Requirements
The VP, Strategic Finance & Corporate Initiatives must possess a Bachelor's degree in a related field, with a strong preference for professional qualifications like CPA or MBA. Required experience includes 6-10 years in relevant professional roles, with a minimum of 3-5 years at a Big Four firm (PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG) at a Manager or experienced Assistant Manager level. Experience in external audit, transaction services, financial due diligence, deals advisory, corporate finance, valuations, forensic services, or business consulting is essential. Experience supporting senior executives or managing cross-functional projects, as well as exposure to banking or financial services, is preferred.
Description
Lesha Bank is searching for the greatest talent and brightest minds to contribute to the current growth phase at our bank. We are looking for top-tier individuals who are passionate and hungry to add value from day one. Every day at Lesha is different, presenting a new challenge with the opportunity to contribute and grow. We are looking for a VP, Strategic Finance & Corporate Initiatives.Role PurposeThe VP, Strategic Finance & Corporate Initiatives supports the leadership team in driving strategic priorities, financial analysis, governance, performance management, and cross-functional initiatives.The role combines the analytical rigor of Big Four Audit, Transaction Services, Deals Advisory, or Corporate Finance with the execution skills required to coordinate senior stakeholders, evaluate complex business matters, and ensure that management decisions are translated into measurable actions.The position will operate across finance, strategy, governance, operations, and special projects, serving as a trusted resource to senior leadership.Key ResponsibilitiesExecutive and Strategic SupportSupport the executive management in the planning and execution of strategic priorities.Prepare executive briefings, management presentations, decision papers, and board materials.Conduct research and analysis on financial, commercial, operational, and strategic matters.Coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving multiple departments.Track executive decisions, commitments, and action items through completion.Identify issues that may affect delivery and escalate them appropriately.Maintain clear oversight of key priorities, deadlines, dependencies, and accountable owners.Corporate Finance and Business AnalysisConduct financial and commercial analysis relating to:Business casesInvestment opportunitiesAcquisitions and disposalsJoint ventures and strategic partnershipsCapital allocationNew products and business linesCost optimizationOrganizational restructuringOperational improvement initiativesPrepare and review:Financial modelsForecastsScenario analysesSensitivity analysesValuation assessmentsBudget impact analysesCommercial recommendationsManagement decision papersEnterprise Performance ManagementMonitor financial, operational, and strategic performance across departments.Coordinate the preparation of executive dashboards and management reports.Analyze variances against budgets, forecasts, business plans, and strategic objectives.Identify operational bottlenecks, financial risks, delivery delays, and resource constraints.Work with business owners to define corrective actions and implementation plans.Follow up on agreed actions and provide regular progress reporting to management.Support annual strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and business-planning processes.Strategic and Special ProjectsManage or support high-priority initiatives, including:Business transformationOperating-model reviewsOrganizational restructuringProcess improvementCost-reduction programsDigital transformationPost-transaction integrationGovernance enhancementsStrategic partnershipsNew business initiativesResponsibilities will include:Developing project plans and timelinesCoordinating internal and external stakeholdersMonitoring risks, dependencies, and deliverablesPreparing progress reportsEscalating delivery concernsEnsuring agreed outcomes are implementedGovernance and Management ReportingCoordinate materials for Board, Executive Committee, and management meetings.Ensure papers are complete, accurate, concise, and submitted within required timelines.Maintain records of decisions, actions, owners, and deadlines.Follow up with accountable executives and departments on outstanding matters.Support the development and enhancement of governance frameworks, policies, and reporting structures.Coordinate with Finance, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Internal Audit, and other control functions as required.Assist management in maintaining disciplined decision-making and accountability processes.Financial and Operational ReviewsConduct or coordinate reviews of:Departmental performanceInvestment and business proposalsCapital expenditure requestsBudget variancesMajor contractsVendor performanceCost structuresOperational processesControl frameworksPresent findings to management with clear, practical, and commercially focused recommendations.Risk, Controls, and Investigative SupportSupport confidential financial, operational, and governance reviews.Assist with internal investigations, conflict-of-interest reviews, and control assessments where required.Analyze financial records, transactions, supporting documentation, and management information.Identify control weaknesses, inconsistencies, unusual activity, and potential areas of risk.Coordinate with Internal Audit, Compliance, Risk, Legal, and external advisors.Maintain strict confidentiality and professional independence when handling sensitive matters.Stakeholder ManagementDevelop effective working relationships with:Executive managementDepartment headsBoard and committee secretariatsFinance and control functionsInternal and external auditorsConsultants and professional advisorsRegulators and other external stakeholders, where applicableThe Manager will be expected to challenge assumptions constructively, maintain professional objectivity, and support collaboration across the organization.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.Professional qualification such as CPA, ACA, ACCA, CA, CFA, or equivalent is strongly preferred.MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification is advantageous.Required Experience6–10 years of relevant professional experience.Minimum of 3–5 years of experience with a Big Four firm: PwC, Deloitte, EY, or KPMG.Current or previous experience at Manager or experienced Assistant Manager level.Background in one or more of the following areas:External AuditTransaction ServicesFinancial Due DiligenceDeals AdvisoryCorporate FinanceValuationsForensic ServicesBusiness ConsultingCorporate or industry experience following Big Four employment is advantageous.Experience supporting senior executives or managing cross-functional projects is preferred.Exposure to banking, investment management, private equity, financial services, or regulated organizations is advantageous.Technical CompetenciesFinancial statement analysisFinancial modellingCorporate financeBusiness-case developmentBudgeting and forecastingManagement reportingValuation principlesStrategic planningEnterprise performance managementRisk and control assessmentProject and program coordinationProcess improvementAdvanced Microsoft ExcelExecutive-level Microsoft PowerPointData analysis and presentationBehavioral CompetenciesThe successful candidate will demonstrate:Strong commercial and financial judgmentHigh attention to detailSound executive communication skillsAbility to handle sensitive and confidential informationStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilityAbility to challenge senior stakeholders constructivelyClear and concise writing skillsStrong organization and prioritizationHigh ownership and accountabilityAbility to work independentlyResilience under pressureProfessional maturityAbility to manage multiple priorities simultaneouslyStrong follow-through and execution disciplineKey Performance IndicatorsPerformance may be assessed against:Timely completion of strategic and executive initiativesQuality of financial and commercial analysisAccuracy and timeliness of management and board reportingCompletion of executive action itemsDelivery of projects against agreed timelinesIdentification and realization of cost or performance improvementsEffectiveness of cross-functional coordinationQuality of governance and decision-support materialsResponsiveness to CEO and executive-management prioritiesStakeholder satisfactionQuality of recommendations and follow-throughIdeal Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate is a Big Four Manager or experienced Assistant Manager from Transaction Services, Deals Advisory, Corporate Finance, Financial Due Diligence, Valuations, or Forensic Services.The candidate will combine strong financial analysis with the ability to manage senior stakeholders, coordinate complex initiatives, prepare executive-level materials, and follow management decisions through implementation.They should be comfortable moving between financial modelling, board reporting, performance analysis, governance, special projects, and confidential assignments. The role is suited to a commercially minded finance professional seeking broader exposure to executive management and enterprise-wide decision-making.