

The ideal candidate will have 5–10 years of relevant industry experience, demonstrate a high level of integrity and accountability, and be capable of working independently with little or no supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare annual budgets, business plans and rolling forecasts aligned with the company’s growth objectives.

• Develop and maintain cash flow forecasts, monitor financial performance against budgets, and recommend measures to improve profitability and reduce costs.

• Oversee accounting records, monthly management accounts, financial statements, bank reconciliations, fixed asset records and external audits.

• Manage daily cash positions, banking relationships, bank facilities, payment priorities and working capital.

• Assess customer creditworthiness, recommend credit limits, monitor overdue debts and work with the sales team to recover outstanding payments.

• Ensure sales transactions are properly authorized, invoiced, recorded and collected, and reconcile station sales, cash receipts, electronic payments and bank deposits.

• Oversee financial controls relating to fuel and lubricant purchases, deliveries, sales and stock balances.

• Coordinate regular stock reconciliations, investigate product losses and discrepancies, and recommend measures to improve inventory control.

• Identify opportunities to grow fuel, lubricants and related business revenue, including developing corporate, fleet, industrial and institutional accounts.

• Prepare pricing analyses, commercial proposals and financial assessments for prospective customers and business opportunities.

• Evaluate business opportunities based on expected margins, working capital requirements, collection periods and customer credit risks.

• Develop and maintain financial and administrative policies, internal controls, risk management procedures and compliance processes.

• Coordinate tax computations, statutory filings, payments, insurance renewals, permits, contracts and corporate records.

• Manage office administration, facilities, procurement, supplier relationships, company assets and administrative expenditure.

• Oversee payroll preparation, employee records, leave and attendance administration, recruitment coordination and staff welfare administration.

• Supervise, coach and develop finance and administrative staff while ensuring departmental responsibilities and deadlines are met.

• Work closely with the General Manager, sales team and operations personnel to improve financial performance, operational efficiency and commercial growth.

• Maintain the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, accountability and professional conduct.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline.

• Professional accounting qualification such as ICAG, ACCA, CIMA or an equivalent recognized qualification.

• 5–10 years of relevant experience in the petroleum downstream industry, preferably within an oil marketing company, fuel distribution business or lubricants business.

• Demonstrated experience in financial reporting, budgeting, treasury management, credit control, inventory accounting and administration.

• Proven experience supervising staff and managing departmental responsibilities.

• Evidence of contributing to business growth, customer acquisition, improved profitability or commercial expansion.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and practical experience with accounting or ERP systems.

• Working knowledge of Ghanaian tax, payroll and statutory reporting processes.

• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.

• High levels of integrity, honesty, accountability and attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and make sound decisions within delegated authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing financial controls across multiple retail stations or operating locations.

• Experience preparing bank funding proposals and managing working capital facilities.

• Familiarity with fuel stock reconciliation, station profitability and corporate fuel supply arrangements.

• A postgraduate qualification in finance, accounting or business administration.

Key Competencies

• Financial planning and management

• Financial reporting and analysis

• Budgeting and cash flow management

• Treasury and working capital management

• Credit control and debt recovery

• Fuel and lubricants inventory management

• Commercial judgement and business development

• Profitability and cost management

• Internal controls, risk management and compliance

• Leadership and team management

• Administrative and procurement management

• Communication and negotiation

• Problem-solving and independent decision-making

• Integrity, accountability and confidentiality