Akili Dada Head of Finance and Operations Jobs in Kenya
About Akili Dada
Akili Dada is an award-winning leadership incubator committed to nurturing transformational feminist leadership among girls and young women from underserved backgrounds.
The organization supports girls and young women through education, mentorship, leadership development, advocacy and movement building.
Its mission is to increase the number of African women in leadership and create sustainable social transformation.
Job Summary
The Head of Finance & Operations serves as the senior leader responsible for financial stewardship, operational excellence, risk management and institutional controls.
The role provides strategic leadership in financial planning, governance, compliance, budgeting, operational efficiency and organizational sustainability.
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the position advises the Executive Director, Finance Committee and Board on financial health, risk management, resource allocation and long-term sustainability.
The role ensures that finance and operations functions support programme delivery through efficient systems, strong internal controls and effective decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership
Lead the finance and operations strategy and annual departmental planning process.
Advise the Executive Director and SMT on sustainability, affordability, resource allocation and cost recovery.
Develop multi-year financial models, forecasts and scenario plans.
Provide financial analysis and reports to the Finance Committee and Board.
Advise on reserves, liquidity, investments, receivables, payables and funding diversification.
Budgeting and Performance Analysis
Lead annual budgeting and quarterly reforecast processes.
Ensure budgets align with work plans, staffing, procurement requirements and donor restrictions.
Produce monthly budget-versus-actual analyses and recommend corrective actions.
Monitor spending patterns and address budgeting risks or inefficiencies.
Financial Reporting and Governance
Ensure timely preparation of monthly management accounts and performance dashboards.
Prepare Board and Finance Committee reports covering financial performance, cash position, reserves, compliance and risk.
Maintain reporting schedules and governance timelines.
Translate financial information into practical insights for non-finance stakeholders.
Grant Finance and Donor Compliance
Establish standards for proposal costing, donor reporting, restricted fund management and grant closeout processes.
Review and approve donor budgets and financial reports.
Allocate donor portfolios across finance team members.
Support fundraising and programme teams while safeguarding compliance requirements.
Controls, Compliance and Risk Management
Maintain finance, procurement, travel, cash advance, asset, reserves and delegated authority frameworks.
Ensure segregation of duties, reconciliations and financial control procedures are functioning effectively.
Maintain organizational compliance calendars and statutory obligations.
Manage finance and operational risks and support mitigation planning.
Audit and Assurance
Lead audit planning, readiness and governance processes.
Oversee coordination of audit requirements and evidence preparation.
Manage auditor engagement and communication with governance bodies.
Ensure audit recommendations are implemented and repeat findings prevented.
Treasury, Payroll and Investments
Oversee banking relationships, liquidity management and payment controls.
Review and approve payroll and statutory compliance schedules.
Monitor receivables, payables
and cash advances.
Manage investment performance and treasury activities.
Procurement and Operational Excellence
Establish procurement governance standards, approval thresholds and service levels.
Oversee vendor management, logistics, facilities and operational systems.
Monitor procurement performance and operational risks.
Promote value for money and operational efficiency.
Systems, Data and Automation
Lead finance and operations systems development and automation initiatives.
Strengthen ERP controls, reporting automation and workflow efficiency.
Reduce reliance on manual processes and spreadsheets.
Ensure business continuity and adequate process documentation.
People Leadership and Succession Management
Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for direct reports.
Develop clear objectives, KPIs and development plans.
Promote accountability, documentation and continuous improvement.
Maintain succession planning and cross-training across critical functions.
Collaborate with HR on recruitment, performance and employee relations matters.
Key Performance Indicators
Monthly close completed within 10 working days.
Timely delivery of monthly SMT finance reports.
Accurate rolling cash forecasts and quarterly reforecasts.
100% timely donor financial reporting compliance.
Successful audit completion with no repeat high-risk findings.
Strong segregation of duties and control compliance.
Timely budget-holder accountability and reporting.
Effective cash-flow and working capital management.
Implementation of governance and financial control policies.
Improved ERP utilization and reduction of manual processes.
Successful team development and succession planning.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should possess:
A relevant Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
Professional accounting qualification such as CPA(K), ACCA or equivalent.
At least eight (8) years of progressive finance experience.
Minimum three (3) years' experience in a finance leadership role.
Strong NGO or nonprofit sector experience is preferred.
Experience managing donor-funded programmes, grants and restricted funds.
Experience in budgeting, forecasting, treasury management, audits and statutory compliance.
Experience improving ERP systems, controls and reporting processes.
Experience overseeing procurement and operational functions.
Strong leadership, change management and stakeholder engagement skills.
Required Competencies
Strategic financial leadership and analytical thinking.
Integrity and stewardship.
Risk-based decision-making.
Strong delegation and accountability skills.
Operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Business partnering and stakeholder management.
Problem-solving and sound judgment.
Board-level communication and reporting skills.
Coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
How to apply
For more information and job application details, see; Akili Dada Head of Finance and Operations Jobs in Kenya
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