Senior CPA and CFO Advisor

About the role

The Senior CPA and CFO Advisor partners with the CFO to provide senior accounting expertise, financial oversight, strategic analysis and executive guidance. The role combines hands-on technical accounting with advisory support to strengthen financial reporting, internal controls, planning and stewardship of donor and organizational resources. It is based in Nairobi (Westlands) and requires hands-on NetSuite proficiency and the ability to turn financial results into clear recommendations for leadership and the Board.

Key responsibilities

• Use NetSuite to oversee accounting operations, the month-end and year-end close, journal entries, account reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, and build automated reporting and dashboards to track performance, funding and key metrics.
• Monitor cash flow, liquidity, reserves and financial risk, maintain cash forecasts and advise the CFO on funding needs and spending priorities.
• Ensure accurate accounting for donor-restricted and unrestricted funds, including tracking restrictions, releases and donor compliance.
• Build and maintain advanced Microsoft Excel financial models for budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning and sustainability analysis.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and review budget-to-actual performance with budget owners.
• Advise the CFO, executive leadership, Finance Committee and Board on significant financial matters through decision-ready reporting.
• Coordinate annual audits, Form 990 preparation, U.S. GAAP reporting and technical accounting with auditors and external tax advisors.
• Strengthen financial policies, approval limits, segregation of duties and fraud-prevention controls, and monitor remediation of control weaknesses.
• Oversee grant accounting, cost allocation, indirect cost recovery and financial reporting to support grant compliance.
• Support multi-country and multi-currency operations, including exchange-rate treatment, intercompany reconciliations and consolidated reporting.
• Oversee banking relationships, reserves, investments and assets; reconcile banking, expense, vendor, payroll and donor transactions to NetSuite.
• Support financial risk management, including OFAC, anti-terror financing and donor due diligence, with legal and compliance advisors.
• Mentor finance staff and clarify responsibilities across internal teams and external advisors.

Required profile

• Active CPA license.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting and financial leadership experience, including substantial responsibility as a CFO, Controller or senior financial advisor.
• Strong practical experience in nonprofit accounting, U.S. GAAP, donor restrictions, grant accounting, cost allocation, audits and Form 990 preparation or review.
• Experience working with auditors, banks, external advisors, executives and Board members.
• Sound judgment, discretion with confidential information and the ability to explain complex financial matters clearly.
• Preferred: experience with humanitarian organizations, international NGOs or multi-country, multi-currency operations.

Required skills

• Hands-on NetSuite proficiency (general ledger, journal entries, reconciliations, period close, reporting, saved searches).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel financial modeling, data analysis, automated reporting and dashboard development (PivotTables, Power Query).
• Budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow management, financial analysis, internal controls and financial risk management.
• Preferred: Ramp, Bill Pay, TriNet, Virtuous, Capital One and Prosperity Bank.