Accounts Assistant supports financial ops, requires a Business/Economics degree, CPA/ACCA, QuickBooks skills, and 1–3 years accounting experience (hospitality background preferred). Full-time role in Nairobi.
About the Role
The
Finance team supports the objectives of the company by providing reliable,
relevant, and timely financial information that facilitates decision making.
The Finance team includes an Accounts Assistant who can provide support with
accounts payables- and receivables-related work.
The
Accounts Assistant will provide support to the Finance & Accounting team on
data entry, recordkeeping, and other accounts payables and receivables related
work.
This role
reports to the Finance Manager.
Requirements
The
Finance Assistant supports the smooth running of Ikigai’s Finance &
Procurement Department by ensuring accurate financial records, timely
reconciliations, efficient payment processing, and reliable financial
reporting.
You are
the right person if you enjoy working with numbers, solving problems, and
keeping things organized. You are detail-oriented and take pride in getting
things right, even when handling multiple tasks at once.
You
thrive in a busy environment, manage your time well, and consistently meet
deadlines. You are comfortable working with financial systems, particularly
QuickBooks, and can spot discrepancies, investigate them, and follow through
until they are resolved.
You are
dependable, accountable, and proactive. You take ownership of your work, handle
financial information with integrity and discretion, and understand the
importance of accuracy in every transaction.
You enjoy
working with people, collaborate well across teams, and are approachable when
colleagues need support. You are adaptable, eager to learn, and always looking
for ways to improve how things are done.
Education and Experience
Education
Bachelor’s
degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
Relevant
Professional Certification in Accounting : Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Experience
1–3 years
of relevant accounting experience, with a sound understanding of basic
accounting principles and practices. Experience in the hospitality industry is
an added advantage.
Experience
using QuickBooks is highly preferred.
Experience
in accounts payable, revenue and collections, reconciliations, and financial
reporting is preferred.
Strong
attention to detail and accuracy when processing financial transactions,
reconciling accounts, and maintaining financial records.
Punctual,
professional, thorough, and accountable, with a strong sense of integrity.
A
quick-learning self-starter who works well in a fast-paced environment.
Highly
organized and efficient, with excellent time-management skills and the ability
to prioritize tasks effectively when multiple deadlines coincide.
Collaborative
and approachable, able to work well with the Finance & Procurement team and
other departments, while independently taking ownership of tasks and ensuring
they are completed.
Adaptable
and solutions-oriented, willing to learn, take feedback, own mistakes, and
continuously improve.
Key Responsibilities
Food
& Beverage Revenue and Collections
Record
daily Food & Beverage (F&B) point-of-sale (POS) sales in QuickBooks,
ensuring all transactions are accurately and completely captured.
Reconcile
daily M-Pesa and PDQ collections against recorded F&B sales, investigate
discrepancies, and follow up with the relevant teams to ensure timely
resolution.
Prepare
the weekly F&B Debtors Report, monitor outstanding balances, and coordinate
follow-ups with the relevant teams to facilitate timely collection.
Inventory
Control
Initiate
and coordinate stock takes across all sites, ensuring accurate stock counts and
proper documentation of results.
Prepare
stock variance reports, identify significant discrepancies between physical
stock counts and recorded balances, and escalate variances for investigation
and resolution.
Accounts
Payable
Receive
and verify supplier invoices, post approved invoices to QuickBooks, and
maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date records in the pending bills file.
Perform
supplier statement reconciliations for assigned accounts, investigate
discrepancies, and follow up with suppliers and internal teams to resolve
outstanding items.
Prepare
the weekly petty cash payment plan, coordinate payment processing, and initiate
petty cash payments in line with established approval procedures.
Record
supplier payments in QuickBooks promptly and accurately, ensuring payments are
properly documented and allocated to the relevant supplier accounts.
Reconciliation
and Reporting
Reconcile
assigned Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss (P&L) accounts, investigate
reconciling items, and ensure outstanding differences are followed up and
resolved promptly.
Conduct
basic financial analysis of assigned accounts and business units, identifying
unusual movements, variances, and trends, and providing clear explanations
supported by relevant data.
Prepare
and present P&L performance reports for the assigned business unit,
highlighting key financial results, significant variances against budget or
prior periods where applicable, and the factors driving performance.
Respond
to queries from the assigned business unit regarding reported financial results
and provide relevant explanations to support understanding and informed
decision-making.
Provide
additional support to the Finance & Accounting Team as required to support
the smooth and efficient execution of departmental activities.
Essential Skills and
Competencies
Passion
for and understanding of Ikigai’s mission and values, with a genuine commitment
to contributing to a positive, collaborative, and people-centered workplace
culture.
Strong
verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate
financial information clearly and professionally.
High
attention to detail and accuracy when processing transactions, maintaining
records, and preparing reports.
Demonstrated
integrity, reliability, accountability, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Strong
work ethic, professionalism, self-awareness, and the ability to work
collaboratively with empathy and respect for others.
Practical
problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify discrepancies, investigate
issues, and follow through on resolutions.
Basic
computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly
Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Good
organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize
tasks, meet deadlines, and manage recurring reporting requirements
The Finance Assistant must
love building communities and helping others work as a team, enjoy the idea of
being part of something bigger than any one person, and take pride in a job
well done and in positively impacting the Ikigai community.
At Ikigai, we are just as
interested in how someone fits with our culture, as their ability to get the
job done. For anyone joining the Finance team, we are also interested in
whether:
You show
up to work as your true and authentic self. Whether that is having a talent for
Lingala dancing, baking, reading, or sleeping in & watching Netflix.
You enjoy
teamwork and collaboration. When you are stuck you ask for help and are a
candid communicator.
You take
pride in being detail-oriented and are highly organized. You have excellent
work planning & time management skills, and can effectively prioritize both
urgent & important tasks when everything is happening at once.
You hold
yourself to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity. You
maintain confidentiality when appropriate and you know when & how to
professionally pull in support when faced with a challenging people-related
situation.
