Role Overview
Our Client is seeking a strategic, results-driven Finance Manager to lead our financial operations, strategy, and compliance frameworks. As a key partner to the CEO and senior leadership team, you will drive financial planning, optimize operational efficiency within the competitive FMCG sector, and ensure robust risk management. This role requires a balance of high-level strategic insight and hands-on operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
I. Financial Strategy & Planning
ï· Strategic Planning: Serve as a key strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team. Contribute critical financial insights to the overall corporate strategy, including new product launches, market entry, and potential product lines.
ï· Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the design and implementation of robust budgeting, financial forecasting, and long-term financial planning processes. Monitor performance against annual and multi-year organizational goals.
ï· Financial Analysis: Deliver actionable, data-driven financial insights to support operational decision-making across all departments, with a heavy focus on Sales, Procurement, and HR.
ï· Investment & Capital Allocation: Evaluate investment opportunities, oversee the company’s capital budget, and secure sufficient funding (CAPEX and working capital) to support daily operations and growth initiatives.
II. Operational Finance
ï· Working Capital Management: Optimize working capital by efficiently managing inventory
levels, receivables, and payables cycles. Prevent inventory overstocking to maintain a healthy,
predictable daily cash flow.
ï· Cost & Margin Management: Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives across procurement,
logistics, and operations. Track gross margins closely by SKU, category, and sales channel to
secure long-term business profitability and sustainability.
ï· Trade Spend Efficiency: Monitor and evaluate the ROI of trade promotions, marketing spend,
and human capital investments—a critical focus area in the fast-paced FMCG landscape.
ï· Pricing Optimization: Develop, maintain, and govern a structured framework for daily and
monthly pricing decisions alongside route-to-market strategies to safeguard competitiveness
and margins.
III. Accounting, Compliance & Risk Management
ï· Financial Reporting: Oversee all core accounting functions, ensuring the timely, accurate, and
actionable preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in strict
compliance with IFRS and local GAAP standards.
ï· Internal Controls & Audit: Establish and maintain robust internal controls and financial
procedures to safeguard corporate assets. Ensure continuous quarterly and annual audit
readiness, coordinate internal/external audits, and resolve findings promptly.
ï· Tax & Regulatory Compliance: Guarantee absolute compliance with the Kenya Revenue
Authority (KRA), county government tax laws, financial regulations, and statutory requirements
(including NEMA, OSHA, and DOSH).
ï· Risk Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks—including market,
credit, operational, and foreign exchange (FX) exposures—implementing hedging strategies
when necessary.
IV. Leadership & Stakeholder Relations
ï· Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance and accounting team.
Promote a culture of efficiency, continuous process improvement, and rigorous performance
reviews.
ï· Stakeholder Relations: Act as the primary corporate liaison for external auditors, commercial
banks, financial institutions, investors, and venture capitalists (VCs).
ï· Systems Enhancement: Drive the continuous improvement and integration of financial systems
and technologies (including Odoo ERP, DMS, eTIMS, and M-Pesa integrations) to optimize
automation and advanced reporting capabilities.
Requirements
Education & Professional Certifications
ï· Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a business-related field from a recognized institution.
ï· Certification: CPA-K (Certified Public Accountant - Kenya) designation is mandatory. Must be a member in good standing with ICPAK.
Experience & Skills
ï· Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in financial management, accounting, or corporate finance, preferably within the FMCG, retail, or logistics sector.
ï· Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience working with modern ERP systems (e.g., Odoo), digital management systems (DMS), and local tax integration platforms (e.g., eTIMS).
ï· Leadership: Proven track record of managing and coaching finance teams, alongside exceptional stakeholder management skills for dealing with VCs, banks, and auditors.
