Finance Manager – Kenya/ Somalia / Ethiopia (Kenyan Nationals only) Full Time

Job Location – Nairobi, Kenya

Overall Job Purpose
The Finance Manager is responsible for the effective operational financial management of the Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia country programmes, ensuring the implementation of robust systems for accounting, compliance, budgeting and reporting, in alignment with donor and organizational requirements. The role provides financial leadership and strategic support to programme and operational teams by delivering timely financial information, strengthening financial controls and ensuring sound financial stewardship across the country programme. Reporting to and working closely with the Finance Coordinator, the Finance Manager plays a key role in ensuring sound financial stewardship and operational efficiency across the mission.

Tasks

Strategy and Vision

• Actively supports the values of Johanniter and shapes programme work according to these values.
• Ensures the progression and implementation of the global strategy of Johanniter International Assistance in their area of responsibility.
• Contributes to the development and execution of the country strategy of Johanniter International Assistance in their area of responsibility.

Leadership

• Actively lives and leads by example, upholding the Johanniter leadership principles and creating a culture where the leadership mindset can emerge and thrive, actively empowering and guiding team members to an inclusive, accountable work environment to achieve shared goals and embrace change.
• This is reflected in the day-to-day activities in line with the Code of Conduct and related policies to achieve our goals.

Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Manages the preparation and maintenance of financial records and reports, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, inventories, budgets, fixed assets and donor financial reports.
• Oversees timely and accurate accounting, data entry, reconciliations and financial reporting across the country programme.
• Reviews project trial balances, financial reports and account reconciliations and ensures that discrepancies are identified, investigated and resolved.
• Ensures that expenses are correctly allocated to projects, cost centres, budget lines and other relevant financial dimensions in accordance with organisational and donor requirements.
• Oversees review of country office and partner financial records and vouchers to ensure com-pleteness, accuracy, appropriate coding and compliance.
• Oversees preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, annual and final financials and donor financial reports.
• Oversees proper filing and archiving of all financial records in line with Johanniter’s financial guidelines.

Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Coordinates the preparation and monitoring of country multi-annual plans and reforecasts in coordination with the management teams.
• Leads the preparation, review and monitoring of project budgets in coordination with Programme and management teams.
• Oversees of preparation and regular updates of donor budgets and ensures that approved budgets are correctly established, managed and updated in the SUN System.
• Ensures that project staff receive accurate and timely budget variance reports and provides financial analysis and guidance to support effective decision-making.
• Reviews project expenditure against approved budgets, identifies significant variances and supports reforecasts, budget revisions and fund transfers.
• Prepares and reviews cash forecasts for the country programme and ensures timely availability of funds for programme and operational requirements.
• Ensures that budgets and financial plans remain aligned with organisational priorities, donor requirements and available funding.

Cash & Treasury Management

• Oversees cash and treasury management systems across the country programme, including cashbooks, bank accounts, advances, physical inventories and reconciliations.
• Reviews cashbooks and bank records to ensure that transactions are accurately recorded, correctly coded and properly supported.
• Ensures that cash counts, bank reconciliations and expenditure reconciliations are conducted regularly and that discrepancies are investigated and resolved.
• Ensures timely and secure payment of salaries, per diems, advances, suppliers and statutory obligations in accordance with approved procedures.
• Oversees cash forecasts and timely request of transfers from headquarters while maintaining appropriate cash balances and controls.
• Identifies cash management risks and ensures that appropriate measures are implemented to safeguard financial assets and maintain continuity of operations.

Payments & Supplier Management

• Oversees systems for processing supplier, staff and other authorised payments and ensures that appropriate approvals and supporting documentation are in place.
• Ensures that payment processes comply with organisational procedures, donor requirements, approval thresholds and internal controls.
• Reviews and authorises financial documentation within delegated authority and ensures that payments are processed accurately, transparently and on time.
• Oversees payment methods including cash, cheque and bank transfers and ensures that appropriate controls are maintained.
• Ensures that payment documentation is properly recorded, stamped, scanned, filed and retained in accordance with organisational requirements.
• Supports the finance coordinator and management in resolving significant supplier, banking and payment-related financial issues.

Financial Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensures compliance with Johanniter financial guidelines, donor requirements, applicable nation-al regulations and internal control standards across the country programme.
• Ensures that procurement, expenditure and payment processes are properly authorised, documented and compliant with organisational and donor requirements.
• Oversees the implementation and effectiveness of financial controls to prevent fraud, corruption, aid diversion, financial loss and misuse of resources.
• Ensures that audit, compliance and financial strengthening recommendations are implemented and monitored to completion.
• Provides technical advice on financial compliance, risk management and interpretation of organisational and donor requirements.
• Reports significant financial risks, irregularities, suspected fraud, corruption or control weaknesses to the Finance Coordinator and relevant management and ensures appropriate follow-up.

Partner Financial Management & Capacity Building

• Oversees the review of partner financial reports, budgets, vouchers and supporting documen-tation to ensure compliance with organisational and donor requirements.
• Provides financial management guidance to partners on budgeting, financial reporting, controls, procurement and donor compliance.
• Monitors partner expenditure against approved budgets and identifies financial risks, variances and capacity gaps requiring management attention.
• Supports partner assessments and develops or oversees financial capacity-strengthening initiatives based on identified needs.
• Ensures that partner financial, HR and administrative systems and records meet applicable compliance, accountability and reporting standards.
• Supports the resolution of significant partner financial issues and ensures that agreed corrective actions are followed up.

People Management

• Leads, supervises and develops the finance team, ensuring clear responsibilities, effective work planning and delivery of agreed objectives.
• Establishes and monitors team work plans and ensures that finance activities are appropriately prioritised and resourced.
• Conducts performance management, coaching and regular feedback and ensures that staff receive appropriate support and development opportunities.
• Identifies finance team capacity and skills gaps and leads appropriate training, mentoring and professional development initiatives.
• Participates in recruitment, selection and onboarding of finance staff and ensures effective integration into the finance function.
• Promotes an inclusive, respectful and equitable working environment, ensuring equal oppor-tunities, diversity and non-discrimination within the finance team.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Oversees the maintenance of finance and related administrative filing systems and ensures that records are complete, accurate, secure and accessible to authorised personnel.
• Ensures timely coordination and submission of financial and administrative documentation required by management, country office, HQ, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ensures that confidential financial and administrative information is appropriately protected and managed.
• Coordinates with HR, administration, logistics, programme and other departments on matters with financial and administrative implications.
• Ensures that statutory financial and administrative obligations are appropriately followed up and documented.
• Performs other finance-related management and administrative duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the supervisor.

Safeguarding

• Maintains confidentiality and integrity in financial processes while raising awareness of safeguarding risks linked to fraud, corruption, or misuse of funds.
• Ensures compliance with safeguarding policies and ethical standards by promoting respectful, inclusive, confidential, and accountable financial practices while promptly reporting and escalating concerns. It strengthens financial controls and payment systems to prevent fraud, corruption, aid diversion, abuse of power, discrimination, and gender-related risks, while integrating safeguarding and gender considerations into financial planning and management.
• Applies and upholds the organisation’s safeguarding policies and Code of Conduct in daily work, ensuring respectful, inclusive and non-discriminatory behaviour and taking responsibility for immediately reporting any concerns related to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
• Maintains confidentiality and integrity in financial processes while raising awareness of safeguarding risks linked to fraud, corruption, misuse of funds or abuse of power.
• Strengthens and ensures the consistent application of financial controls to prevent fraud, corruption, aid diversion or other practices that could breach safeguarding policies.
• Ensures that payment systems are transparent, accountable and designed to uphold the safety, dignity and equal treatment of recipients.
• Identifies and escalates financial, operational or safeguarding risks, including risks related to discrimination, gender inequality or abuse of power.
• Ensures that safeguarding and gender considerations are appropriately reflected in relevant financial planning, controls, budgets and management processes.

Safety & Security

• Ensures that finance operations comply with organisational safety and security procedures and that relevant risks are identified and appropriately managed.
• Oversees the safe management, movement and protection of cash, financial assets, docu-ments and other resources.
• Ensures that banking, cash movements and other finance-related activities are conducted in accordance with applicable safety and security procedures.
• Provides guidance to finance and relevant operational staff on safe financial practices and appropriate risk mitigation measures.
• Reports and escalates safety and security risks or incidents that may affect staff, financial as-sets or continuity of finance operations.
• Supports contingency planning and business continuity measures to maintain essential financial operations during emergencies or operational disruptions.

Person Specification

Professional Qualification and Experience

Essential

• University Degree in Finance, Accounting or any Business-related qualification from a recognized institution.
• Full professional qualification in CPA(K) or ACCA.
• A member of accounting professional body with good standing.
• At least six years’ experience in a similar position with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Experience in financial management, budgeting, reporting and compliance within an NGO, INGO or similar organisation.
• Experience supervising and developing finance staff.
• Experience working with NGOs or international organizations.
• Experience in partner financial management and financial capacity strengthening.

Desirable

• Experience working with donor-funded projects and managing donor financial requirements.
• Knowledge of national financial regulations and international accounting or auditing standards.
• Experience supporting internal and external audits and financial risk management.
• Experience in SUN system of accounting.
• Experience managing multi-currency grants from major donors.
• Experience managing multi-country operations.

Skills

• Strong analytical, financial planning, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, including coaching, mentoring and perfor-mance management.
• Able to organise, plan ahead and prioritise multiple tasks while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present financial information and draft clear financial documents.
• Able to provide sound financial advice and communicate complex financial information to non-finance colleagues.
• High level of integrity, discretion, accountability and professional judgement.
• Flexible and able to adapt to changing operational and organisational requirements.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, gender equality and respectful teamwork.
• Able to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Able to travel to the responsible countries and work in challenging or basic conditions where required.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of local languages will be an added advantage.

Johanniter Safeguarding Statement and / or Commitment
It is Johanniter’s responsibility to create an environment built on integrity, respect and accountability, in which all staff and volunteers are comfortable to work and feel safe. We have a zero-tolerance policy when people cause harm to others. Those who misbehave or are complicit will be held accountable for harmful actions. It is the employee’s responsibility to promote appropriate behaviour and to report infringements that could potentially harm those in our organisation’s care and damage the reputation of Johanniter. Those who raise complaints or concerns will be appropriately protected and respected.

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