Senior Finance Officer at Helen Keller International

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Accounting

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date general ledger records, ensuring timely completion of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes in alignment with Helen Keller’s global financial calendar.
• Process and review accounts payable, payroll, petty cash, and other financial transactions in compliance with internal policies and donor regulations.
• Prepare and review monthly bank reconciliations and actively manage cash flow and liquidity to support uninterrupted program operations.
• Ensure timely remittance of statutory deductions—including PAYE, NHIF, NSSF, and withholding taxes—while maintaining proper documentation in accordance with Kenyan regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager to manage multi-currency transactions and ensure compliance with foreign exchange regulations.
• Maintain an accurate fixed asset register, ensuring proper accounting for asset acquisitions, disposals, and depreciation.
• Ensure timely vendor payments in accordance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and organizational finance and procurement policies.
• Monthly reconciliation of general ledger balances and schedules
• Filling of withholding, monthly taxes and annual return

 Reporting & Budget Management

• Prepare accurate and timely donor financial reports, reconciling them with the general ledger and ensuring compliance with donor-specific reporting formats and deadlines.
• Contribute to monthly Budget vs. Actuals (BvA) reports and provide detailed variance analyses with actionable commentary for programme and management teams.
• Support the development and review of project proposal budgets, budget realignments, and cost extensions in coordination with Programme Managers and the Finance Manager.
• Provide financial data and analysis to support strategic planning, resource allocation decisions, and portfolio reviews.
• Consolidate and submit routine financial reports in accordance with internal deadlines.

Compliance, Internal Controls & Audit

• Implement, monitor, and strengthen internal financial controls across the Kenya Country Office to safeguard organizational assets and maintain donor confidence.
• Maintain a well-organized electronic and physical filing system for all financial records, ensuring documents are easily retrievable for audits and reviews.
• Flag any weaknesses or irregularities in internal controls to the Finance Manager and recommend corrective actions.
• Support timely internal and external audit processes, including preparation of audit schedules, reconciliations, and management responses to audit findings.
• Stay current with Kenyan statutory and regulatory requirements, donor regulations (e.g., USAID, EU, GAVI), and Helen Keller policy updates affecting finance operations.

Capacity Building & Cross-Functional Support

• Provide financial orientation and on-the-job guidance to non-finance programme staff and interns to ensure understanding and adherence to financial policies and procedures.
• Support the Finance Manager in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for finance processes and adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Contribute to the adoption and effective use of Helen Keller Intl’s financial management systems.
• Perform any other finance-related duties as assigned by the Finance Manager

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field from a recognized university.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA(K), ACCA, or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting, with at least 3 years in an international non-governmental organization (INGO) environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded project finances (USAID, EU, GAVI, DFID, or equivalent bilateral/multilateral donors) is an added advantage.
• Proven experience preparing financial reports, BvA analyses, and supporting external audits.
• Conducting thorough review of all supporting documents to verify their authenticity and alignment with internal financial policies.