Finance Director, BFA Global

About us 
BFA Global is an impact innovation firm that combines research, advisory, venture building, and investment expertise to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for underserved people and the planet. We partner with leading public, private and philanthropic organizations, global and local, to catalyze innovation ecosystems for impact across emerging markets. 

About the Role

BFA Global is seeking an experienced Finance Director to provide strategic and operational financial leadership across BFA Global and its entities.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, this is a full-time position responsible for strengthening BFA's financial sustainability, financial planning, cash management, project economics, internal controls, statutory compliance, and financial reporting.

The Finance Director will lead the Finance function and provide management oversight of the Project Management & Delivery function, ensuring that organizational and project-level financial decisions are informed by accurate, timely, and forward-looking financial information.

The role requires a strong understanding of Kenyan financial regulations, taxation, statutory obligations, and international financial operations, together with the ability to oversee U.S. accounting, taxation, payroll, and compliance requirements through coordination with external advisers and service providers.

The successful candidate will combine financial judgment with hands-on leadership, supporting Executive Leadership in maintaining financial discipline, managing organizational risks, and building a financially resilient and sustainable organization.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy, Planning & Management

• Lead BFA Global's annual budgeting, financial planning, rolling forecasts, cash-flow projections, and financial sustainability analysis.
• Provide Executive Leadership with clear and timely visibility into organizational revenue, project pipeline, expenditure, cash reserves, working capital, and break-even requirements.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual management accounts, identifying material variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Develop financial scenarios and models to support strategic decisions, staffing plans, investments, and organizational growth.
• Establish and monitor financial performance indicators and reporting dashboards.
• Advise Executive Leadership on financial risks, opportunities, cost optimization, and long-term sustainability.
• Support financial planning and cash-reserve management in accordance with organizational commitments and governance requirements.

Project Finance & Project Management Unit Oversight

• Provide management oversight of the Project Management & Delivery function to ensure effective project financial management and delivery discipline.
• Monitor project budgets, actual expenditure, burn rates, commitments, cost recovery, and forecast-to-completion.
• Improve project financial dashboards, reporting processes, and accountability mechanisms.
• Build the capabilities and efficiency of the Finance and PMU teams through training, mentoring, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional collaboration

Commercial Finance & Project Economics

• Review and validate financial assumptions, budgets, and pricing for significant proposals, contracts, and partnerships.
• Strengthen BFA's approach to project costing, staff billing rates, consultant costs, utilization, and indirect cost recovery.
• Assess project profitability, contribution margins, and financial sustainability.
• Review material financial terms in client and donor contracts, including payment milestones, invoicing requirements, and cost-recovery provisions.
• Work with business development and project teams to ensure proposals are commercially sound and financially viable.
• Support financial negotiations and provide guidance on commercial and contractual financial risks.

Cash Management, Financial Controls & Compliance

• Oversee organizational cash flow, banking, receivables, payables, liquidity, and working capital.
• Strengthen financial controls, approval processes, segregation of duties, and financial accountability.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and statutory compliance across BFA's operating entities.
• Oversee compliance with Kenyan statutory requirements, including applicable corporate taxation, VAT, PAYE, payroll-related obligations, and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain oversight of BFA LLC's U.S. federal and state taxation, payroll, W-2/1099 reporting, and other applicable compliance obligations in collaboration with external U.S. accountants, CPAs, and tax advisers.
• Coordinate financial compliance requirements across BFA's other international entities and operating jurisdictions.
• Lead annual financial audits and coordinate with external auditors, tax advisers, and regulatory authorities.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, supporting documentation, and reporting for donor-funded and client-funded projects.
• Monitor foreign exchange exposure, intercompany transactions, and cross-border financial arrangements.
• Support the development and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and delegated financial authorities.

Multi-Country Financial Operations

• Provide financial oversight across BFA Global's international operations, ensuring consistent financial management standards.
• Coordinate financial reporting and consolidation across operating entities.
• Oversee intercompany financial transactions, reconciliations, and cost allocations.
• Work with local accountants, payroll providers, tax advisers, and external financial service providers to maintain compliance in each jurisdiction.
• Support the development of consistent financial policies and reporting processes across countries.
• Identify opportunities to streamline financial operations and improve efficiency across entities.

Finance Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the Finance team, ensuring clear responsibilities, accountability, and high-quality financial operations.
• Provide management oversight and coaching to the Project Management & Delivery Manager.
• Establish clear coordination and accountability between Finance, PMU, Project Leads, Project Managers, and Executive Leadership.
• Ensure effective performance management, professional development, and succession planning within the Finance function.
• Improve financial systems, processes, reporting tools, and automation to support organizational efficiency.
• Manage relationships with external accountants, auditors, tax advisers, banks, and other financial service providers.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive finance experience, including substantial experience in a senior financial leadership role such as Finance Director, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, CFO, or equivalent.
• Professional accounting qualification such as CPA(K), ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or equivalent is strongly preferred.
• Strong practical knowledge of Kenyan accounting standards, taxation, payroll, statutory compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience managing international financial operations, including financial reporting and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with U.S. accounting, federal and state taxation, payroll, and financial compliance requirements is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, financial forecasting, cash-flow management, management reporting, and internal controls.
• Strong experience in project accounting, project economics, financial modeling, project costing, utilization, and financial management of multiple contracts.
• Experience in consulting, professional services, international development, donor-funded organizations, or other project-based environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with international donors, foundations, development finance institutions, or grant-funded programs is an advantage.
• Proven ability to lead and develop finance teams and oversee cross-functional financial operations.
• Strong commercial judgment, analytical capability, and ability to constructively challenge senior colleagues and project teams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic financial leadership with hands-on operational management.
• High standards of professional integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in financial management systems, Excel, financial modeling, and reporting tools.

Anticipated Start Date: January 2027

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Candidates must have local work permits. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. 

Only shortlisted candidates who provide the required information will be contacted for follow-up.

At BFA, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military, and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

BFA believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates are critical to our success as a global company. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and to carry out the best inclusion work we undertake. 

*BFA will not sponsor work permits. 

**BFA will not pay for relocation expenses.