Job Detail

Job Description

Management reporting:

• Consolidate internal research program reports and provide sufficiently detailed financial analysis to support management review and decision making.
• Proactively highlight material variances or risks that could significantly impact the financial health of programs.
• Prepare and share periodic status updates and other ad hoc reports covering key program performance areas as required.
• Provide financial management and reporting to support science programs.
• Organize meetings with programs to discuss expenditure, forecasts, receivables and any other project related financial issues.
• . Analyze historical performance, assess current financial positions, and evaluate trends to develop forward-looking projections.
• Produce timely reports on unfunded staff, unfunded costs, and co-financing requirements.

Donor reporting:

• Ensure accurate and timely donor reports (as per agreement) are prepared and shared.
• Facilitate timely follow up of outstanding donor balances with PIs, P(g)Ms, PA’s and donors.
• Facilitate expenditure verification exercises initiated by donors and respond to queries therefrom.
• Share grants reports with System Office within agreed timelines.

Partner management:

• Work with Legal and program teams to ensure partner agreements are drafted in favour of ILRI.
• Ensure due diligence is conducted before contracting partners.
• Ensure outstanding partner balances are maintained at lowest possible levels.
• Capacity building of partners to enhance compliance and accuracy/completeness in financial reporting. 

Business/proposal development:

• Participate in proposal development by ensuring budgets are fully costed.
• Review donor agreements to ensure they’re in favour of ILRI (indemnities, audits, frequency, cashflow and nature of financial reports etc.)

Audits:

• Plan and coordinate project audits (both internal and external) to ensure no material findings in management letter
• Support institutional audits on all matters relating to grants.

Regional/field offices:

• Enforce compliance to the field office operating manual and review the same with a view of revising/updating to cater for current needs.
• Collaborate with regional/field office teams to ensure timely posting of returns and carry out monthly review of payment vouchers.
• Visit field offices and carry out compliance reviews from time to time.
• Provide support and capacity building to field office staff to ensure adherence to ILRI or hosting organization policies. Review filed office manual.
• Continuously review financial accounting/reporting processes to identify opportunities for improvement and enhance efficiency.
• Explore ways to ensure regional offices are funded by programs that have activities in that region.

Leadership:

• Manage and mentor Deputy Finance Managers and Accountants, including conducting performance appraisals and supporting their professional development.
• Protect operations by keeping financial information and plans confidential.
• Provide financial training within the organization to elevate financial management literacy as needed by staff.
• Model ILRI’s values, setting an example for others: Help others to do well. Advance equity. Constantly adapt, relentlessly improve. Default to transparency, reveal hard truths. Learn together.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.

Other:

• Main contact person for programs on all finance related issues.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Accounting or business-related field or its equivalent.
• Full accounting qualifications- CPA (K) or ACCA.
• At least seven years of relevant work experience with Three years’ in a supervisory position.
• Knowledge of computerized accounting software is required.
• Good computer skills.

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG 17 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is a 3 years contract. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal by clicking on "Apply Now" on or before 10 February 2026. The position title and reference number REF: CS/2123/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/