The Global Development Incubator (GDI) is a non-profit entity legally registered under the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act of Kenya. GDI Africa has a global partnership with the GDI USA-incorporated entity that is registered as a 501c3 non-profit and GDI Asia located in Hong Kong. GDI Africa’s principal area of operation is in Kenya, with several ongoing initiatives across Africa. The GDI Mission is to bring together ideas, leaders and capital to build and scale the next generation of social impact solutions. Scaled impact is achieved through two pathways: i) a set of top-down initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and / or sectors, and ii) bottom-up engagements with individual enterprises incubated to drive impact at scale.

The GDI ‘Growth Engineering’ process is used to execute across the two impact pathways, adapting as needed or focusing on sub-components of the process to best suit a given engagement. The GDI 4-step ‘growth engineering’ / incubation process involves: i) Discovery phase (conduct a thorough and thoughtful review to get to the root problems, explore potential solutions and find the breakthrough idea); ii) Design phase (collaborate with partners to iterate on solutions and integrate interdisciplinary approaches that generate momentum towards a solution); iii) Build phase (connect with funders and networks; develop the leadership teams, governance, systems, and processes needed to transform ideas into actions); iv) Exit phase (launch entrepreneurs and innovators into the next phase of growth. Set future milestones and transfer knowledge in order to ensure that the initiative is ready to stand alone). See more on GDI’s approach and work on the following website: www.globaldevincubator.org

Position:                  Finance Officer

Reports to:             Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Start Date:              Immediate

Contract length:   Twelve (12) months

Salary Range:        KES 300,000 – KES 370,000

Location:                 Nairobi, Kenya/Hybrid

About the Role: The GDI Finance Officer is a key member of the finance team, effectively contributing to its success, and the overall financial integrity of the organization.

Illustrative Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and continuous review of financial processes/procedures that enhance operational efficiency and curtail business risk.
• Ensure strict, sensible, and demonstrable observance of established financial controls.
• Offer efficient, timely business services to internally oriented customers (staff, consultants) and external parties (funders, donors, program participants, and beneficiaries).
• Guide other staff to interpret, understand and follow organizational-wide business accountability mechanisms.
• Keep proper, current, accurate, and complete records and books for GDI projects; Carry out precise, cogent accounting of financial transactions from source records (internal requisitions, payment vouchers, liquidation documents, purchase orders, etc.) to data capture/recording, and reporting.
• Prepare usable project financial reports to quality and time standards; Review and analyze the financials with the concerned budget holders, agree and follow up on the disposition of any identified variances.
• Work with concerned technical project managers to guide and help prepare solid project budgets that align with related technical proposals, and ensuing project cash flow forecasts.
• Regularly apprise budget holders on needful donor/funder compliance matters, and emergent or imminent cost overruns.
• Monthly processing of staff payroll, and related statutory filings.
• Payables and Receivables management.
• Handle statutory as well as project-specific audits, tax compliance, and NGO Board reporting.
• Undertake any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Desired Competencies:

• Demonstrate capacity to lead project management and delivery by taking an idea or nascent project into a final deliverable.
• Spot operational opportunities and risks.
• Demonstrate capacity to manage relationships for at least a few external stakeholders (e.g. funders).
• Demonstrate understanding of client/partner perspective and needs.
• Demonstrate ability to make complex or technical ideas accessible.
• Generate new ideas for improving data analysis and synthesis.
• Demonstrated capacity for managing up.
• Contribute to business development through the creation of relevant tools, templates, and data management resources.
• Identify opportunities to improve GDI-wide collaboration and culture.
• Manage bookkeeping and execution of financial operations and revenue recognition.
• Demonstrate mastery of internal F&O processes.
• Capable of supporting managers in providing guidance to initiatives and external clients.

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• University degree in commerce, accounting, finance, or related business field. A postgraduate qualification is desirable.
• Professional: Full professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, etc.)
• At least seven (7) years in a similar position and context, including proficiency in ERP’s, grants and contracts management.
• Essential skills: Budgeting, Accounting & bookkeeping, Financial planning & analytics, Compliance, Taxation, Cloud computing

Qualities of GDI Employees

• Demonstrate leadership qualities, motivate others and have an ability to communicate concisely to convey ideas, present findings and facilitate discussions effectively;
• Doers, not talker - possess a relentless drive to get things done, drive social impact and tackle the world’s biggest challenges in new ways;
• Have razor-sharp problem-solving skills with an aptitude to analyze complex situations, identify challenges and devise strategic solutions that contribute to initiative and organizational success;
• Possess the ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities, tasks and environments while maintaining effectiveness and productivity.
• Demonstrate a willingness to explore creative ideas, embrace change and contribute to the evolution of initiatives and processes using innovative approaches, relevant software, tools and systems for enhanced efficiency.
• Have the ability to move fluidly between collaborative and independent work styles, all the while building strong relationships, fostering teamwork, and managing conflicts constructively, with a sense of humor and humility.

Interested candidates who meet the desired qualification are encouraged to submit their Cover Letter and CV in one PDF document by September 8, 2023. Within the cover letter, indicate your interest in the role, experience and passion for social impact, and your expected salary.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. GDI internal applicants will be given preference.