We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Senior Finance Operations Officer to join our dynamic finance team in the retail sector. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across accounts payable, receivable, treasury management, and reporting functions.
The role
demands a proactive professional who can optimize financial operations,
strengthen internal controls, ability to lead and provide insightful analysis
to support the company’s strategic objectives in a dynamic retail environment.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Accounts
Payable & Supplier Management
- Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process,
ensuring all supplier invoices are processed and paid accurately and on
time.
- Manage employee expense reimbursements and
ensure policy compliance.
- Reconcile supplier statements and resolve
discrepancies promptly.
- Maintain strong supplier relationships and
negotiate favourable payment terms.
- Ensure accurate cost posting to the correct
ledger accounts and cost centers.
Accounts Receivable & Cash Application
- Supervise billing and collections for B2B sales,
consignment, and other credit transactions.
- Monitor customer accounts for overdue balances
and drive collection efforts.
- Oversee daily reconciliation of cash receipts
from POS and online payment systems.
- Manage the accurate application of cash,
cheques, and credit card payments.
Cash
& Treasury Management
- Prepare daily cash flow forecasts and reports to
ensure sufficient liquidity for operations.
- Manage banking relationships and oversee bank
reconciliations.
- Monitor petty cash usage across retail outlets.
- Enforce strict cash handling controls to
minimize losses.
Inventory
Accounting & Cost Control
- Oversee financial accounting of inventory,
including reconciliation of stock counts.
- Analyse and report on shrinkage, write-offs, and
obsolete stock.
- Collaborate with supply chain and merchandising
teams for accurate COGS reporting.
- Support physical stock counts and ensure
accurate accounting entries.
Financial
Operations & Compliance
- Prepare and review key financial reports such as
daily sales summaries, weekly cash flow statements, and monthly P&L
extracts.
- Lead month-end closing for all operational
finance areas.
- Perform and resolve balance sheet
reconciliations for key accounts (bank, payables, receivables, inventory).
- Prepare and file all tax returns and statutory
submissions before deadlines.
Process
Improvement & Systems
- Identify and implement continuous process
improvements for efficiency and accuracy.
- Serve as a super-user for finance modules in the
Retail ERP/MIS system (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics).
- Develop and maintain Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) for finance operations.
- Support the integration of financial systems for
new store openings or acquisitions.
Team
Leadership & Supervision
- Supervise, train, and mentor junior finance team
members.
- Effectively assign responsibilities and empower
team members to take ownership of their tasks.
Supervise
staff by directly managing, mentoring, and coaching
Conduct
performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and help team members set
and achieve development goals.
Compliance,
Risk & Quality Assurance
- Ensure compliance with company policies,
internal controls, financial regulations, and legal requirements.
- Prepare for and facilitate internal and external
audits, providing necessary documentation and evidence.
- Maintain the highest standards of integrity and
confidentiality in all financial operations.
- Identify potential financial risks and develop
contingency plans to mitigate them.
Reporting
& Communication
- Prepare and present regular financial reports on
operational performance, metrics, and challenges to senior management.
- Act as a key communication link between the
finance team and other departments, such as Sales, Marketing, and HR, to
ensure alignment.
- Lead daily stand-ups, team meetings, and
cross-functional meetings to synchronize efforts and address issues.
Process
Improvement & Optimization
- Continuously review existing financial processes
to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
- Design, document, and roll out new processes,
workflows, and standard financing procedures (SOPs).
- Lead or participate in initiatives to reduce
costs, improve quality, speed up delivery, and enhance customer
satisfaction.
- Identify and advocate for the adoption of new
tools or software to automate manual tasks and improve financial
capabilities
Daily
Operational Management
- Manage the day-to-day workflow of the finance
department or team, ensuring tasks are completed on time and to standard.
- Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like
Cost to Process a Single Invoice, Operational Cost as a Percentage of
Revenue, and Early Payment Discount Capture Rate.
- Serve as the first point of contact for finance
issues, disruptions, or emergencies, implementing immediate corrective
actions.
Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance,
Accounting or Commerce (Master’s in the same is highly recommended) from a
recognized institution.
- Professional Certification: CPA (K), ACCA, or
equivalent qualification is mandatory.
- Minimum of 8 years’ progressive experience in
finance operations, with at least 4 years in a supervisory role,
preferably in the retail industry.
- Technology savvy with a high level of
proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and accounting software packages
(e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, SAP, Tally)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong understanding of retail accounting,
inventory, financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting standards
(IFRS).
- An analytical mind, comfortable with numbers.
- Strong organizational and time-management
skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational
skills.
- Strong leadership, communication, and
interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently, lead a team,
manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast- paced environment.
How to
Apply
If your
profile, qualifications, and experience fit the description, send your CV and
cover letter to careers@morsanhr.co.ke,
indicating “Senior Finance Operation Officer – Retail” as the subject. Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
