Corporate Finance Associate Fellow

Who We Are 

Babban Gona is an award-winning, high impact, financially sustainable and highly scalable social enterprise, part-owned by the farmers we serve. Babban Gona was created to specifically attract youth to agriculture and away from the looming instability of extremist groups.  

We accomplish this by franchising thousands of farmer cooperatives across Nigeria, dramatically increasing the profitability of the smallholder members 2.5 times above the national average. This dramatic increase in net income is accomplished by delivering an integrated holistic package of training, farm inputs and marketing services on credit. Babban Gona has been able to deliver this credit while maintaining one of the highest repayment rates in the world, currently above 99%, leveraging our comprehensive 8 levels of risk mitigation. 

We developed the model with our partners that include His Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, the Sarkin (Emir) Kano, Nestle, IITA, DfID, USAID, GIZ, AGRA, BMGF, Skoll, Kiva, FMCB, Mulago, GIF and Rockefeller Foundation amongst others. 

What You’ll Do as Corporate Finance Mid-Career Fellow

Job Summary: Based remotely, the Finance Mid-Career Fellow will support the finance team based in Lagos, Nigeria, reporting directly to the Head of Corporate Finance. The Fellow will have the opportunity to significantly impact and support a range of financial performance projects as well as developing financial models and exploring innovative funding streams (such as raising public debt and bonds) for our rapid scaling organization. At the end of the 12-18 months Fellowship, the candidate may apply to any open Finance positions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide creative solutions to reduce costs and improve financial performance.
• Develop a schedule for investment transactions and analyze efficiency, trends, revenues and financial commitment to project future revenues and expenses. 
• Manage and organize operational data to determine costs of operations and establish standard costs.
• Conduct financial processes and procedures, prepare reports and supporting documents and provide regular updates to the finance team.
• Consult with the corporate finance team to guide and influence long term strategic thinking.
• Review monthly expenses to ensure accuracy and work with the finance team to make any necessary reclassifications.
• Advice on how to meet targets and create investment capital, and generate finance from shares and loans.
• Assess and predict financial risks and returns using financial modelling.
• Negotiate and structure financial details: provide investment advice, tactics and recommendations.
• Assist in preparation and analysis of annual budgets and long-range plans.
• Prepare consolidated forecasts and analyze trends in revenue, expense, capital expenditures and other related areas.
• Conduct complex business analysis including ROI, NPV and IRR, making recommendations to management on new products, features, pricing, marketing promotions, based on historical financial data.
• Work with management and business units to determine strategic objectives and identify opportunities to meet these goals.
• Prepare financial and business-related analysis and research in financial and expense performance, rate of return, depreciation, working capital, and investments.
• Assist with compilation and analysis of consolidated budgets and long-range plans.

Your Strengths and Experience

• Leadership experience in financial analysis coupled with relevant accounting experience.
• Proficient in Excel Spreadsheets, MS Office and Financial Software applications.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Banking, Business or Economics (Master’s degree in finance and/or MBA preferred). 
• Strong financial analysis skills and quantitative analysis planning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Excellent communication skills: Fluent oral and written English. 
• Curiosity to get into the details to identify root causes of issues and create innovative solutions. 
• Thrives in a fast-paced, start-up environment with dynamic business priorities.