Senior Finance Operations Officer

Senior Finance Operations Officer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya Industry: Retail

Salary Range: KES 90,000 (Gross per month)

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Senior Finance Operations Officer to join our dynamic finance team in the retail sector. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across accounts payable, receivable, treasury management, and reporting functions.
The role demands a proactive professional who can optimize financial operations, strengthen internal controls, ability to lead and provide insightful analysis to support the company’s strategic objectives in a dynamic retail environment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Accounts Payable & Supplier Management

• Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, ensuring all supplier invoices are processed and paid accurately and on time.
• Manage employee expense reimbursements and ensure policy compliance.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships and negotiate favourable payment terms.
• Ensure accurate cost posting to the correct ledger accounts and cost centers.

2. Accounts Receivable & Cash Application

• Supervise billing and collections for B2B sales, consignment, and other credit transactions.
• Monitor customer accounts for overdue balances and drive collection efforts.
• Oversee daily reconciliation of cash receipts from POS and online payment systems.
• Manage the accurate application of cash, cheques, and credit card payments.

3. Cash & Treasury Management

• Prepare daily cash flow forecasts and reports to ensure sufficient liquidity for operations.
• Manage banking relationships and oversee bank reconciliations.
• Monitor petty cash usage across retail outlets.
• Enforce strict cash handling controls to minimize losses.

4. Inventory Accounting & Cost Control

• Oversee financial accounting of inventory, including reconciliation of stock counts.
• Analyse and report on shrinkage, write-offs, and obsolete stock.
• Collaborate with supply chain and merchandising teams for accurate COGS reporting.
• Support physical stock counts and ensure accurate accounting entries.

5. Financial Operations & Compliance

• Prepare and review key financial reports such as daily sales summaries, weekly cash flow statements, and monthly P&L extracts.
• Lead month-end closing for all operational finance areas.
• Perform and resolve balance sheet reconciliations for key accounts (bank, payables, receivables, inventory).
• Prepare and file all tax returns and statutory submissions before deadlines.

6. Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify and implement continuous process improvements for efficiency and accuracy.
• Serve as a super-user for finance modules in the Retail ERP/MIS system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics).
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for finance operations.
• Support the integration of financial systems for new store openings or acquisitions.

7. Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise, train, and mentor junior finance team members.
• Effectively assign responsibilities and empower team members to take ownership of their tasks.
• Supervise staff by directly managing, mentoring, and coaching
• Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and help team members set and achieve development goals.

8. Compliance, Risk & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, financial regulations, and legal requirements.
• Prepare for and facilitate internal and external audits, providing necessary documentation and evidence.
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality in all financial operations.
• Identify potential financial risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate them.

9. Reporting & Communication

• Prepare and present regular financial reports on operational performance, metrics, and challenges to senior management.
• Act as a key communication link between the finance team and other departments, such as Sales, Marketing, and HR, to ensure alignment.
• Lead daily stand-ups, team meetings, and cross-functional meetings to synchronize efforts and address issues.

10. Process Improvement & Optimization

• Continuously review existing financial processes to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
• Design, document, and roll out new processes, workflows, and standard financing procedures (SOPs).
• Lead or participate in initiatives to reduce costs, improve quality, speed up delivery, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Identify and advocate for the adoption of new tools or software to automate manual tasks and improve financial capabilities

11. Daily Operational Management

• Manage the day-to-day workflow of the finance department or team, ensuring tasks are completed on time and to standard.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like Cost to Process a Single Invoice, Operational Cost as a Percentage of Revenue, and Early Payment Discount Capture Rate.
• Serve as the first point of contact for finance issues, disruptions, or emergencies, implementing immediate corrective actions.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or Commerce (Master’s in the same is highly recommended) from a recognized institution.
• Professional Certification: CPA (K), ACCA, or equivalent qualification is mandatory.
• Minimum of 8 years’ progressive experience in finance operations, with at least 4 years in a supervisory role, preferably in the retail industry.
• Technology savvy with a high level of proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and accounting software packages (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, SAP, Tally)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of retail accounting, inventory, financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting standards (IFRS).
• An analytical mind, comfortable with numbers.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, lead a team, manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast- paced environment.

How to Apply:

If your profile, qualifications, and experience fit the description, send your CV and cover letter to careers@morsanhr.co.ke, indicating “Senior Finance Operation Officer – Retail” as the subject. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.