SIDAI Africa Director of Finance & IT Job in Nairobi Kenya

SIDAI Africa Limited 

Position: Director of Finance & IT
Staff Reporting to Post Holder: 

• 2 Financial Accountants
• 1 IT Professional
• 1 Administrative Assistant

Reporting to: The Managing Director of Sidai Africa Ltd

Location: Nairobi with regular travel in rural Kenya and some international travel

Job Purpose: To effectively manage & direct Sidai Africa’s financial & IT resources to allow the company to achieve the social and commercial objectives set by the Board, and to support franchisees to deliver high quality services to livestock keepers and to develop profitable businesses

Key responsibilities

Effective Financial & IT systems

• Identify key financial risks throughout Sidai Africa’s operations and design & implement high quality, efficient & effective control systems to monitor and mitigate those risks
• Support the Director of Operations to design & implement high quality, efficient & cost-effective systems to produce relevant, accurate and timely data on franchise performance & quality
• Design & implement high quality, efficient & cost-effective IT systems which support the company’s social & commercial objectives and overall commitment to quality
• Ensure that systems remain appropriate and effective as Sidai Africa’s operations develop
• Ensure the attainment of high ratings on audited accounts and systems on an annual basis.

Day to day Management & Monitoring

• Support the MD in preparing and monitoring annual and quarterly operational plans and budgets including key performance indicators, ensuring that early action is taken to address issues and opportunities arising therefrom
• Support the MD in agreeing, monitoring and tracking key financial indicators and in taking action necessary to achieve financial targets
• Monitor compliance with the financial control environment through regular management review and internal audit (if appropriate) and take action to strengthen & improve controls when necessary
• Ensure all financial and IT activity is compliant with relevant statutory legislation and donor / contractual requirements.
• Plan & manage Sidai Africa’s tax liabilities under existing and proposed legislation

Deliver a High Quality Internal Service

• Provide excellent quality historical and forecast financial information throughout Sidai Africa to enable managers to understand financial performance and take appropriate action.
• Manage regular performance and cash flow forecasting throughout the organisation to ensure that up to date information on Sidai Africa’s financial position is available to support key management decisions.
• Support the Operations Director to assess, monitor and improve the financial performance of franchises as appropriate
• Ensure Sidai Africa’s IT systems are operational, fit for purpose and support day to day business activity and that any issues arising are resolved on a timely basis

Oversee Financial Training for Franchisees

• Work with the Operations Director to design an appropriate financial training programme for franchisees
• Oversee the delivery of the financial training programme as part of a wider suite of training designed & managed by the Operations Director. Deliver training sessions where appropriate. Monitor quality and outputs from the training and take action to address any issues arising.
• Provide field support to franchisees as appropriate – for example on the job training, business mentoring to franchisee staff and advising the franchisees on appropriate record keeping

Responsibilities with regard to grant management and reporting

• Support the MD to ensure that Sidai Africa meets its obligations to FARM-Africa Enterprises and FARM-Africa UK in the contractual obligations of the grant to fund the start-up of Sidai Africa Ltd.
• Ensure that all necessary financial reports on grants received are prepared on time and to a high standard according to an agreed timetable.
• Support the MD to ensure that the company understands and supports the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the grant and delivers information in a timely manner.

Staff Management

• Effectively manage the performance of all direct reports and ensure that the importance of financial best practice and proactive service are emphasised through the performance management system.
• Ensure that appropriate training, mentoring and support are provided for all key support services staff throughout the organisation.
• Lead on recruiting staff to ensure that candidates with appropriate knowledge and skills and with a commitment to the company’s vision & values are appointed.
• Ensure that team performance of is monitored regularly, that success and excellence are recognised and performance issues dealt with appropriately.

SMT Membership

• Provide strategic input to the organisations development and future growth plans.
• Play a leading role, together with fellow SMT members, in the development of the overall direction of the organisation, focusing on a holistic organisational view rather than a departmental one.
• Participate in senior management team meetings and in making appropriate organisational decisions.
• Perform such additional tasks as may reasonably be requested from time to time by the MD

Person specification 
 

The Director of Finance & IT is expected to have a proven track record of leading effective finance & IT teams as part of a successful business in East Africa and to possess the following skills, qualifications and experience:

• A first degree in a relevant discipline;
• Membership of a professional accounting body such as ICPAK or ACCA;
• A minimum of ten years’ financial and IT management experience in successful businesses, ideally in either agro or animal healthcare organisations;
• Experience of designing & implementing strong & effective systems of financial control;
• Experience in conducting effective training in financial management;
• Strong relationship management, project management, report writing, presentation and inter personal skills; and
• Proficiency in Ms Office – Ms Word, Ms Excel, Ms Power Point

Attitudes and abilities
 

It is essential that the Director of Finance & IT is committed to wealth creation among the farmers and pastoralists in Kenya and to finding innovative ways of achieving this goal. 

It is expected the Director of Finance & IT will have:

• A strong commitment to the company’s vision and values;
• Personal integrity and credibility as an inspiring & enthusiastic leader and manager;
• An innovative approach to business with strong problem-solving abilities;
• The ability to communicate clearly to a variety of people in a way that achieves the active engagement by different stakeholders;
• First-class persuasion, negotiation and relationship management skills, suited to the effective management of strategic relationships; and
• A strong empathy with rural people

How to Apply: 
 

Send your application including a cover letter indicating your desire to work with our client; a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience, details of current and expected salary, a daytime phone contact, email address, and the names of three professional referees by close of business Friday 25th April 2014

Adept Systems
Management Consultants
P O Box 6416, Nairobi, GPO 00100
Email: recruit@adeptsystems.co.ke

Only short listed candidates will be contacted. 

Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications.