Head of Finance

Head of Finance

Our client, a leading Kenyan retail development and interior solutions company, is looking for a Head of Finance for its office in Nairobi. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing strategic financial leadership and direction across the Company’s operations in Africa.

The role serves as a key business partner to the Managing Director and senior leadership team, ensuring sustainable growth, profitability, strong financial governance, effective risk management, and optimal capital allocation.

The role oversees all financial activities including financial planning and analysis, project finance, treasury, working capital management, procurement finance, compliance, taxation, financial reporting, and regional financial operations while supporting business expansion and long-term value creation.

In addition, the Head of Finance provides strategic oversight of Human Resources and Administration functions across the region, ensuring effective people management, organizational development, workforce planning, administrative governance, and operational support structures that enable business growth and regional expansion.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company’s financial strategy, advise the Managing Director on performance, investments, risks and growth opportunities, and drive profitability, cash generation and sustainable regional growth.

• Oversee financial performance across projects, including pricing, costing, tenders, BOQs, budgets and commercial proposals, ensuring strong margins, effective cost control and project profitability.

• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning; develop financial models and management reporting; and provide actionable insights to improve revenue, profitability and operational efficiency.

• Oversee treasury, liquidity and cash-flow management, optimize receivables, payables, inventory and project cash cycles, and manage banking relationships, financing facilities and funding requirements.

• Maintain robust financial and operational controls, lead enterprise risk management, and ensure compliance with IFRS, tax, statutory, regulatory, employment and corporate governance requirements across all jurisdictions.

• Provide strategic financial oversight of procurement, supply chain and inventory management, ensuring purchasing decisions support profitability, cash flow and operational efficiency while minimizing waste, leakage and cost overruns.

• Provide strategic oversight of Finance, HR and Administration across regional operations, including cross-border transactions, payroll governance, workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, employee engagement, facilities and corporate support services.

• Lead and develop high-performing Finance, HR and Administration teams, strengthen organizational capability, drive succession and talent development, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s Degree preferred.

• CPA (K), ACCA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification is mandatory.

• Minimum 10–15 years’ progressive finance experience.

• Proven experience in project-based industries, such as construction, interior fit-outs, retail rollouts, manufacturing, engineering, or equipment distribution.

• Strong experience in strategic financial leadership, commercial finance, treasury, FP&A, project finance, risk management and governance.

• Demonstrated experience managing multi-country/regional operations, preferably across East Africa, with strong knowledge of tax, regulatory, employment and governance frameworks.

• Experience overseeing Finance, Human Resources, Administration and/or shared corporate services, including organizational development and workforce planning.

• Strong commercial acumen, executive stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to lead cross-cultural teams, manage change and support senior-level business decision-making.