Senior Finance Manager

Job Summary:
On behalf of our client, Shaqo Kaab Solutions seeks a visionary Senior Finance Manager to lead financial strategy for transformative real estate projects in Somaliland. This role demands a CPA/CAA/CIA-certified professional to drive profitability, compliance, and ethical growth in Hargeisa’s booming construction landscape. If you excel in frontier-market finance and are passionate about nation-building, join us to shape Somaliland’s skyline.

Job Specifications:
As Senior Finance Manager, you will build and steer financial systems for large-scale developments (residential/commercial/infrastructure), ensuring robust controls, diaspora investment mobilization, and sustainable profitability. Reporting to the CFO, you’ll bridge global standards with Somaliland’s dynamic market-mentoring teams, optimizing capital, and safeguarding projects from blueprint to occupancy.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Leadership:

• Design and execute 5-year financial roadmaps for large-scale real estate projects (residential/commercial/infrastructure), integrating phased construction budgeting, Sharia-compliant financing, and ESG-aligned investment strategies.
• Conduct scenario modelling for developments >$10M, accounting for Somaliland-specific risks: import dependencies, currency gaps, and land tenure systems.

Compliance & Nation-Building Governance:

• Implement IFRS 15 (Revenue Recognition) for long-term construction contracts and Somaliland tax frameworks, ensuring CPA/CIA-certified anti-fraud controls across procurement and payroll.
• Establish audit trails for diaspora investments (e.g., REITs) with transparent ESG reporting aligned with community impact goals.

Diaspora Capital Mobilization & Stakeholder Synergy:

• Structure and negotiate diaspora financing vehicles, bridging international capital (IFC, AfDB) with local partners for win-win project terms.
• Present financial viability reports to global investors, municipal authorities, and community leaders, simplifying complex data into actionable insights, when and if needed.

Hyperlocal Operational Excellence:

• Optimize cash flow amid frontier-market volatility by mitigating Berbera port delays, cement shortages, and multi-currency risks through dynamic liquidity management.
• Digitize construction finance workflows (progress billing, change orders) using Procore/Oracle Aconex, achieving 30%+ efficiency gains in cost tracking.

Talent Legacy & Systems Innovation:

• Mentor Somali finance teams in ACCA fundamentals and ERP systems, creating leadership pipelines for sustainable industry growth.
• Develop Somaliland’s first construction cost database and AI-driven risk models to outlast your tenure.

Crisis Resilience & Ethical Stewardship:

• Safeguard projects from blueprint to occupancy by enforcing anti-bribery protocols during contractor disputes and maintaining liquidity buffers for political/climate influences.
• Reengineer budgets using locally sourced materials (e.g., Hargeisa stone and cement factory) without compromising international quality standards.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• Certifications (mandatory):
  • CPA (Certified Public Accountant): Expertise in auditing, tax compliance, and financial reporting (IFRS/US GAAP).
    o CAA (Certified Accounting Auditor): Welcome both International and Somaliland-recognized accreditation for statutory auditing and local tax governance.
    o CIA (Certified Internal Auditor): Global proficiency in risk management, anti-fraud controls, and internal audit systems.
• Experience: Minimum 5+ years in a senior finance role within real estate/construction preferred, including frontier markets.
• Technical Skills:
  • Expertise in ERP systems (SAP/Oracle/Procore), advanced financial modelling, and International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) contract auditing.
  • Fluency in local construction logistics (e.g., Hargeisa stone sourcing, labour dynamics).
• Language: Professional fluency in English (written/spoken); Somali or Arabic is advantageous (asset).
• Mobility: Must relocate to Hargeisa, Somaliland (non-negotiable).

 

Key Skills & Competencies:

Strategic Financial Leadership for Construction/Real Estate

• Sector-Specific Financial Strategy: Expertise in real estate project finance, including land acquisition costing, phased development budgeting, and portfolio ROI optimization for mixed-use/commercial projects.
• Emerging Market Agility: Ability to navigate Somaliland’s regulatory landscape, infrastructure constraints, and supply-chain volatility while safeguarding project profitability.
• Capital Allocation Mastery: Skill in prioritizing investments across construction pipelines (e.g., residential, commercial, infrastructure) while conducting risk-adjusted return analysis.

Technical Excellence in Real Estate Finance

• Construction-Centric Financial Modelling: Mastery in modelling project cash flows (pre-sales, milestone financing), land-bank valuations, and sensitivity analyses for 10M+ USD development projects.
• Industry Compliance Architecture: Proficiency in IFRS 15 (Revenue Recognition) for long-term contracts, Somaliland property tax laws, and FIDIC-based cost auditing (aligned with CPA/CIA standards).
• ERP & Construction Tech Integration: Hands-on experience with SAP, Procore, or Oracle Aconex for real-time cost-to-completion tracking, change order management, and AI-driven variance alerts.

Stakeholder Influence in Cross-Cultural Contexts

• International Partnership Building: Proven success negotiating with global suppliers, lenders (e.g., IFC, AfDB), and diaspora investors for Somaliland-based projects.
• Site-to-Boardroom Communication: Ability to simplify complex construction finance data (e.g., BOQ variances, labour cost inflation) for non-technical stakeholders.
• ESG-Driven Investor Relations: Experience aligning real estate projects with ESG frameworks (e.g., GRESB) to attract impact capital.

Operational Execution in Frontier Markets

• Construction Risk Intelligence: Aptitude for mitigating material price volatility, contractor default risks, and currency gaps in import-dependent supply chains.
• Lean Process Innovation: Track record in digitizing manual workflows (e.g., progress billing, retention tracking) to accelerate project financial cycles by 25%+.
• Adaptive Resource Management: Skill in optimizing local talent/contractor partnerships while ensuring international compliance.

Ethical Leadership & Resilience

• Anti-Fraud Vigilance: Experience implementing controls against bid-rigging, payroll fraud, or procurement leakage in high-risk markets (CIA/CPA expertise applied).
• Expatriate-Local Team Integration: Ability to mentor Somali finance staff while bridging international best practices with local context.
• Crisis Navigation: Composure managing liquidity crunches during project delays, political transitions, or climate impacts.

Working Conditions:

• Location: Office-based in Hargeisa with periodic site visits.
• Schedule: Standard hours, with flexibility during financial closings/audits.
• Environment: Fast-paced, collaborative setting with regional travel (<10-15%).

What We Offer:

• Salary: Competitive USD-based package with performance-linked bonuses.
• Growth: Fast-track progression to Finance Director or Chief Finance Officer (CFO).
• Relocation: Fully supported with housing allowance, visa sponsorship, and flight reimbursement for international candidates only.
• Impact: Lead financial strategy for transformative projects in Somaliland.
• Development: Annual training budget for further certifications and skill advancement.
• Culture: Inclusive, high-impact workplace with professional development opportunities.

Ready to Make a Financial Impact in the Future – Join Our Client Team:

Partner with a pioneering team committed to excellence in Somaliland’s economic landscape. Bring your leadership to a role where financial innovation meets tangible impact, driving sustainability from blueprint to reality.