Job Overview 

The Finance Manager provides operational financial leadership for Childcare Worldwide Kenya while supporting responsible financial planning and stewardship. This role safeguards the financial integrity of the ministry and ensures that every resource entrusted to CW-Kenya is managed with excellence, transparency, and accountability.

This role balances hands-on accounting responsibilities with strengthening internal controls, documentation practices, and financial oversight. Beyond transactional accounting, the Finance Manager identifies risks, resolves balance sheet and reconciliation issues, and implements corrective financial processes where needed.

The Finance Manager works closely with the  Country Director and collaborates with regional and U.S. finance partners. This role collaborates with the Finance Assistant and supports the day-to-day financial operations of the Kenya office. Through faithful financial management, this role supports the mission of sharing the Gospel and serving children with excellence.

Job Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Oversight

• Lead and oversee all finance operations within the Kenya office, ensuring faithful stewardship of all ministry resources.
• Safeguard financial integrity, accuracy, and completeness across all accounting functions.
• Provide financial reports, analysis, and insights to support the Country Director in making informed, mission-aligned decisions.
• Strengthen finance systems, documentation, and process clarity to reduce reliance on informal or undocumented institutional knowledge.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accountability, and excellence within the finance function.

Accounting, Reporting & Analysis

• Maintain accurate and timely financial records in QuickBooks Online or other approved systems.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, balance sheets, and leadership reports that provide clear financial visibility.
• Review and reconcile bank accounts, general ledger accounts, and adjustment registers with diligence and precision.
• Identify discrepancies, irregularities, or unresolved balances and implement corrective action plans.
• Ensure accruals, reserves, and reconciliations are properly recorded and supported by documentation.
• Provide clear financial reporting and explanations to leadership.

Compliance, Audit & Risk Management

• Develop, strengthen, and maintain internal control systems aligned with best practices.
• Ensure full compliance with Kenya statutory requirements (PAYE, NSSF, NHIF, and other regulatory obligations).
• Lead audit preparation and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.
• Proactively implement audit recommendations to strengthen controls and transparency.
• Monitor financial records and reconciliation processes to identify discrepancies, control weaknesses, or potential risks, and escalate concerns to the Country Director with recommended corrective actions.

Budget & Financial Planning

• Partner with the Country Director and department leads to develop annual budgets aligned with ministry priorities.
• Monitor budget performance and provide thoughtful variance analysis.
• Support responsible budgeting and financial planning for the Kenya office.
• Ensure leadership decisions are supported by reliable financial data and projections.

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Work closely with the Finance Assistant to support day-to-day financial operations, ensure accurate recordkeeping, and maintain consistent finance processes across the Kenya office.
• Provide oversight of administrative operations to ensure alignment with financial controls, including procurement processes, vendor approvals, and operational compliance, in coordination with the Finance Assistant.
• Collaborate with Uganda and other regional finance leaders to promote shared standards and alignment.
• Model Christ-centered leadership marked by humility, integrity, and stewardship.

Cultural Commitments

• Christ-Centered Stewardship: A vibrant personal faith in Jesus Christ that informs your integrity, decision-making, and approach to managing entrusted resources.
• Kingdom Accountability: A deep conviction that financial stewardship is an act of worship and directly impacts children, donors, and ministry effectiveness.
• Relational Excellence: Ability to build trust across departments, field offices, and global partners through humility and clear communication.
• Transparency & Integrity: A commitment to accuracy, honesty, and clear documentation, even when addressing difficult financial realities.
• Agility with Discipline: Capacity to prioritize effectively while maintaining financial precision and control.
• Service-Oriented Leadership: A desire to strengthen others through mentorship and collaborative problem-solving.
• Trustworthiness: Successful background clearance and demonstrated history of ethical conduct.

Professional Competencies

Education & Certification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.
• CPA (K) certification strongly preferred. ACCA or equivalent international certification will also be considered. Candidates with demonstrated experience and strong technical competence are encouraged to apply.

Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, preferably within an NGO or nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated experience preparing for and responding to external audits.
• Proven experience managing balance sheet reconciliations and resolving accounting discrepancies.
• Experience supervising or mentoring finance staff is preferred.

• Strong working knowledge of accounting principles and GAAP.
• High proficiency in QuickBooks Online or similar accounting software.
• Advanced spreadsheet proficiency required, including strong working knowledge of formulas, pivot tables, financial analysis, and maintaining well-documented financial workbooks.
• Experience with statutory compliance and regulatory reporting in Kenya (e.g., PAYE, NSSF, NHIF).
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of documentation discipline and process orientation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain financial information to leadership and external stakeholders.