Head of Finance

About the role

BBC Media Action is recruiting a Head of Finance for its East Africa Cluster, based in Nairobi. The role leads financial strategy, multi-country donor project oversight and financial quality assurance across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia, providing line management and technical leadership to Country Finance Leads and Senior Finance Officers.

Key responsibilities

• Advise the Cluster Director and Country Managers on financial strategy, identify financial risks and opportunities, and contribute to business continuity and long-term planning.
• Lead financial development of new proposals, oversee proposal budgets and donor contracts, and support donor budget negotiations.
• Lead quarterly forecasting and reforecasting, monitor project performance and expenditure trends, and analyse financial results.
• Provide quality assurance of monthly, quarterly and annual reporting, including donor financial reports, and ensure accurate reporting to UK Finance and senior management.
• Maintain financial controls, compliance systems and risk registers, lead responses to audit recommendations, and promote fraud prevention and financial governance.
• Support local tax compliance, registrations and regulatory reporting, and liaise with external advisers.
• Review and approve country cash forecasts and funding requests, and support treasury management.
• Line manage and coach Country Finance Leads and Senior Finance Officers, support recruitment and performance management, and build financial capability across the cluster.
• Improve financial systems and reporting tools, including Access Dimensions and Power BI, and ensure safeguarding standards are met for staff and freelancers.

Required profile

• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• Significant senior finance management experience in an NGO, INGO or donor-funded environment.
• Experience managing multi-country finances and complex donor-funded programmes.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Desirable: experience across multiple African countries, especially East Africa, and knowledge of NGO and donor financial management.

Required skills

• Budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, management reporting and project finance.
• Donor regulations, grant management and donor financial reporting.
• Leading audits, compliance processes and financial controls.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and experience with financial management systems.

Candidates apply by sending a CV and cover letter in English outlining their experience and availability, by email to the BBC Media Action recruitment team, by 18 November 2026.