Director (Finance) Full-time Job

Director (Finance), Kenya

In the last four decades, AKU has built a global reputation for its work to improve the quality of life in developing societies through high-quality teaching, research and health-care delivery that reflects its core values of equity and pluralism. A not-for-profit organisation and an agency of the AKDN, the University has campuses and programmes in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom.

AKU began life as a health-sciences university and is renowned for its leadership in health professional education, research and clinical care in South Asia and East Africa. The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi were the first hospitals in their regions accredited by American accreditation health organisations such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the College of American Pathologists.

Currently, in East Africa, AKU offers academic programmes in medicine, nursing, teacher education and journalism. Moreover, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N) is a teaching hospital that provides tertiary and secondary level healthcare services along with a number of outreach centres spread across various parts of Kenya.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance & CFO, the incumbent will be responsible to provide strategic leadership and clear direction to the financial functions for health services and academic programmes in Kenya and other locations, where required. S/he will partner and support the entity heads of the University as a key advisor to build influential relationships across the continuum and drive change. The incumbent will play an important role in the overall strategic planning and implementation of financial programs and processes that can serve as a model for other countries.

The incumbent will also be responsible to oversee the planning process and develop financial goals and budgets in consultation with the entity heads. S/he will be responsible for strengthening and administering financial systems and controls encompassing all University assets, all sources of University income, including endowments, grants, contracts and for all categories of construction, capital and operating expenses in Kenya and other locations, as required.

Moreover, the successful incumbent will oversee statutory accounting, patient accounting, audits, financial and statutory reporting, monitoring & evaluation, corporate governance, insurance and taxation and preparation of feasibilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain a financial strategy for the University, in support of the academic, healthcare and research mission in Kenya. Provide ongoing evaluation of the short and long-term strategic financial requirements and objectives
• Provide leadership in developing and carrying out an annual University-wide planning process that will result in an integrated budget for presentation to the Board. Work with the AKU community to develop long term financial projections under multiple scenarios
• Provide strategic financial leadership for revenue, pricing, budget, financial planning, capital and decision support
• Work closely with the entity heads, and other appropriate staff to develop new and diversified business ventures, ensuring adequate financial support to identify, assess and select such ventures
• Provide input, analysis and support business development and potential expansion opportunities in Kenya and other locations, as required
• Interact with and understand priorities of multiple business units and influence key leaders on integration within the broader regional strategy
• Develop programs and systems to ensure business unit accountability for performance and its self-sustainability
• Develop a financial structure that will ensure that senior management access on a day-to-day information pertaining to their approved budgets. Develop financial policies for its successful implementation
• Develop and maintain processes and systems to ensure the availability of appropriate and timely financial information to entity heads and managers of the University
• Formulate financial strategies to achieve the institutions missions and goals; in collaboration with other senior managers
• Provide appropriate levels of financial control and autonomy
• Responsible for developing banking and financial strategies at the same time ensuring the Universitys interests in customs, tax and fiscal areas are met and statutory reporting requirements are met
• Work on risk management, insurance related matters, and work closely with the entity heads on matters related to the generation of new resources and their management
• Manage the capital structure of the University, ensuring coordination and availability of financial resources for academic, healthcare and other priorities. Ensure the ongoing availability of financial capacity through a rigorous financial strategy, budgeting and planning
• Work closely with external and internal auditors through effective identification, management and communication of key accounting, financial and compliance issues
• Ensure compliance with all statutory and financial regulations of the respective countries in Kenya and other locations, as required
• Oversee accounting for construction and capital projects and ensure accurate reporting and monitoring of budgets and finances
• Evaluate risks by continuously reviewing processes and internal controls & implementing improvements
• Work closely with the Project Director and the legal team for the development /reviewing of contracts with international consultants (Architects, Design Consultants) and contractors Responsible for the financial management of construction and review of projects including large constructions
• Communicate and maintain liaison with AKDN agencies, corporate clients, vendors, local and foreign institutions, donors, tax consultants, external auditors, insurers and legal advocates, as and when required
• Undertake any special assignments as assigned

Requirements

• Qualified Accountant ACA, ACMA, ACCA, CPA (K), CIMA or A Masters degree preferably in Finance or equivalent from a reputable University
• At least 10 years of working experience in a large local or multinational institution preferably in an education or an integrated Health system. At least 5 years of which should be in a management position
• Experience of working in a development sector is also preferred
• Strong knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and International Accounting Standards and their applications
• Strong knowledge of working with high-quality ERP systems
• Knowledgeable in preparing feasibility studies/ project plans/ strategic plans
• Strong command of spoken and written English
• Strong command of Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Ability to prioritize work assignments and meet strict deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop team members to work towards achieving the set goals and objectives
• Unquestionable integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Experience in managing relationships
• Excellence at carrying of data analysis and synthesizing information

To Apply

Applications together with detailed Curriculum Vitae should be sent to the Manager, Recruitment, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, by email to [email protected]. Please indicate the title of the position on the subject line of your email application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications should be submitted latest by December 23, 2022

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents (www.aku.edu). An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.