Position Title: Finance & Administration Officer – AECF

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development institution that finances early and growth-stage businesses to innovate, create jobs, and leverage investments and markets to create resilience and sustainable incomes in rural and marginalized communities in Africa.

Since 2008, we have invested over US$ 450 million in over 425 businesses across sub-Sahara Africa focusing on Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, and Climate-smart Technologies. We have impacted more than 31 million lives, created over 29,000 direct jobs, and leveraged over US$ 808 million in matching funds to our portfolio companies.

AECF is currently expanding its programs in Africa and our new strategy is looking to unlock the power of the private sector further to improve the livelihoods of rural and marginalized communities. We are therefore looking for an individual willing to be part of this journey, in helping to define and implement our strategic objectives in a bold and innovative manner.

The incumbent will support the financial and administrative aspects of the Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund Programme (KKCF). He/ she will be responsible for providing timely and efficient accounting and financial support services specifically to this program while ensuring accuracy and completeness in the payment processes, data management, maintaining high financial management and control standards as well as providing administrative support to the program team.

The Finance & Administration Officer will serve as the finance liaison to AECF’s donors and will represent AECF at any donor and program partner meetings and ensure consolidation of the periodic award budgets, financial reports, strong tracking of program expenditures, continual analysis of program cash flow and ensure compliance with AECF’s and donor policies.

AECF is headquartered in Nairobi with offices in Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

The role will report to the Programme Manager.

About Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund (KKCF)

The KKCF is a competitive financing mechanism for disbursing donor funding to incentivize for- profit companies, social enterprises, and local and refugee entrepreneurs to start or scale existing operations in the Kakuma-Kalobeyei area. Attracting the private sector to the area and supporting local entrepreneurs has the potential to expand job opportunities, improve services, provide more choice, and reduce prices. In turn, this could enhance self-reliance and socioeconomic integration of both refugee and host communities, while also contributing to the development of Turkana County.

KKCF is a program of International Finance Corporation (IFC) and AECF is the implementing partner.

We seek to recruit a Finance and Administration Officer who will support us in enhancing efficiency and financial controls in the Kakuma Kalobeyei Challenge Fund Programme (KKCF).

Key responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Support in ensuring the accuracy of postings that align to the Programme design and budgets.
• Provide overall financial oversight to KKCF at all stages including timely preparation of budgets and financial reports.
• Maintain primary relationships and correspondence with donors on all financial requests and queries.
• Develop and update Program-specific budget and financial reporting templates for AECF and investees, as requested by the donor.
• Assist the management accounting team and Head of Finance to prepare accurate and reasonable institutional budgets and budget narratives, consistent with the institutional strategy, and adhere to donor and AECF policies.
• Provide periodic budget monitoring reports to the program teams to guide in decision making with the ultimate aim of meeting donor expectations.
• Track, report and consolidate monthly program expenses, burn rates and cash received from donors/funders.
• Prepare consolidated programme financial reports based on the contract obligation schedules.
• Maintain and monitor a consolidated investees financial tracking tool for the entire program.
• Ensure program audits are conducted on time and audit findings resolved adequately.

Administration:

• Assist in the maintenance of an inventory database and ensure insurance cover is in force at all times.
• Receive all inventory items from suppliers, verify such deliveries against approved orders and ensure such items are safely stored.
• Maintain relationships and liaise with service providers for timely and quality services at all times.

Suitable Candidate should:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in commerce, Accounting or Finance specialization or similar qualifications.
• Must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or hold an equivalent professional accounting qualification e.g., ACCA.
• Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in program accounting and financial management in not-for-profit sector and/or development finance institutions. Experience working with IFC/World Bank funded programs desirable.
• Must be computer proficient and familiar with a range of software applications including MS Excel, MS Word.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Dynamic ERP software.
• Possess excellent analytical and communication skills with the ability to prepare financial reports to a high level of proficiency.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work with a cross-cultural team.
• Possess excellent written and spoken English is essential.
• Knowledge of any local language (Kiswahili, Juba Arabic, Somali, Turkana) is an asset.