Application Deadline: 22 November 2024

Our Client, Financial Sector Deepening Kenya, is looking to recruit a Finance officer.

1. BACKGROUND

Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya) is an independent trust dedicated to the achievement of a financial system that delivers value for a green and inclusive digital economy while improving financial health and capability for women and micro and small enterprises (MSEs). FSD Kenya works closely with the public sector, the financial services industry, and other partners to develop financial solutions that better address the real-world challenges that low-income households, micro and small enterprises, and underserved groups such as women and youth face.

Current FSD Kenya funders are UK International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Trust supervision is provided by professional Trustees.

FSD’s programme is delivered by a small, multi-disciplinary team. While each member of the team will have specific roles to play in the programme, the following key competencies underpin our ability to deliver. At a minimum, the role is expected to have competencies at the Foundation level:
Initiative and decisiveness: Strong sense of engagement that leads to self-starting, taking initiative and acting decisively. Is engaged and self-starting.
Innovation & value addition: Generates value-adding innovation through continuous improvement, idea generation and creativity. Adds value through improvements and good ideas.
Learning and resourcefulness: Possesses the personal resourcefulness to deal with difficult situations effectively and continually improve skills and knowledge. Is emotionally grounded and resourceful; willing to learn and improve.
Thinking and problem analysis: Thinks clearly and intentionally in order to understand issues, solve problems and make good choices. Gathers, organises and applies knowledge.
Drive for results: Strongly motivated to achieve goals and act with accountability to deliver quality results. Reliably accomplishes work expectations; is well organised and productive.
Relationship building: Initiates and maintains positive relationships with others; discerning and appreciating the values, concerns and feelings of others. Takes initiative to build strong relationships and cooperation with and between others.
Communication and influencing: Deliberately adjusts behaviour in order to address the feelings, needs and concerns of others; communicates clearly, confidently and appropriately to influence others. Is aware of personal impact on others and adjusts accordingly.

2. OBJECTIVE

The Finance officer will assist the finance team in the day-to-day financial management of the Trust. S/He will be part of the finance team which is responsible for overall financial, grant and risk management of the Trust

3. ROLE

Financial management

• Review and ensure invoices are properly coded before processing
• Preparation of payment vouchers, ensuring all the relevant documentations are is included before funds are disbursed.
• Manage the general ledger ensuring monthly ledger data is up to date and accurate.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements.
• Assist in preparation of the monthly finance reports.
• Assist in the preparation of Ad-hoc financial reports as may be needed
• Ensure proper administration and timely remittance of taxes and statutory deductions
• Produce daily trial balance, monthly and annual financial statements in accordance with statutory, International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Undertake analysis of balance sheet balances/audit schedules
• Conduct monthly reconciliation
• Monitoring of office petty cash (including debit/credit cards) and conducting in prompt cash counts.
• Ensure debit and credit card accounting forms are posted in the general ledger
• In liaison with the IT and admin, maintain an accurate fixed asset register for all assets and ensure the assets are tagged and verified annually or bi-annually.
• In liaison with the IT and admin team, ensure new assets are insured in a timely manner
• Process travels advance requests and surrenders as per policy for review by the Finance and Grants manager.
• Assist in external and internal audit coordination including preparation of relevant audit schedules or as may be assigned.
• Maintain accurate financial records and documentation for audit purposes and ensure compliance with local tax laws, financial regulations, and organisational policies.

Budget management
• Support in the preparation and management of operations budget.
• Ensure that annual budgets are entered into the accounting system to support subsequent reporting.
• Liaising with project managers on project budgets and ensuring that all project budget information is up to date and accurate on a monthly basis.

Grant management
• Support in conducting due diligence on grantees in coordination with project managers.
• Support in monitoring grant agreements with partners to ensure adherence to grant terms.
• Share key risks from the due diligence process for inclusion in various risk registers
• Assist in updating of finance and operation risk registers
• Review of partner’s financial reports.
• Where needed, provide capacity building to partners to implement, monitor and report on grants awarded.

Stakeholder management
• Manage effective communication channels with FSD staff and providers
• Manage and respond to external auditor queries as may be required
• Represent FSD Kenya positively and professionally and promote a positive and collegial culture; seek to effectively resolve any conflicts and grievances objectively and in line with good practices

4. CONDUCT OF WORK

The Finance officer will work as a full-time member of the FSD Kenya team, be a member of the Finance team and report directly to the Finance and grant manager. Given the core value of collaboration and cross-working, the Finance officer will support other colleagues to achieve the programme objectives, ensure stewardship of the Trust’s resources and adherence to policies and procedures.

Working arrangements will be flexible with the approach taken driven by the demands of the role. Communication and collaboration are core to the FSD team’s effectiveness. Successful remote and flexible working requires liaison with finance, operations and project team members and the full adoption of FSD’s technology-based communication tools. Guidelines on effective remote working and flexitime are set out in FSD’s policies and procedures which should be strictly adhered to.

5. OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES

The Finance officer will be responsible for providing efficient day-to-day finance support to the programme. H/She will be at the front-line in assuring staff are well apprised and compliant with finance and operations policies and procedures.

FSD Kenya is managed on a strongly results based approach and each person is expected to deliver specific annual targets agreed with their team members to support the strategy and business plan. The Finance officer will work in collaboration with the rest of the FSD team to ensure the overall success of the FSD Kenya objectives. Programme and project reporting, as formally specified in the FSD Kenya policies must be delivered on time and to the highest standards.

6. PERSON SPECIFICATIONS – ESSENTIAL AND DESIRABLE

Mandatory requirements

Minimum bachelor’s degree in any related field.
Full professional qualifications (CPA or ACCA).
At least 5 years’ experience in finance or accounting role for a non-profit organisation
Good command of oral and written English.

Desired and essential

Well versed with IFRS and ISA’s.
Extensive experience in an ERP environment.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision given the role will be remote
Familiarity with current Tax legislation and use of I-Tax.
Ability to handle demanding set of outputs against tight deadlines.
Good skills in MS Office (Word and Excel).
Excellent people skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills.

7. OTHER DETAILS

The appointment will be subject to 6-month probation period. The employment terms will include 30 days annual leave, personal accident insurance, comprehensive medical cover, remote working as well as flexible working arrangements.