VP of Finance at Komaza Kenya

Job description

As VP of Finance for Komaza, you will lead the design of a new, innovative financing structure to enable long-term investment in millions of smallholder farmers across Africa. This role demands a unique combination of leadership, strategy, and fundraising. You will drive oversight, systems design, and growth of our internal Financial Controls Team. As our SPV lead, you will work with partners including The Nature Conservancy to create and fund a new long-term debt vehicle for financing millions of African tree farms. You will also lead fundraising for our Series B equity round, targeting both global venture capital and development finance institutions.

This is a cross-functional role, requiring you to build a deep understanding of each business unit and work with all groups to ensure cost-efficiency and high-quality execution across the board. You will be a key member of Komaza’s Executive Leadership Team, and will contribute to both company-wide strategy, as well key updates to our Board of Directors. This role reports directly to Komaza’s Founder/CEO.

About the Team

Serving a fast-paced, rapid-scale business, Komaza’s Finance Group is the critical command center that sits at the heart of every transaction. As an internal service center, the Financial Control Team processes huge volumes of transactions with staff, suppliers, and our farmers. Key to success is the design and implementation of tech-enabled tools to manage and leverage large volumes of financial data. The Finance Group also houses our Corporate Finance Team, a group of former management consultants and banking analysts charged with modeling, as well as investor diligence and dealflow.

Professional Attributes

• Laser-focused on delivering successful outcomes
• Flexible, resourceful, and hands-on enough to do what is necessary to get the job done
• Independent, intellectually curious, and comfortable working through ambiguity
• Highly collaborative & skilled at soliciting efficient input from others
• Passionate about Komaza’s mission and vision -- to create life-changing income for poor farmers by building a competitive, large-scale forestry & wood products business

Qualifications & Experience

• MBA from top global university (or equivalent degree/work experience).
• 10+ years of finance experience at industry-leading companies or banks; 4+ years managing high-caliber finance or accounting teams
• Experience raising equity financing a must; experience with innovative financing strategies (SPVs, long-term debt) a plus
• Strong analytical & quant skills, complex financial modelling
• Strategic financial management including the implementation of systems, policies and procedures
• Financial planning and analysis; budget management