Vacancies at Kenyatta University

The objectives of the RLC include:

• Provide Quality Leadership Training: Centers provide courses on leadership and issues across multiple sectors.
• Support Entrepreneurship: Centers provide entrepreneurship support services, including mentoring, technology, and access to capital.
• Enhance Professional Networking: Centers offer young leaders the opportunity to connect with experienced professionals and experts across the region.

Main Purpose of Job

The holder of this position will report to the Alumni & Volunteer Relations Manager and will be responsible for providing support in running the Alumni & Volunteer Relations function. The function's purpose is to support the Alumni engagement strategy, relationship management, mentorship coordination, and business development.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the implementation and promotion of alumni programs that support the RLC's strategic plan and program goals.
• Review investment documentation for alumni enterprises seeking investment, including financial data, business plans, and market analysis.
• Stress test the financial models to assess the viability and profitability of the proposed investment.
• Develop a pipeline of investors interested in investing in alumni initiatives. 
• Develop and implement an annual investor readiness program for all enterprises that seek to raise external financing. 
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in increasing support for alumni, Identifying and qualifying support from alumni.
• Communicate development-related activities via written contact reports filed in an appropriate constituent.
• Update and maintain a database of alumni startups, Social Enterprises, and Community Development Initiatives
• Assist in linking cohort participants and alumni mentees to suitable mentors across sectors.
• Prepare monthly development reports on alumni activity
• Capable of providing ad-hoc reports and evidence-supported analysis based upon Alumni & Volunteer Relations Manager needs.
• Work closely with county chapter leaders to implement chapter and YALI RLC events and activities.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Finance, Business Development, or a related discipline.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
• Willingness to travel across the 14 YALI RLC EA focus countries

Experience

• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience and knowledge in entrepreneurship capacity building, with at least 4 years of experience managing and administering Startups, Social Enterprises, and Community Development Initiatives. 
• Knowledge of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region 
• Commitment, drive, self-motivation, passion for ‘this space’, and desire to help scale YALI RLC EA alumni initiatives. 
• Ability to deliver with minimal supervision. 
• Significant local knowledge and networks in the investment ecosystem. 
• Experience in structuring investment products for Start-ups will be an added advantage.

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The objectives of the RLC include:

• Provide Quality Leadership Training: Centers provide courses on leadership and issues across multiple sectors.
• Support Entrepreneurship: Centers provide entrepreneurship support services, including mentoring, technology, and access to capital.
• Enhance Professional Networking: Centers offer young leaders the opportunity to connect with experienced professionals and experts across the region.

Main Purpose of Job

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party (CoP), the Finance and Administration Manager shall support the CoP in the general administration of the program, overseeing the financial management of the award, budgets, transformation fund grants, financial planning & management of the USAID-YALI RLC EA program in Kenya and ultimately achieving program goals. S/He will ensure compliance with University and USAID policies and sound management of YALI RLC EA resources to accomplish the project mission.

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Manager’s key roles and responsibilities will include but not limited to the following:

 Budgeting:

• Lead the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting process for the YALI RLC EA project.
• Assist the CoP and program staff with work plan budget development, technical budget estimates, and scenario-based forecasts for program spending.
• Work closely with the University Finance Unit and the CoP to identify priorities and target funding sources for cost share.

Reporting:

• Provide timely financial reporting with detailed budget vs. actuals and by component to the Chief of Party (CoP) and the Program management team. Provide CoP with necessary financial reports (including analysis) for regular meetings.
• Work with the University and the program leadership to prepare required quarterly, annual, and ad hoc financial reports.
• Prepare quarterly expenditure reports and burn rate projections by component for the YALI RLC EA management team and the program's leadership team.

 Financial Management:

• Monitor overall expenses and revenues to ensure that projections are accurate, the program does not overspend with available revenue, and restricted funds are used according to donor requirements.
• Maintain and update the overall program budget against the approved budget, including work plan budgets, the chunk budget, and budgets by components.
• Oversee the program's financial management and operations, including setting up and overseeing financial procedures in accordance with USAID and KU requirements and setting up and maintaining financial accounts.
• Work with the University finance focal point of the program to ensure day-to-day financial processes and procedures are implemented and working correctly, with the appropriate checks and balances in place.
• Lead the program's financial activities, including, but not limited to, reviewing and submitting approved milestones for payment and reviewing and approving program accounting reports and supporting documentation.
• Manage time and expense reporting, finance& accounting procedures in alignment with the policies and procedures.
• Maintain effective timelines and quality control processes for financial and operational deliverables and financial management processes.
• Ensure contract terms with Donors are being met and help the program team closely follow the projected annual budget and work plan.

Coordination with Kenyatta University Key Departments

• Be the primary contact point for the YALI RLC EA project for all financial matters relating to the program implementation.
• Coordinate with the University to ensure all financial activities meet program needs, e.g., accurate and timely production of invoices, spending plan tools, other financial trackers, and responding to USAID inquiries.
• Work closely with the finance analyst on tracking VAT

 Minimum Qualifications

• A Masters degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or a relevant field.
• Possession of relevant professional certifications, specifically, CPA-K or ACCA.
• Eight (8) years of relevant and progressively increasing responsibility in finance, accounting, and administration, including four (4) years in a supervisory role managing finance and administration of a donor-funded activity.
• Demonstrated experience administering and managing complex grant funding.
• Experience developing and/or maintaining budget tracking tools.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team and supervising office and field staff.
• Ability to implement effective workflow processes and procedures to monitor, evaluate, and report on grant implementation and expenditures.
• Ability to work with community stakeholders and build capacity of nascent youth organizations and networks.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and experience working with several different accounting software packages.
• Strong Communication skills – both oral and written.

Key Performance areas

• Delivery excellence
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Business Technology Acumen

Technical competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
• Excellent strategic planning skills.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Good research capacity, data analysis and information management skills; and
• Ability to work in a team.