Head of Finance and Operations

Role Overview

AFIDEP is looking for a senior finance and operations professional to join its Senior Management Team and take responsibility for the institute’s financial health, operational efficiency, and compliance across all country offices. In this role, you will shape multi-year financial plans, lead budget and cash-flow forecasting, and ensure that donor funds are managed with transparency and rigour. You will also oversee a wide operational portfolio spanning procurement, administration, ICT, and facilities, while advising the Executive Director and Board on financial performance, risk, and strategic resourcing.

The Head of Finance and Operations acts as both a strategic partner and a hands-on manager, balancing high-level institutional planning with the day-to-day work of keeping financial systems accurate, audit-ready, and fit for purpose in a multi-donor, multi-currency environment. The role involves close collaboration with programme teams, sub-grantees, donors, and external auditors, as well as direct leadership of a multifunctional finance and operations team across Kenya, Malawi, and other programme locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the annual institutional planning and budgeting process, allocating resources across projects and country offices, modelling cash flow, and setting cost-recovery and indirect-cost strategies.
• Oversee day-to-day finance and accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, bank reconciliations, and month-end and year-end close in compliance with IFRS.
• Manage treasury and liquidity across all locations, including foreign-currency exposure, banking relationships, and the investment of institutional reserves.
• Prepare and present clear, timely financial reports, budget analyses, and risk assessments for the Executive Director, Senior Management Team, Board, Finance/Audit Committee, donors, and statutory authorities.
• Supervise the entire grants management lifecycle — from proposal budgeting and donor agreement review through expenditure tracking, financial reporting, sub-grantee due diligence, and grant close-out — ensuring strict adherence to donor requirements.
• Design and continuously strengthen internal controls, maintain the institutional risk register and asset register, and coordinate internal and external audits to keep the institute fully audit-ready and compliant.
• Provide strategic oversight of administration, facilities, procurement, and ICT systems, including vendor contracts, lease agreements, data security, business continuity, and value-for-money purchasing.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop the Finance and Operations team across all locations, while building financial understanding and compliance awareness among programme and non-finance staff.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in commerce, accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, plus a full professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACA, ACCA, ACMA, CFA, or equivalent) and current membership in a recognised accountancy body such as ICPAK or ICAM.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in finance and operations, with at least 5 years in a senior multifunctional leadership role — preferably as Head of Finance, Director of Finance and Operations, or equivalent — in an international NGO, research organisation, or development institution.
• Extensive hands-on experience managing finances in a multi-donor environment, with a working knowledge of bilateral, multilateral, and private foundation donor regulations, donor financial reviews, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience running consolidated financial operations across multiple countries and currencies, including foreign-exchange risk management, multi-currency reporting, and statutory tax and labour compliance in Kenya and/or Malawi.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable ERP system, strong Excel and financial-modelling skills, and experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop geographically dispersed, multifunctional teams, with experience in capacity building, performance management, and succession planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial and risk information clearly to Board members, donors, and non-financial stakeholders.
• Desirable experience includes managing audits in multiple jurisdictions, providing ICT governance and digital-transformation oversight, using grants management platforms such as Salesforce or Fluxx, and strengthening procurement and supply-chain processes in an NGO setting.
• Personal attributes include high integrity, strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, partners, auditors, and internal teams.