Head of Finance and Payment Operations

Role Description

• The Head of Finance & Payment Operations is a senior leadership role that sits at the intersection of financial stewardship and operational execution. You will own CarePay’s financial health end-to-end — from strategic planning and investor reporting to accounting, tax compliance, and treasury — while simultaneously leading the Payment Operations function that sits at the heart of what we do: moving money reliably, compliantly, and at scale across healthcare ecosystems in Kenya and the Middle East.
• This is a rare opportunity for a commercially minded finance leader who thrives on complexity, understands the unique demands of fintech and health insurance, and is ready to be a critical voice in shaping CarePay’s next phase of growth. You will be a trusted partner to the Managing Director and a key member of the Management Team. 

Finance Leadership

• Own all Kenya financial planning, reporting, and analysis — including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and quarterly re-forecasting — delivered with accuracy and on time.
• Lead statutory reporting, audits, and compliance with IFRS and local tax regulatory requirements (including PAYE, withholding tax, and VAT) across all CarePay Kenya
• Drive financial and management reporting for CarePay's licensed claims subsidiary and collaborate with group finance functions across CarePay’s international operations.
• Lead annual budgeting and multi-year financial modelling; present strategic financial insights and recommendations to the executive team and board.
• Develop, implement and maintain financial policy frameworks, internal controls, and governance processes that meet both statutory requirements and best practice for a regulated fintech.
• Oversee treasury, working capital management, and banking relationships; ensure liquidity and capital efficiency across the business.
• Support deal structuring, pricing analysis, and commercial negotiations as a core member of the executive team.

Payment Operations

• Lead and continuously improve the end-to-end payment operations function, including claims disbursements, provider payments, premium collections, and mobile money integrations.
• Own payment SLAs, reconciliation accuracy, and exception management; design and enforce payment procedures and controls that ensure timeliness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Collaborate closely with Product and Technology to improve payment infrastructure, automate manual processes, and scale operations as CarePay enters new markets and segments.
• Manage relationships with payment service providers, mobile network operators, banks, and insurance regulatory counterparts relevant to fund flows.
• Ensure payment operations meet all regulatory and AML/KYC obligations across operating jurisdictions; proactively identify and mitigate operational and financial risk.

People & Organizational Leadership

• Build, mentor, and manage high-performing Finance and Payment Operations teams; set clear objectives, provide continuous feedback, and develop talent at every level.
• Serve as a visible and trusted member of the Management Team (MT); contribute commercial and operational expertise to company-wide strategy, business development, and key decisions.
• Champion a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across both functions.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, with at least 3 years in a senior finance role within fintech, insurtech, or digital health — ideally with exposure to both East Africa and the Middle East.
• Demonstrable experience owning or closely overseeing payment operations in a regulated environment — including mobile money, claims payments, or insurance premium flows.
• Deep technical knowledge of IFRS, IAS, and statutory reporting requirements in Kenya; familiarity with insurance regulatory frameworks (IRA) is a strong advantage.
• Proven track record of hands-on financial management — you have personally owned accounting, controls, audits, and cash management, not just supervised them.
• Strong commercial acumen: experience in deal structuring, pricing strategy, investor reporting, and partnership negotiations in a growth-stage or scale-up environment.
• Experienced people leader who has built and developed finance or operations teams; comfortable setting strategy while remaining hands-on where needed.
• Professional qualification required: CPA (K), ACCA, CA, or equivalent. MBA or additional qualifications in finance, strategy, or insurance are advantageous.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, cross-cultural, international environment — with a genuine commitment to CarePay’s mission of giving everyone the power to care.