Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Chief Finance Officer to join Mara Elephant Project (MEP) in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a senior leadership position responsible for developing and implementing financial strategies that align with MEP's strategic plan and operational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with MEP's strategic plan and operational priorities
• Provide high-quality financial analysis and decision support to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board
• Lead long-term financial planning, scenario modelling, and funding risk analysis to strengthen sustainability
• Act as the principal advisor to the CEO and Board on financial sustainability, funding risks, and long-term financial planning
• Safeguard organizational assets, ensuring ethical, efficient, and mission-aligned deployment
• Provide financial oversight for major supplier and vendor relationships, ensuring value for money and compliance
• Engage with the Board, funders, and other stakeholders to communicate financial performance and build trust

Financial Governance & Compliance

• Act as senior custodian of financial governance, internal control, and risk management frameworks
• Ensure compliance with statutory, donor, and regulatory obligations across all operations
• Oversee timely filing of statutory returns, payroll obligations, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting
• Lead engagements with auditors, regulators, and governance committees to ensure transparency and credibility
• Monitor changes in regulatory and donor compliance requirements and advise management proactively
• Maintain robust documentation, audit trails, and compliance records to withstand audit and donor scrutiny

Risk Management & Strategy

• Strengthen supplier due diligence and financial elements of supplier pre-qualification processes
• Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and lead development of mitigation strategies
• Support the Board and management in strengthening governance frameworks, financial policies, and accountability mechanisms
• Lead annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting linked to programme plans, operational needs, and funding pipelines
• Monitor budget performance and analyze financial variances