M-Pesa Africa - Cost Analyst at Safaricom Kenya

About the Role

As a Cost Analyst, you'll play a pivotal role in driving financial excellence! You’ll help optimize our financial performance by diving into cost structures, uncovering exciting cost-saving opportunities, and supporting the budgeting and spending processes. Your expertise will contribute directly to the creation of detailed, impactful financial reports. By leveraging your strong analytical skills, mastery in financial modeling, and building strong stakeholder relationships, you'll make a meaningful impact on the organization's bottom line. This is your chance to influence key decisions and shape our financial future.

Responsibilities

Month End Close & Rolling forecast

• Facilitate timely end month reporting by ensuring Opex accruals and Recharges are submitted on time.
• Carrying out variance analysis of actual spend vs budget and sharing the same with FLT.
• Sharing commentary on drivers of variances between spend and budget.
• Share an updated monthly RF with FP&A team for Opex with anticipated risks and opportunities.

Budget Tracking

• Track Actual spend vs budget highlighting risks to plan.
• Create a savings tracker for project Opex based on signed off contracts.
• Build a solid accrual base and tight control over all contracts.

Business Cases:

• Support in development of business cases as required and support in review of investment decisions. 
• Business Partnering Conduct quarterly performance reviews with budget owners, commercial and tech teams giving visibility on actuals vs forecast.

Forecasting

• Assisting in the preparation of the operating budget 
• Assist with financial forecasting for each Value Stream and understand the true cost of initiatives 

Cost control 

• Tracking, analyzing, and controlling costs associated with ARTs.
• Proactively advise and support the business unit to ensure an effective operating control environment is in place.
• Provide ongoing to financial assurance to Procurement with regards to Supplier Management.
• Confirm PO accuracy to underlying contract i.e correct currency as per contract and accurately categorisation into Opex/ Capex. 
• Ensure timely PO return process within set SLA’s. 
• Monitor and respond to vendor queries & correspondence within set SLA’s. 
• Lead regular reviews and provide support to the Management on the achievement of targets. 
• Support internal and external audit processes via providing required support.

Qualifications

Core competencies, knowledge, and experience: 

• >3 years of professional experience, ideally with a bank or financial service provider in Africa 
• Excellent Commercial Awareness with strong knowledge of mobile money, fintech and financial services 
• Ability to build trusted relationships and work collaboratively with others 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to influence and win over key stakeholders 
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret raw data and translate it into clear, concise information
• The ability to explain complex financial data to non-finance individuals
• Aligns mindset, words, and actions to Lean-Agile values and principles
• Supports innovation and customer centricity and fosters flow & relentless improvement
• Problem solving skills and the ability to think creatively and see the ‘bigger picture’

Technical / professional qualifications:

• Part qualified or qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA or CIMA)
• Agile Experience – minimum 2 years
•  Contagious passion for, and commitment to, driving mobile money growth and innovation
• Communication and relationship management experience to executive level – 2 years
• Mobile Payment or Financial Payment Services Experience – 2 years
• Relevant certified SAFe qualification, for example, SAFe Lean Portfolio Management
• Knowledge and understanding of Jira