Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis at Wasoko

We are searching for a stellar FP&A to be based in Nairobi. They will manage the budget, forecasting and analysis functions that support the major corporate decisions of the global leadership team and the board of directors.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Forecasting Framework Creation and Maintenance

• Own technology choices around forecasting tools
  • Define model-building methodology at Wasoko to ensure consistency across models
  • Develop a centralized driver-based forecasting model for the business initially and in time develop infrastructure for integrating decentralized models
  • Develop model output reports to create the appropriate level of visibility into the plan
• Develop and own the re-forecasting and budgeting process across the enterprise
  • Develop a framework for seamlessly integrating forecast and actuals (both financial and operating) and updating forecast drivers based on actuals to ensure forecast is up to date and relevant
  • Develop and manage process for reviewing actuals against forecast and providing timely visibility to cost center owners on performance relative to plan, including escalation of material variances and waterfall visualization to advise on attribution
• Support performance measurement including ensuring alignment across the enterprise on key performance indicators (KPIs), objectives and key results (OKRs)
  • Develop processes for reviewing model efficacy and continuous improvement cycle including knowledge transfer of lessons learned to stakeholders
  • Suggest alternative and original metrics such as functional OKR KPIs that improve decision making
  • Keep Data Dictionary current and ensure cross-functional understanding of KPI metrics
  • Where possible, run scenarios to create a probabilistic understanding of observed trends

Market Intelligence and Strategy Creation

• Ensure Management Account and other relevant reports used by the business are accurate and current (real time or near real time updates with Actuals and Forecasts parameters)
• Ensure an aligned enterprise-wide present view and a rolling future view of business including accurate business unit and other unit economics reporting
• Provide ad hoc macro, micro and competitor research supporting business units identifying trends and insights that inform management decisions
• Provide investment valuation models to assist in capital planning
• Inform FP&A strategic options and risk management as part of the annual planning process

Target Setting, Performance and Decision Making

• Assist senior finance in driving data-driven decision making by promoting Master Dashboard characterization of financial and operational data as well as its visualization on Tableau
• Address other relevant EAI objectives as directed. These topics are captured in the Finance Business Operating Review.
• Working closely with the finance and leadership team to maintain the budget and forecasting models that assist in formulating the business's financial and strategic plan as well as deployment and lessons learned for continual improvement in future cycles
• Evaluating previous budgets, expenditures against targets to develop nuanced views of performance and attribution to activities and personnel

Instill a common culture and financial language and improve

• Improve organisational ability to identify unique and impactful insights
• Provide insights to senior management around planning, execution and attribution in the form of operational guidance (what to do more, do less and what to stop)
• Ensuring sufficient documentation and automation (rapid feedback loops) to ensure knowledge transfer and process adherence
• Recommend improvements to existing processes and procedures that achieve greater financial literacy and risk management

Requirements:

The successful candidate will possess:

• 5+ years of finance and strategy experience, at a market-leading company with over $10M USD in annual turnover, or at a management consulting firm, investment bank, or investment management (PE/VC) firm
• Proven track record of bringing value to businesses based on revenue growth, customer experience, operational efficiency, and data-driven insights
• Prior work experience across Sub-Saharan African markets is strongly preferred, experience with cross-regional teams and stakeholders is a plus
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration; MBA/CFA/CPA a plus but not required
• Negotiation skills and the ability to develop solid relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• High degree of proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
• Exceptional work ethic and a high level of enthusiasm, initiative and leadership
• Ability to learn in a fast-paced, challenging environment
• Significant level of maturity and effective process management abilities with the ability to lead projects with minimal supervision
• A collaborative, team player with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic, start-up environment
• Fluency in English (both oral and written) and the ability to communicate with sophistication within a business setting