Finance Assistant @Unknown

Application deadline: Thursday 7 August 2026 – 23:59
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Full-time : 40 hours per week
Contract: 1 year, fixed-term

Salary: Kes. 90,000 – 105,000

We’re BirdLife International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders.

We are seeking a dedicated Finance Assistant to support the review of partner financial reports, ensuring compliance with donor and organizational requirements while strengthening the financial management capacity of partner organizations. The role will also support the delivery of financial training, mentoring, and ongoing capacity-building initiatives to the partner, with the aim of improving financial reporting, internal controls, grant management, and compliance. The post holder will work particularly closely with our partner in Madagascar, providing dedicated financial support and guidance to ensure effective project implementation and accountability.

How you will do this:

Partner Financial Report Review

• Review financial reports submitted by the partner for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Verify supporting documentation and ensure expenditures are adequately supported.
• Conduct budget-to-actual analysis and identify variances requiring clarification.
• Follow up with partners on financial queries and outstanding documentation.
• Assist in preparing financial review reports and recommendations for management.

Partner Capacity Building and Training

• Support the planning and delivery of financial management training for the partner
• Support in develop and update training materials, guidance notes, and reporting templates.
• Support ongoing mentorship and technical support to partner finance staff.
• Assist the partners in understanding donor regulations, financial policies, and reporting requirements.
• Support assessments of partner financial systems and internal controls.

Compliance and Financial Monitoring

• Monitor partner compliance with grant agreements, organizational policies, and donor requirements.
• Support partner financial monitoring visits and capacity assessments.
• Assist in tracking partner reporting deadlines and ensuring timely submission of reports.
• Maintain organized records of partner financial reports and supporting documentation.

General Finance Support

• Assist in preparing financial analyses and management reports.
• Support audits and donor reviews involving partner expenditures.
• Perform other finance and administrative duties as assigned by the line manager.

This role will require occasional travel.

What we are looking for:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, or equivalent) is an added advantage.

Experience: Experience in accountancy, financial management and administration, preferably in an international and multicultural work environment. Experience in an NGO is an added advantage.

Job Specific Knowledge: Good knowledge of financial and programme management principles and practices. Experience reviewing partner financial reports and supporting donor-funded projects. Experience delivering training or capacity-building initiatives is desirable.

Knowledge of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP systems) is an added advantage.

Skills:

High motivation, desire to achieve; pro-active; attention to detail, excellent organisational skills, and ability to work to high standards with tight deadlines.

Team worker. Ability to work in a multicultural team.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Fluency in English (written and spoken). Working proficiency in French (written and spoken) is required.

Ability to review and communicate financial information in both English and French.

Computer Literacy:

Proficiency in Microsoft office software with a bias in Ms. Excel, word and other collaboration tools and preferably having a working knowledge in ERP is an added advantage.

See the full job description here.

Salary and Benefits

Commensurate with experience and qualifications and in accordance with BirdLife International, Africa Division terms and conditions.

• 12% Employer pension contribution
• Medical insurance
• 22 days annual leave, increasing to 1 day per annum up to 25 days, plus bank holidays
• Christmas office closure
• Group Life Assurance
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal (webinars, nutritional advice, 4-week programmes, financial wellbeing and more)

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.DepartmentAfrica DivisionLocationsAfrica Regional OfficeYearly salaryKES90,000 – KES105,000

About BirdLife International

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation Partnership. Together we are 125 BirdLife Partners worldwide – one per country or territory – and growing.

We are driven by our belief that local people, working for nature in their own places but connected nationally and internationally through our global Partnership, are the key to sustaining all life on this planet.