The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a pan-African organisation headquartered in Kenya, which aims to drive sustainable development in Africa through science, technology, and innovation. We are seeking a competent and proactive Finance Officer for a fixed-term maternity cover of Five (5) months. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, statutory compliance, timely reporting, and the implementation of robust financial controls, reporting directly to the Financial Accountant.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting and Grants Management
- Prepare financial reports for donors in line with specific requirements and templates, for review by the Head of Finance and Program Leads.
- Coordinate with staff to compile donor reports and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Monitor program advances issued and follow up with staff and grantees to ensure timely accountabilities.
- Ensure compliance with donor rules, finance policies, and local government regulations.
- Prepare supporting schedules for financial statements to facilitate annual audits and assist in the fieldwork process.
- Assist the Head of Finance in responding to donor audit requests, developing financial management tools, and managing close-out processes.
- Maintain a clear audit trail of processed transactions linked to the accounting system.
- Ensure internal controls are maintained at all times.
- Assist program leads in budgeting, budget monitoring, budget realignment, and proposal budget preparation.
- Prepare monthly Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reports for Project Leads.
Financial Management
- Review payment vouchers to ensure adequacy and accuracy of supporting documentation.
- Validate and approve purchase requests and co-sign for payments while ensuring compliance with internal policies.
- Prepare adjusting journals for monthly and annual accruals for approval and posting to MS Navision.
- Perform monthly bank reconciliations and reconciliation of balance sheet control accounts.
- Monitor bank balances, project cash flow needs, and request account refills from the Head of Finance & Grants.
- Conduct project-related financial planning to optimize fund utilization.
Petty Cash Management
- Maintain custody of the safe, petty cash, and cheque books.
- Disburse approved requisitions for travel and office supplies in a timely manner.
- Review petty cash reimbursement requests and documentation from staff.
- Ensure the petty cash ledger is updated and matches the cash books at the end of the month.
- Responsible for monthly cash counts.
Qualifications & Experience
- Master’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Management, Auditing, or its equivalent.
- Must be a CPA/ACCA holder and an accredited member in good standing.
- At least 5 years’ experience in grants management, budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting, preferably in an NGO context.
- Knowledge of accounting software such as MS Navision Dynamics or Serenic Navigator is an added advantage.
- Experience in managing government and bilateral donor-funded grants (e.g., European Union, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) is highly desirable.
- Excellent written and verbal communication in English; knowledge of French is an advantage.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Key Competencies & Skills
- Technical Proficiency: Strong accounting skills with proficiency in bookkeeping and financial reporting adhering to IFRS.
- Compliance: Solid understanding of tax laws and statutory reporting requirements.
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment to achieve goals.
- Travel: Should possess a valid passport and be able to travel as required.
- Professionalism: Commitment to inclusion and the mission/values of AAS.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to fill out the Application Form and submit their updated CV to the Executive Director, African Academy of Sciences, at recruitment@aasciences.africa. The subject of the email should be ‘Finance Officer’.
Applications must be submitted by 25th May 2026, 17:00 hours EAT.
