Background

Mara Elephant Project (MEP) operates in the Maasai Mara to protect elephants and their habitats across the Greater Mara Ecosystem. The GME, an extension of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, is one of Kenya's most important wildlife areas and tourism assets. The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is one of the last major wildlife refuges on Earth. Most famous for its annu...

Responsibilities and Duties

Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with MEP’s strategic plan and operational priorities.

Provide high-quality financial analysis and decision support to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board.

Lead long-term financial planning, scenario modelling, and funding risk analysis to strengthen sustainability.

Engage with the Board, funders, and other stakeholders to communicate financial performance and build trust.

Act as the principal advisor to the CEO and Board on financial sustainability, funding risks, and long-term financial planning.

Safeguard organizational assets, ensuring ethical, efficient, and mission-aligned deployment.

Provide financial oversight for major supplier and vendor relationships, ensuring value for money and compliance.

Act as senior custodian of financial governance, internal control, and risk management frameworks.

Ensure compliance with statutory, donor, and regulatory obligations across all operations.

Oversee timely filing of statutory returns, payroll obligations, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting.

Lead engagements with auditors, regulators, and governance committees to ensure transparency and credibility.

Monitor changes in regulatory and donor compliance requirements and advise management proactively.

Strengthen supplier due diligence and financial elements of supplier pre-qualification processes.

Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and lead development of mitigation strategies.

Support the Board and management in strengthening governance frameworks, financial policies, and accountability mechanisms.

Maintain robust documentation, audit trails, and compliance records to withstand audit and donor scrutiny.

Lead annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting linked to programme plans, operational needs, and funding pipelines.

Monitor budget performance, analyze variances, and provide timely recommendations for corrective action.

Support programme teams in developing compliant grant budgets and financial inputs for funding proposals.

Work closely with programme teams to ensure effective financial planning, cost control, and value for money.

Review contracts, MOUs, and partnership agreements from a financial and risk perspective.

Set and enforce financial approval thresholds and oversight for procurement commitments and major vendor contracts.

Collaborate with department heads to forecast procurement needs, integrate them into budgets, and promote cost-effective sourcing.

Oversee financial management of all donor-funded grants, ensuring compliance with donor agreements and reporting requirements.

Establish and maintain robust grant tracking systems by donor, project, and funding period.

Ensure donor financial reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned to approved budgets and donor templates.

Lead financial preparation for donor audits and reviews, serving as primary financial focal point.

Ensure robust financial systems, accounting policies, and internal controls are in place and consistently applied.

Drive continuous improvements to financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Develop and maintain a Finance Manual and SOPs, including operational checklists aligned to Board approved policies.

Ensure strong segregation of duties and clear transaction workflows and approvals across the organization.

Oversee accurate accounting records in accordance with applicable standards and NGO best practices.

Review and approve monthly reconciliations to ensure completeness and accuracy of closing balances.

Prepare management accounts and financial dashboards for senior management and Board with clear analysis.

Coordinate external audits and ensure timely completion of audited financial statements and management letters.

Manage and monitor cash flow to ensure adequate liquidity for programme and operational needs.

Oversee banking relationships, cash management, reserves policy, and financial sustainability planning.

Lead and develop a high-performing finance department, promoting professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Build financial discipline across the organization and promote a cost-conscious culture.

Provide coaching, mentorship, and succession planning for finance and administrative staff.

Lead financial and compliance training for staff across departments.

Undertake strategic assignments as delegated by the CEO.

Serve as Secretary to the Audit & Risk Committee and the Remuneration & HR Committee.

Oversee third-party consultancy contracts related to finance, audit, tax, and compliance.

Represent finance in cross-functional working groups and strategic initiatives.

Provide mentorship and capacity building support to strengthen financial management practices across the organization.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline.

Professional accounting qualification (CPA-K, ACCA, or equivalent.

Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related discipline is an added advantage.

Minimum of 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, including senior executive or CFO level responsibility.

Demonstrated experience operating in donor-funded, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations with complex compliance requirements.

Proven track record in financial governance, strategic planning, and Board-level engagement.

Strategic financial leadership and sound judgment.

Strong governance, risk, and compliance orientation.

High integrity and stewardship mindset.

Ability to translate financial insight into strategic action.

Executive communication and Board-level presence.

People leadership and institutional capacity building.

• Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with MEP’s strategic plan and operational priorities.
• Provide high-quality financial analysis and decision support to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board.
• Lead long-term financial planning, scenario modelling, and funding risk analysis to strengthen sustainability.
• Engage with the Board, funders, and other stakeholders to communicate financial performance and build trust.
• Act as the principal advisor to the CEO and Board on financial sustainability, funding risks, and long-term financial planning.
• Safeguard organizational assets, ensuring ethical, efficient, and mission-aligned deployment.
• Provide financial oversight for major supplier and vendor relationships, ensuring value for money and compliance.
• Act as senior custodian of financial governance, internal control, and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, donor, and regulatory obligations across all operations.
• Oversee timely filing of statutory returns, payroll obligations, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting.
• Lead engagements with auditors, regulators, and governance committees to ensure transparency and credibility.
• Monitor changes in regulatory and donor compliance requirements and advise management proactively.
• Strengthen supplier due diligence and financial elements of supplier pre-qualification processes.
• Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and lead development of mitigation strategies.
• Support the Board and management in strengthening governance frameworks, financial policies, and accountability mechanisms.
• Maintain robust documentation, audit trails, and compliance records to withstand audit and donor scrutiny.
• Lead annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting linked to programme plans, operational needs, and funding pipelines.
• Monitor budget performance, analyze variances, and provide timely recommendations for corrective action.
• Support programme teams in developing compliant grant budgets and financial inputs for funding proposals.
• Work closely with programme teams to ensure effective financial planning, cost control, and value for money.
• Review contracts, MOUs, and partnership agreements from a financial and risk perspective.
• Set and enforce financial approval thresholds and oversight for procurement commitments and major vendor contracts.
• Collaborate with department heads to forecast procurement needs, integrate them into budgets, and promote cost-effective sourcing.
• Oversee financial management of all donor-funded grants, ensuring compliance with donor agreements and reporting requirements.
• Establish and maintain robust grant tracking systems by donor, project, and funding period.
• Ensure donor financial reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned to approved budgets and donor templates.
• Lead financial preparation for donor audits and reviews, serving as primary financial focal point.
• Ensure robust financial systems, accounting policies, and internal controls are in place and consistently applied.
• Drive continuous improvements to financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Develop and maintain a Finance Manual and SOPs, including operational checklists aligned to Board approved policies.
• Ensure strong segregation of duties and clear transaction workflows and approvals across the organization.
• Oversee accurate accounting records in accordance with applicable standards and NGO best practices.
• Review and approve monthly reconciliations to ensure completeness and accuracy of closing balances.
• Prepare management accounts and financial dashboards for senior management and Board with clear analysis.
• Coordinate external audits and ensure timely completion of audited financial statements and management letters.
• Manage and monitor cash flow to ensure adequate liquidity for programme and operational needs.
• Oversee banking relationships, cash management, reserves policy, and financial sustainability planning.
• Lead and develop a high-performing finance department, promoting professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build financial discipline across the organization and promote a cost-conscious culture.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and succession planning for finance and administrative staff.
• Lead financial and compliance training for staff across departments.
• Undertake strategic assignments as delegated by the CEO.
• Serve as Secretary to the Audit & Risk Committee and the Remuneration & HR Committee.
• Oversee third-party consultancy contracts related to finance, audit, tax, and compliance.
• Represent finance in cross-functional working groups and strategic initiatives.
• Provide mentorship and capacity building support to strengthen financial management practices across the organization.

• Strategic financial leadership
• Sound judgment
• Strong governance, risk, and compliance orientation
• High integrity
• Stewardship mindset
• Ability to translate financial insight into strategic action
• Executive communication
• Board-level presence
• People leadership
• Institutional capacity building

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA-K, ACCA, or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related discipline is an added advantage.