Finance Manager at Africa’s Voices

Job Number: FM 01/2018

Reporting to: CEO

Function: Operations

Position Type:  Full-time

Salary: Competitive remuneration package, tailored to the successful applicant

 Application deadline: 22 December 2017

Shortlist announced: 30 December 2017

First round interviews: week of 8 January 2018 in Nairobi or conference call 

Africa’s Voices Foundation with an annual turnover of just under £1 million, is looking for a talented and motivated Finance Manager who is eager to contribute to the successful growth and social impact of a young, innovative, not-for-profit research organisation. The Finance Manager will ideally have substantial experience with donor-funded not-for-profit organisations, or with service-oriented businesses, and will bring to the organisation proven management accounting, budgeting, contracting, management of donor funds and strategic finance skills. This role is critical in shaping and building a robust business planning, financial management and accounting system, and related administrative functions, for a fast-growing charitable organisation, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with a large team in Nairobi, Kenya.

Internally, the role reports to the CEO, and is located within the Performance and Operations team, but collaborates closely with the Research team to give the financial frameworks and tools for effective project management, support to sub-contracting and other project finance support.

Externally, the Finance Manager plays a crucial role in working with a range of donor and partner requirements on budgeting and reporting, as well as managing statutory reporting, auditing and related requirements.

Strategically, the role will provide key financial insights to Senior Management and the Board of Trustees to drive forward our capabilities, efficiencies and improvements to our way of working, including recommending and leading on strategies for work planing, cashflow, reserves and risk management. Depending on the quality and performance of the successful candidate, there may be opportunities for this role to take on additional senior project management functions within the organisation.  

Key Responsibilities

• Actively contribute to strategic and organisational planning and decision-making at senior management level based on up-to-date accounts, projection and forecasting, and organisational systems and policies.
• Coordinate the annual financial planning process and support development of the annual budget and consolidation.
• Prepare rolling forecasts, for controlling income and expenditure, cash-flows, variance analysis and commentaries.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly management accounts and projections and other relevant reports for analysis and decision-making by budget holders, the CEO and the Board of Trustees.
• Manage all financial, project and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and project budgets throughout the grant/project period.
• Ensure that compliance with Kenya taxes, including VAT and withholding taxes, including keeping up to date with regulatory changes.
• Produce regular salary payments and records, PAYE, social security, national insurance and pension contributions in accordance with HMRC and Government of Kenya requirements.
• Manage the annual audit including year-end accounts in conjunction with the statutory auditors to ensure annual accounts are produced within the required deadlines and regulatory framework.
• Ensure books and records are maintained (using accounting software) to satisfy statutory requirements as well as management reporting.
• Keep up to date with changes in financial regulations and legislation and advise management on major financial issues which arise.
• Monitor, review and where necessary propose amendments to the financial policy framework and the risk management register for decision by the CEO and the Board.
• Support the CEO and the Board to ensure quarterly updates and commentaries for the risk management register
• Procurement: ensuring transparent procurement procedures are in place to ensure open competition and value for money.
• Ensure prompt payment of suppliers and subcontractors, check and maintain documentation for subcontracts.
• Will likely have some line management and team responsibilities for administrative functions - in Cambridge, UK and Nairobi, Kenya.

 Person Profile (Preferred knowledge, skills and experience)

• Education to degree standard.
• Professional Accounting Qualification (CPA(K),ACA, ACCA, CPA,CIMA or similar) or equivalent experience.
• Skilled in using spreadsheets, knowledge of Microsoft Office and experience of using a finance database (we use Xero).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar role for a donor-funded not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise.
• Strong planning and organisational skills to provide strategic advice to senior management and board of trustees.
• Significant experience working in accounts and grants management environment at a senior level, ideally gained in a not-for-profit, donor-funded organisation.
• Experience of developing financial systems to support international operations.
• Strong audit and internal controls knowledge with the ability to highlight weaknesses and make appropriate recommendations.
• An ability to explain complex financial issues to a wide range of people, including those without financial expertise, is a key part of the role.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proactive, highly motivated and able to use initiative to a significant degree.
• Enjoys working in a small team, in a fast-moving environment.  
• The right to work in Kenya at the time of appointment.