The Role
Lead finance for a multi-country supply chain alliance: provide strategic financial partnering, oversee trade finance and treasury, manage FP&A and reporting, build controls and scalable processes, and develop the finance team to support growth across Africa.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Title: Finance Manager
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employment Type: Permanent
Travel: Frequent travel across Africa, with periodic international travel
Reporting To: Group CFO and Supply Chain Alliance Management
Industry: International Supply Chain & Logistics
About Our Client
Our client is a newly established Supply Chain Alliance formed through the collaboration of two well-established global organizations with extensive expertise in international supply chains, logistics, trade finance, commodity management, and risk management.
The alliance brings together global supply chain and multimodal logistics capabilities to provide clients with integrated end-to-end solutions across sourcing, financing, customs clearance, warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and distribution.
The partnership operates across Africa and leverages innovative Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Purchaser Managed Inventory (PMI) models to optimize supply chains, improve inventory visibility, manage risk, and provide clients with reliable and cost-effective solutions.
As the alliance continues to expand across the continent, it is seeking an ambitious, driven, self-motivated, and results-oriented Finance Manager to join its growing team.
Job Summary
The Finance Manager will provide strategic financial leadership across the alliance, going beyond traditional finance responsibilities to support complex international trade flows, financial risk management, business growth, and scalable financial processes and governance.
The successful candidate will act as a Finance Business Partner, Trade Finance Expert, and strategic advisor, supporting management in decision-making, performance optimization, and value creation across the growing business.
The role offers exposure to international supply chains, structured trade finance, treasury, commodity-related transactions, senior leadership, and strategic business decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Finance Business Partnering
• Act as a trusted financial advisor to leadership on financial performance, profitability, and risk.
• Support commercial teams in structuring trade transactions, evaluating margins and risk-return profiles, pricing, and working capital.
• Provide financial insights to support business expansion across Africa.
• Contribute to investment cases, business plans, and senior management and Board-level reporting.
Trade Finance & Risk Management
• Oversee end-to-end trade finance processes, including Letters of Credit (LCs), guarantees, documentary collections, and structured trade finance solutions.
• Monitor and manage foreign exchange, commodity price, and counterparty risks.
• Support effective hedging and financial risk mitigation strategies.
• Liaise with banks and financial institutions on funding and trade finance structures.
Treasury & Working Capital Optimization
• Manage cash flow across complex trade cycles, from origin and warehousing to final delivery.
• Optimize inventory financing, receivables, payables, and liquidity across multiple jurisdictions.
• Drive the efficient use of equity and debt financing.
• Support funding strategies aligned with business growth objectives.
Financial Planning, Analysis & Performance Management
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning.
• Develop profitability analysis by country, product, and client, including margin tracking for VMI and PMI models.
• Monitor KPIs covering volumes, pricing, logistics costs, margins, and working capital.
• Provide clear and actionable financial reports and insights to senior stakeholders.
Accounting, Reporting & Governance
• Oversee the full accounting cycle, including revenue recognition, cost accounting, intercompany transactions, reconciliations, and financial close processes.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS/local GAAP, tax, and regulatory requirements across relevant jurisdictions.
• Prepare high-quality monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
Internal Controls & Compliance
• Build and implement a robust internal control environment appropriate for a growing, multi-country operation.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, banking covenants, and applicable trade finance regulations.
• Manage internal and external audit processes.
• Establish governance frameworks aligned with the standards of the alliance's partner organizations.
Process Building & Scalability
• Design and implement scalable financial processes to support business growth across multiple countries.
• Improve financial systems, tools, reporting, and automation.
• Support ERP and finance system enhancements where required.
• Drive process standardization and operational efficiency across geographies.
Leadership & Team Development
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team.
• Promote a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with operations, logistics, commercial, and supply chain teams.
• Support talent development in line with the alliance's growth strategy.
Requirements
Required Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• Master's degree or MBA is an added advantage.
• Professional finance or accounting certification is advantageous.
• 8–10 years of experience in senior finance or accounting roles within banking, trade finance, corporate finance, commodities, logistics, or international supply chains.
• Strong knowledge of trade finance instruments, corporate accounting, and tax regulations.
• Proficiency in accounting and financial management systems, with advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, leadership, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of foreign exchange, commodity pricing, and cross-border regulations is an added advantage.
Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of:
• Trade finance instruments
• IFRS and financial reporting
• Treasury and cash management
• Cross-border taxation and regulatory environments
Good understanding of:
• Foreign exchange markets and hedging
• Commodity trading mechanisms
• Supply chain financing
• ERP and financial reporting systems
Leadership & Business Competencies
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
• Ability to balance business growth with financial and operational risk.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including engagement with banks and financial institutions.
• High level of autonomy, ownership, and accountability.
Personal Attributes
• Entrepreneurial and innovative mindset.
• Highly driven, resilient, and results-oriented.
• Strong integrity and accountability.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, multi-country environments.
• Adaptable and agile in a fast-changing business environment.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field
- Master's degree or MBA
- Professional finance or accounting certification (e.g., ACCA, CPA)
- 8-10 years in senior finance/accounting roles within banking, trade finance, corporate finance, commodities, logistics, or international supply chains
- Strong knowledge of trade finance instruments, corporate accounting, and tax regulations
- Proficiency in accounting and financial management systems and advanced Excel skills
- Experience with IFRS and financial reporting and treasury/cash management
- Knowledge of foreign exchange, commodity pricing, and cross-border regulations
- Experience designing internal controls, managing internal/external audits, and governance frameworks across multi-country operations
- Strong analytical, strategic planning, leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
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The Company
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