About Degas
Degas' mission is "Changing people’s lives, dramatically." We are an innovative AI technology company focused on developing scalable, AI-driven global products that address the world’s greatest challenges. Alongside our most advanced tech products, we also have dedicated operations that increase the income of smallholder farmers in Africa and beyond, leveraging our expertise in data aggregation, AI credit scoring, satellite observations, financing, and carbon markets. This dual approach enables us to make a global impact while delivering tangible benefits to developing countries.

About the Role
Degas Ghana seeks a highly capable Head of Finance to lead its local finance operations, balancing hands-on management with strategic oversight. This role is central to ensuring financial accuracy, risk management, and the development of a robust finance function that supports growth, profitability, and investor confidence.

The Head of Finance will manage a team of three (Accounting, FP&A, and Finance Operations) and collaborate closely with Japan HQ, external advisors, and Ghana leadership. The position requires a strong balance between strategic and operational involvement, making it critical that the selected leader can guide the team while directly shaping processes, systems, and reporting frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Design and implement an improved budget framework aligned with the revised chart of accounts.
Drive accurate forecasting and variance analysis, reducing expense forecast variances below 8% quarterly (targeting 5% with maturity).
Provide quarterly financial analyses identifying actionable cost-saving or revenue-enhancing measures to consistently achieve a 5%+ net profit margin (on a fiscal year basis).

2. Accounting & Audit Management

Oversee the delivery of high-quality monthly financial statements, ensuring they meet the standards set by the external accounting advisor.
Shorten the monthly close process to under 10 working days.
Ensure smooth year-end audits, targeting completion within 3 months with zero major audit findings.
Deliver quarterly investor reporting within 1 month, including detailed financial commentary.

3. Risk & Compliance

Conduct a thorough gap analysis of the Finance Manual’s implementation and propose necessary updates.
Oversee the full implementation of revised finance policies, ensuring 100% team training and adherence.
Establish a structured system to proactively identify, assess, and monitor financial and internal control risks, focusing on at least three identified key risk areas.

4. Investor Relations & External Partnerships

Serve as the local point of contact for investor inquiries regarding the Farmer Financing business and field visits.
Lead operational management of the Fidelity Bank Ghana relationship, including debt financing follow-ups, field visit support, and implementation of condition precedents (with legal negotiations handled by the global fundraising team).

5. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

Conduct a full capability and gap assessment of the Ghana Finance Operations team.
Define and implement the optimal organizational structure for the finance function.
Lead the hiring, onboarding, and training of critical new roles (if needed).
Provide ongoing capacity-building guidance to improve team autonomy and performance.

You Could Be a Great Fit for This Role If You Have:

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; CPA, ACCA, or MBA preferred.
Minimum of 10–15 years of progressively senior finance roles, ideally combining FP&A, accounting, risk management, and compliance.
Strong track record managing local finance operations within a matrix or global organizational structure.
Familiarity with debt financing, investor relations, and cross-border financial coordination.
Experience with process optimization, policy development, and leading teams through change.

Desired Attributes

Strong sense of ownership; grit to deliver results.
Hands-on leadership style: able to guide a junior team while stepping into key processes when needed.
Strong analytical and systems-thinking mindset; proactive problem solver.
Ability to balance strategic vision with operational rigor.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable engaging with HQ, investors, and cross-functional teams.
Committed to developing team capacity and driving performance.

Encouragement to Apply
Even if some of the qualifications mentioned above don't align perfectly with your experience, we still want to hear from you! We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single qualification listed.

Location
This is based in Accra, Ghana, with travel required to Degas’ regional offices and partner sites as needed.

Compensation
Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Comprehensive benefits package.

How We’re Different

Degas is committed to the mission of "Changing people’s lives, dramatically" as an impact-oriented, for-profit startup. Degas has achieved 2x year-over-year revenue growth for the past three years and has established a profitable farmer financing business. In 2023 alone, we doubled the incomes of over 26,000 smallholder farmers in Africa, as verified by a third-party assessment.
We leverage both advanced and 'primitive' technologies, from GPUs for state-of-the-art foundation models to offline-enabled mobile apps for data aggregation in rural areas of developing countries.
We prioritize long-term thinking, investing in technology, operations, and people to change the world in ways no one has ever done before.

Support
If you have a condition or require an adjustment to our interview process - please let us know so we can make adjustments to support you. Degas is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by law.