Ngo Finance Jobs In Kenya

NGO Finance Jobs in Kenya

Kenya boasts a vibrant NGO sector, playing a critical role in development across various fields like healthcare, education, environmental conservation, and human rights. This extensive reach necessitates robust financial management, creating numerous finance-related job opportunities for qualified professionals.

Common Roles and Responsibilities:

The spectrum of finance roles within Kenyan NGOs is diverse. Entry-level positions often include Finance Assistants or Officers, responsible for tasks like processing payments, maintaining financial records, and assisting with budgeting. Mid-level roles encompass Senior Finance Officers or Accountants, who handle more complex accounting tasks, prepare financial reports, and manage budgets. Leadership positions like Finance Managers or Directors are responsible for overseeing the entire finance department, developing financial strategies, ensuring compliance, and managing donor relations regarding financial matters.

Responsibilities commonly found across these roles include:

• Budgeting and Forecasting: Developing and monitoring budgets, forecasting financial performance, and providing financial analysis to inform decision-making.
• Financial Reporting: Preparing accurate and timely financial reports for internal management, donors, and regulatory bodies. This often involves adhering to specific donor reporting requirements.
• Grant Management: Managing grants effectively, ensuring compliance with donor regulations, and tracking expenditures against grant budgets.
• Accounting and Bookkeeping: Maintaining accurate accounting records, processing transactions, and ensuring proper internal controls.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with Kenyan financial regulations, tax laws, and donor requirements.
• Auditing: Preparing for and managing both internal and external audits.
• Payroll Management: Processing payroll accurately and ensuring compliance with relevant labor laws.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Generally, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is a minimum requirement. Professional certifications such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) are highly valued and often required for senior roles. Experience in accounting software, such as QuickBooks or Sage, is also essential.

Beyond technical skills, successful candidates need strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), and a commitment to the NGO’s mission. The ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, is crucial. Familiarity with donor regulations and reporting requirements is a significant advantage.

Finding Opportunities:

Numerous online platforms advertise NGO finance jobs in Kenya. Popular job boards like BrighterMonday, CareerPoint Kenya, and LinkedIn regularly feature openings. NGO websites themselves often list vacancies. Networking within the NGO sector can also be a valuable way to discover opportunities. Additionally, organizations focused on connecting development professionals with employment opportunities can be helpful resources.

Salary and Benefits:

Salaries in the NGO sector can vary depending on the size of the organization, the role’s seniority, and the candidate’s experience. While often not as high as in the private sector, many NGOs offer competitive benefits packages that may include health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.