Deputy Country Director / Head of Financial & Professional Services at British High Commission Nairobi

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  
Main purpose of job:

The main purpose of the role is to work closely with the Country Director to ensure strategic and operational alignment/engagement between DBT, the wider High Commission, DBT Africa and DBT HQ. The successful candidate will also lead on the delivery of our Financial and Professional Services Campaign by developing a pipeline of opportunities for UK companies in the sector.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

•  Work closely with the Country Director to ensure strategic and operational alignment/engagement between DBT, the wider High Commission, DBT Africa and DBT HQ.
• Advise sector advisors on key opportunities by working with them to identifying and generate a pipeline of opportunities.
• Support Sector Advisors in overcoming challenges in delivery and ensure progress on DBT Kenya’s Country Business Plan
• Line manage three sector Advisors, ensuring they deliver performance goals in line with organisational objectives
• Contribute to wider High Commission objectives

Financial Accountability/Performance Management

• Ensure robust systems in place to monitor the team’s performance against key indicators, including the country budget.
• Regular monitoring and evaluation of the Country Budget
• Oversee the team’s approach to performance through quarterly and annual reports.
• Support planning and delivery of activities in line with the Country Business Plan and cross-cutting activities e.g. L&D.

Delivering Exports and addressing Market Access Barriers for UK companies in the Financial & Professional Services sector

• Deliver pre-agreed Export Win target for the sector by working closely with the Sector Director for Africa and the Economic Development team in Nairobi.
• Lead on the delivery of the sector’s Business Plan, focusing on areas where only we, as Government, is best placed to serve
• Develop and strengthen contacts with key business and institutional stakeholders within the sector in Kenya and the UK and provide support to UK companies operating in the Kenyan market.
• Continue supporting UK companies to explore and win business in emerging sectors such as fintech and insurtech   
• Work closely with the Market Access Leads, the wider High Commission team (Economic Development and Political teams) and likeminded missions to identify and address market access barriers that impedes UK-Kenya trade in the sector
• Create and regularly update a robust pipeline of market access barriers affecting UK companies in the sector.
• Establish and nurture relationships with relevant Government Ministries/Departments as well as state-owned companies.

Resources managed:

• Direct line management of 3 staff and financial management of circa £35k of non-pay budget

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Degree and or postgraduate degree
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience
• An understanding of the financial and professional services sector
• Experience of overseeing internal operations or corporate functions (HR, budget, operational delivery etc.)
• Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  
• An understanding of how the UK Government operates overseas
• Professional services background (accountancy, audit, management consultancy)
• Understanding of Kenya’s political economy