Senior Officer-Finance (Safaricom and Mpesa Foundations) at Safaricom Kenya

Job Description

The role is a  Fixed term contract for 2 years, and will be reporting to the Manager-Foundations Finance. 

The role purpose is to:

• Ensure the implementation of sound financial management practices for the Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness in the management of contracts and grants to grantees of the Foundations.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for the Foundations management, trustees.
• Ensure due diligence regarding financial management requirements of grantees at all levels of the project cycle. 
• Ensure that grant agreements and addenda are completed in a timely and accurate manner and that they comply with the Foundations policies, terms, and conditions.
• Provide technical support in financial management to grantees and stakeholders as may be required.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities and decision ownership: 

• Ensure awareness of financial policies and procedures by Foundation staff and Foundation partners.
• Provide ongoing feedback on mechanisms to improve financial management (Foundation and grants) through continuous review of processes and feedback from project partners and stakeholders.
• Based on the outcomes of the Trustees Meetings, develop, and update a commitment and disbursement schedule for all approved projects. 
• Prepare a financial analysis on the projects funded per category and payments made and undertake a critical analysis of disbursement status and forecasts and make recommendations to ensure appropriate fund management. 
• Provide inputs for internal and external progress and financial reports. 
• Ensure that project accounts are properly reconciled during preparation for payments. 
• Advise on the availability of funds and details of payments and funds transfers made. 
• Coordinate raising of LPO’s for all expenses for the foundation in the Oracle system and follow up on the payments facilitation to the suppliers.
• Ensure monthly reconciliation of all of the foundations General Ledger accounts and sub accounts between the cash book and bank accounts is completed. 
• Liaise with the banks for any issues relating to the bank accounts held by the Foundations.
• Monitor and revise the status of the Foundations opex budgets ensuring correct postings.
• Prepare all schedules required for audit purposes and liaise with both internal and external auditors to facilitate the audit process.
• Provide inputs into project audit processes (where applicable), review reports and provide inputs on how to address any audit issues.
• Ensure all proper checks are done to all the approved projects before disbursing funds for the projects, including review and cross checking of all statutory requirements.
• Prepare grant agreements as required, paying particular attention to any special conditions or requirements.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, maintain a database for reporting schedules and ensure timely reporting by proactive database management for half year, annual or other reports as required.
• Review all half year and annual reports received from partners, provide written feedback to partners, and offer solutions to address areas that may need technical support. 
• Make follow up calls to partners or conduct visits (if required) to grantees to address any concerns with regards to their financial reporting.
• Review reports received (Construction project managers, Project champion, Pamoja, Usamaria, Foundation staff, projects) to ensure that projects are progressing well before the disbursement of funds.
• Ensure timely disbursement of funds to partners and acknowledgement of receipt of the same.
• Work with the Supply Chain department for procurement of equipment or services to be made by the foundation.
• Work with the Legal Department to address any queries that may arise from Foundations contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelors’ degree in a business-related field e.g. Commerce or Economics from a recognized university. 
• Qualified Accountant with CPA (K)/ACCA/CIMA/ACA or equivalent will be desirable.
• At least two years’ work experience in project accounting and reporting. 
• Working with a computerized accounting system preferably with Oracle application.