Finance Manager

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  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.  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.  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.  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  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.  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.  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.  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  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.  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.  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).  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  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.  Stakeholder Relations: Act as the primary corporate liaison for external auditors, commercial banks, financial institutions, investors, and venture capitalists (VCs).  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  Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a business-related field from a recognized institution.  Certification: CPA-K (Certified Public Accountant - Kenya) designation is mandatory. Must be a member in good standing with ICPAK. Experience & Skills  Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in financial management, accounting, or corporate finance, preferably within the FMCG, retail, or logistics sector.  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).  Leadership: Proven track record of managing and coaching finance teams, alongside exceptional stakeholder management skills for dealing with VCs, banks, and auditors.