Regional finance director position jobs in kenya

Are you an outstanding Christian leader with a track-record of collaborative international working? Are you looking for the next opportunity to use your skills and experience for the benefit of a global organisation? If this is you, then you are invited to apply for the role of Chief Finance Officer at Open Doors International.

The global Chief Financial Officer of Open Doors International has a key leadership role both within the line-managed Open Doors International entity, and more widely across the Global Finance Network of development and field offices. The CFO reports to the CEO and works closely with other executives on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial Accounting (including transactional management and audit), Risk & Compliance, Treasury & Cash Management, Financial Data & Systems, Field Finance, Development Finance and Transformational Programs.

The CFO ensures Open Doors International is known for its excellent stewardship by delivering world-class and well-coordinated financial functions that contribute to excellent operations, risk management, forward-planning and mature governance.

You will:

• Be an experienced CFO with a strong track record of operating in international organisational structures, with exposure to developing markets, complex treasury and money transfer functions, and high-risk environments.
• Have experience of leading strategy formation, team supervision and timely delivery in a complex network or matrix style structures.
• Enjoy and have a matured gift of forward-planning, helping the Board, Executive Leadership Team and colleagues benefit from transparent budget plans in a dynamic missional context that will demand agility.
• Employ wise risk assessment in a context of faith, so that Open Doors can, with effectiveness and great sophistication, deliver its ministry in very challenging and at times restrictive environments.
• Bring a servant-hearted leadership gifting, including the ability to lead through influence and build consensus amongst divergent senior stakeholders; inspire trust; and take a highly relational and capacity-building approach with their colleagues.
• Have excellent communication skills - written, verbal and able to deliver insights with data; effective with a range of audiences from local staff to Board level
• Exhibit grace, to patiently but persistently mature a complex organisation moving through significant phases of growth in a rapidly evolving external environment

Your responsibilities are under the following headings (for a full explanation, please read the attached pdf):

• Strategic Financial Leadership
• Management Reports & Communication
• Accounting & Financial Controls
• Treasury and Cash Management
• Risk Management & Compliance
• Innovation & Transformation
• Leadership and People Management

Person Specification

KEY QUALITIES

Open Doors believes that spiritual maturity, character and behaviour are as important as financial competence, therefore the CFO is:

• A devoted follower of Jesus with a heart to strengthen persecuted Christians.
• Prayerful and able to take financial decisions, founded on faith in God.
• Able to build strong relationships across national cultures.
• Able to empower others and intentionally develop future finance leaders.
• Prepared to make difficult decisions and have honest conversations with grace.
• Active in a local church that supports their vocation and provides spiritual support.
• Emotionally intelligent and aware of the impact of their leadership on people.
• Experienced in negotiating and influencing at a senior level, combined with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

• A highly skilled Finance professional, who demonstrates an appetite for continued learning and personal development.
• Approximately 15 years of senior finance operational leadership experience prefered in multi-national commercial sector and/or international charity sector.
• Significant team management experience, including remote working across different time zones.
• Proven ability to lead change, including working well across many operational disciplines (Field programs, IT, Legal and HR teams, for example).
• Oversight of a complex treasury function providing financial access across geographical locations.
• Experience communicating and providing reports to Board Audit & Finance Committee.

Open Doors International will offer a competitive salary for the post. We are open to applications from anyone who is suitable for this role, regardless of their current location, with a willingness to be located within -6hours/+2 hours Central European Time zone for ease of communication within a dispersed global ministry.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an MS Teams Interview with the Open Doors International search panel. Finalist Candidates will be asked to come to Netherlands for in-person interviews on 5 September. The Open Doors International search panel members are very aware that this is a two-way discernment process, therefore we encourage each applicant to pray to the Lord and consult their trusted and closest fellow Christians as they consider this opportunity. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the post of CFO as soon as is reasonably possible.

Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully consider this opportunity and to learn more about the work of Open Doors International.

JOB DESCRIPTION

 Job Title:  Internal Auditor 

 Location:  London or Nairobi (with a right to work)

 Reporting to:  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) functional line to the Director of Finance and Operations

Grade and salary  Grade F (in line with national salary scale)  UK - £43,800 per annum , Kenya - Ksh 5,010,684 per annum

Type of position: National (as above)

 Contract terms and hours: Open ended (depending on funding). Full time, 37.5 hours per week  

Background:

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe in a world where everyone can lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from fear and insecurity. We are a not-for-profit organisation operational in nine countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Saferworld is committed to providing a safe and trusted environment that safeguards our staff, partners and communities. Our organisational integrity is derived from the values and principles that underpin and guide our work.

Saferworld’s staff are at the heart of our work and their skills and expertise ensure we continue to function a leading conflict prevention and peacebuilding organisation. As we evolve and grow, we want to ensure our programmes, research and capacity interventions retain their quality, stay rooted in the voices of people living in conflict, and ensure our staff are motivated and challenged in their work.

The success of our organisation’s mission depends on people. Capitalising on what is unique about individuals and drawing on their different perspectives and experiences will add value to the way we work. Saferworld is committed to the principles of equality of opportunity for all and seeks to promote a positive approach to equality and diversity and within the scope of the relevant legislation, to having a workforce and working environment that is free of discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, harassment, victimisation and undignified behaviour. We oppose all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination.

The Internal Auditor role will undertake internal audit assignments, develop country-specific internal audit processes or thematic internal audits and work with our London and global teams to support external audit processes in countries of operation, oversee the global audit register, and with teams across the organisation advance effective financial management performance across the organisation

Job purpose:

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Director of Finance and Operations, the post holder will undertake internal audit assignments and compliance reviews aimed at improving Saferworld’s internal systems and processes. The post-holder will also support the development of financial controls and build the capacity of finance and operational teams to implement them effectively.

The role requires a high level of initiative; proven skills and experience in project management; experience working collaboratively with others to achieve our vision; and strong communication and problem-solving skills.

The post-holder will have a successful track record in designing and leading internal audit processes and strengthening control systems, preferable at a complex organisation with multiple country offices/business units.  Additional experience working with offices/partners in/on conflict affected contexts is highly desirable.

Roles and responsibilities: 

Plan and carry out internal audits

• Draw up a yearly Internal Audit Plan based on key risks and an assessment of audit needs and agree it with the CEO in consultation with the Director of Finance and Operations and Director of Policy and Programmes.
• Carry out internal audit assignments across departments, projects, and programmes to assess compliance with financial policies, donor agreements, and statutory regulations, including negotiating terms of reference with relevant system/area owners, preparing reports, presenting the findings to the Senior Leadership, and following up on recommendations.
• Review financial transactions and accounting records, including data from SUN, to ensure accuracy and integrity.
• Support necessary pre-audit preparation work related to external audits (both statutory and project audit) and assist the teams in ensuring smooth audit. 
• Maintain the organisation’s register of grant and project audits, ensuring that audit findings recommendations are clearly documented and shared.
• Monitor the implementation of these recommendations and follow up on corrective actions to ensure timely and effective solution.
• Carry out special investigations, as required by the Saferworld CEO or Senior Operational Team (SOT). 

Strengthening organisational systems and risk controls

• Produce an annual review of the overall effectiveness of Saferworld’s systems of internal control and make recommendations and arrangements for identification and management of risks and produce an annual plan to address these areas.
• Report quarterly to the Senior Operational Team (SOT) on the annual review and plan.
• Attend the governance/Board of Trustees Finance and Audit Committee four times a year and produce a report for the meetings, including feeding back on learnings from internal audits carried out.
• The post-holder must maintain independence and objectivity in carrying out audits and investigations. They have direct access to the Board/Audit Committee when necessary.
• Produce quarterly report for the Board meetings.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement across the organisation.

 Key working relationships

• Director of Finance and Operations
• Director of Programmes & Policy
• Head of People
• Regional Directors
• Head of Governance and Operations
• Finance Business Partners
• Country Directors/Managers
• Country Finance Managers
•  

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of authority

• Methods of investigation within assigned internal audits, reviews, findings and recommendations to CEO & Director of Finance and Operations
• Key that the Internal Auditor is seen to be able to provide independent advice, guidance and analysis. 

Financial resources

• Financial responsibilities primarily about auditing financial management practices and processes

Other resources

• Audit investigations data and reports, internal audit plan, guidance and tools for supporting effective risk assessment and risk management – works globally
• Contribute to the implementation and effective use of financial systems (works globally)

People management

• Capacity building country finance managers in relation to financial systems and processes.
• Capacity building staff and partners in relation to risk assessment and management

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

•  Key internal role in ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures (internal) and financial regulations (external), and in identification on risks/noncompliance issues for addressing 

Person specification 

Knowledge

• Excellent understanding of internal audit principles and methods and risk identification and management
• Auditing or accounting professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CPA, CA, CIMA or Certified Internal Auditor with active membership status) and sound knowledge of accounting procedures, principles and systems
• Good understanding of and experience using SUN system will be an advantage

Experience

• Extensive experience in the internal audit function in a large/medium-sized NGO or similar complex organisation 
• Experience of undertaking a variety of audit related, research/ evaluation and project management work
• Familiarity with donor-funded project audits (FCDO, EU) and related compliance requirements
• Experience in working with programme teams (particularly in different country settings), sharing learning from audits, and supporting implementation of recommendations
• Experience in training or mentoring staff on compliance, internal controls, and financial procedures.

Skills

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Skills to build effective, trusting relationships at all levels of the organisation, and ability to influence senior managers and other stakeholders regarding the importance of effective controls
•  Excellent project management skills with experience in planning, organising and delivering audit assignments Excellent facilitation, negotiation, verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write reports and present complex/sensitive information in an understandable way to a range of audiences
• Solution-oriented, pro-active, flexible, a team-player, and responsive
• Strong interpersonal and team-working skills
• Good IT skills, including in MS word and excel 

Other

• A willingness to promote the work of Saferworld and work collaboratively with others
•  Ability to work in a non-partisan manner, sensitive to differences of ethnicity, religion and gender
•  A commitment to learn and be open to new ideas and approaches
•  Demonstrated commitment to principles of transparency, accountability, and honesty
•  Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles
•  Knowledge of applicable laws, donor regulations and statutory reporting requirements in countries where Saferworld operates

Other requirements

Travel will be required for purposes of capacity building, internal audits and investigations, within country offices

Application process 

To apply:  Apply through our vacancy portal on our Saferworld Jobs website

Upload your CV and a covering letter addressing the person specification and why you feel your experience matches the requirements of the role.

Closing date for applications:  23rd July 2025