Regional Finance Controller - Kenya at Islamic Relief

About the Role

• The Regional Finance Controller (RFC) is responsible for providing financial oversight, governance, assurance, compliance, and capacity building across Islamic Relief's country offices and implementing partners throughout West and East Africa.
• This is far more than a traditional financial control role. You will work closely with Country Directors, Finance Managers, operational teams, and local partners to strengthen financial management practices, build organisational capability, and ensure the highest standards of financial stewardship are embedded across the region.
• You will play a critical leadership role in improving financial performance, enhancing internal control frameworks, strengthening donor and statutory compliance, and supporting long-term financial sustainability. Through visible, hands-on engagement with country offices and partners, you will help drive a step-change in financial discipline, transparency, accountability, and decision-making.
• The role combines strategic oversight with practical delivery. You will be responsible for assessing financial performance, mentoring regional finance teams, identifying and mitigating risk, supporting fraud prevention initiatives, and ensuring finance effectively supports programme delivery and donor confidence.
• Reporting to the Global Finance Operations Lead, you will provide expert technical guidance and leadership across a diverse and complex regional portfolio, supporting the ongoing evolution of Islamic Relief's global finance operating model.
• The successful candidate will spend approximately 50% of their time travelling across the region, providing direct support to country offices, finance teams, and implementing partners.

The Successful Candidate Will Have:

• A professionally recognised accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, ICMA or equivalent).
• Significant senior-level financial management experience, ideally within the humanitarian, NGO, development, or international non-profit sector.
• Demonstrable experience leading financial governance, compliance, assurance, and internal control activities across multiple entities or geographical locations.
• Strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, financial planning, and scenario analysis.
• Experience producing consolidated management accounts, variance analysis, financial performance reporting, and strategic financial insight.
• Proven experience managing donor compliance requirements and statutory obligations.
• A strong understanding of financial risk management, fraud prevention, and control frameworks.
• Experience leading, developing, mentoring, and coaching finance teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and support both finance and non-finance leaders.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to present complex financial information clearly and effectively.
• Experience designing and delivering finance training, capability building, and development programmes.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Islamic Relief Worldwide.
• Fluency in both English and French.

Desirable

• Experience managing donor-funded programmes and institutional grant reporting within international NGOs.
• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or complex operating environments.
• Strong understanding of the geopolitical, regulatory, and socio-economic contexts across Africa.
• Experience supporting finance transformation, organisational change, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience working with local implementing partners and sub-grantees.