Ochanya Ugoezue

Chartered Accountant and Tax Associate (ACA, ACTI) with over 15 years of progressive experience in financial accounting, treasury, audit, and taxation, including more than five years in the aviation sector at United Nigeria Airlines, where she has been promoted twice — from Financial Accountant to Senior Financial Accountant, and most recently to Head, Treasury. Skilled in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, treasury and liquidity management, tax compliance, internal controls, and regulatory engagement with bodies such as the NCAA, FAAN, and IATA. Proven record of resolving high-value financial disputes, strengthening internal controls, and building high-performing finance teams.

Head, Treasury - United Nigeria Airlines Company Ltd - Enugu

(2026-07)

• Plan, direct, and control the Company's treasury function, ensuring the availability of funds for safe and uninterrupted airline operations.
• Monitor daily cash positions, prepare cash flow forecasts, and optimize the deployment of available funds.
• Oversee treasury payments and funding activities, including aircraft lease rentals, aviation fuel, MRO, airport and navigation charges, payroll, taxes, insurance, and debt obligations.
• Manage relationships with banks, financial institutions, lessors, and other funding partners, including banking facilities, guarantees, and financing arrangements.
• Plan and coordinate the Company's foreign exchange requirements and manage associated FX risk.
• Administer the Company's loan portfolio, monitoring repayments, covenant compliance, and interest obligations.
• Prepare and present treasury reports — cash flow forecasts, liquidity positions, debt schedules, and bank reconciliations — to support Management decision-making.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Treasury team, fostering a high-performance, compliance-driven culture.
• Newly appointed to this role effective 1 July 2026; achievements to be updated as milestones are delivered.

Senior Financial Accountant - United Nigeria Airlines Company Ltd - Enugu

(2023-03 - 2026-06)

• Directed the coordination and oversight of financial accounting operations, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of transaction postings and financial reporting, with overall oversight of the Finance and Accounts department in the interim.
• Prepared monthly management reports, supporting schedules, and cash flow, P&L, and balance sheet projections.
• Managed foreign exchange-related and treasury-related bank transactions in consultation with the Head of Finance and Accounts.
• Oversaw the fixed assets register, ensuring regular updates for new asset acquisitions and the PPE schedule.
• Partnered with the Head of Finance and Accounts on budgeting, budgetary control, and month-end budget variance analysis.
• Coordinated supporting documentation for the annual statutory audit and liaised with external auditors.
• Prepared and filed federal and state tax returns (VAT, WHT, PAYE) and ensured accurate remittance and compliance with tax regulations.
• Supervised monthly bank reconciliations, vendor and passenger refund payments, and the monthly payroll review.
• Prepared and submitted the monthly financial health report to the NCAA, and interfaced with NCAA, FAAN, IATA, and NAMA on finance-related matters.
• Administered access control and system security for financial systems as system administrator.
• Supervised all accounts receivable and payables transactions and resolved all disputes
• Reduced outstanding passenger refund cases from 5,258 to 103, significantly cutting the Company's refund liability exposure within 1 week.
• Reconciled NGN 1.2 billion in outstanding claims raised by the NCAA, resulting in zero further liability to the Company.
• Prevented an erroneous payment of NGN 498,256,001.00 in tax to an ineligible service provider through diligent compliance review.
• Led the migration of the Tally ERP software to Odoo ERP.
• Promoted to Head, Treasury in July 2026 in recognition of sustained performance and financial leadership.

Financial Accountant - United Nigeria Airlines Company Ltd - Enugu

(2020-12 - 2023-03)

• Posted transactions relating to non-current assets and maintained the fixed assets register, including periodic physical verification against ledger records.
• Performed monthly bank reconciliations across all Company accounts and submitted reconciliation reports for review.
• Vetted supplier and vendor invoices for arithmetical accuracy and proper departmental endorsement before posting and payment.
• Scheduled and processed supplier invoices for payment in line with agreed terms, and prepared payment vouchers.
• Prepared and submitted monthly analysis of expenditure against budget, and supported the rolling forecast process.
• Maintained real-time financial data on the Company dashboard and ensured timely system back-ups.
• Prepared monthly schedules of Withholding Tax payable and monthly Trade Debtors age analysis reports.
• Raised and posted customer invoices for credit ticket sales and followed up on overdue receivables.
• Managed foreign exchange-related transactions in consultation with the Line Manager.
• Prepared the travel agents' refund analysis schedule on a daily and monthly basis.
• In charge of chargeback reconciliations and responses to Paystack, GlobalPay, Fidelity Paygate, Airvend, & Echezona.
• Upload of refunds of flight tickets scheduled for payment on the CIB platforms.
• Built a reliable transaction-posting and reconciliation discipline within the Financial Accounting function during the Company's early growth phase.
• Reconciled a disputed billing matter between United Nigeria Airlines, XEJET, and the NCAA, saving the Company USD 140,000.
• Recovered NGN894,500,250.00 from a travel agent who had two access codes to the VARS instead of the approved one.
• Recognized for accuracy, consistency, and reliability in financial reporting, contributing to promotion to Senior Financial Accountant within 2 years and 4 months of joining.

Accountant - Nichole's Place Ltd - Enugu

(2017-07 - 2020-11)

• Prepared financial statements and supporting schedules, and interpreted results through management report writing.
• Oversaw daily accounts payable, accounts receivable, and bank reconciliation transactions in line with industry best practice.
• Matched purchase volumes against sales data and ensured proper preparation of payment vouchers.
• Ensured accounting procedures and fund management complied with organizational goals and GAAP.
• Monitored and documented internal control systems across the accounting function.
• Prepared payroll and remitted PAYE, pension, NSITF, and ITF obligations.
• Interviewed, hired, and trained new employees, and managed the accounting department workforce.
• Turned a loss-making position into profitability through improved financial controls.
• Reduced paperwork by 90% by converting accounting procedures to electronic form.
• Reduced pilferage by 80% by implementing strong internal control systems.
• Led the recruitment and onboarding of competent accounting staff.

Audit Supervisor - Drew Epie-Sona & Co. (Chartered Accountants) - Enugu

(2015-09 - 2017-05)

• Supported audit planning and execution, performing initial audit fieldwork for client engagements.
• Assisted in processing financial reports and analysing account statements.
• Collected and reviewed supporting documentation for audit testing.
• Responded to client inquiries and resolved audit-related concerns.
• Contributed to the timely completion of client audit engagements, supporting the firm's reputation for reliable service delivery.

Account Officer - Beston Integrated Nigeria Ltd - Enugu

(2009-09 - 2015-04)

• Assisted the Accountant in the preparation of financial statements and bank/cash reconciliation statements.
• Maintained petty cash transactions and ensured accurate documentation of all transactions.
• Kept the assets register, journals, and other accounting books in good order.
• Supported budget preparation and tax return computation for the Chief Accountant.
• Maintained an accurate and audit-ready set of accounting records over more than five years in the role.

Trainee Account Officer - Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) - Enugu

(2008-09 - 2009-08)

• Performed bank and cash reconciliations and supported basic accounting functions.
• Checked postings and documentation for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and coding.
• Performed general office duties, including filing, correspondence, and telephone support.

B.Sc. - Accountancy - Benue State University (2004 - 2007)

OND - Banking & Finance - Benue State University (2001 - 2003)

WAEC - St. Andrews Secondary School (2001 - 2001)