Finance Manager

Position: Finance Manager

Location: Remote, within Nairobi

Reports to: Director of Operations, NurtureFirst

Dotted line: Chief Executive Officer, NurtureFirst

Contract Type: Full-time

 

About GDI

The Global Development Incubator, Inc. (GDI Africa), is a non-profit organization independently incorporated in Kenya in April 2017 and legally registered under the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act of Kenya. GDI Africa is governed by a locally constituted Board and directly employs over fifty staff across the country and the African region. GDI is renowned for launching and operationalizing initiatives aimed at systemic and scaled change. GDI's mission is to bring together ideas, leaders, and capital to build and scale the next generation of social solutions. More on GDI's approach and work can be found at: www.gdiafrica.org

About NurtureFirst

NurtureFirst strengthens the systems that support Home-Based Childcare (HBCC) providers — locally and globally — so the world's youngest children can thrive in quality, nurturing childcare settings. We partner with governments, funders, and communities to design and scale policies and practices that uplift HBCC providers and transform early childhood outcomes.

 

Our work operates at two interconnected levels:

• In-country systems change: We partner with governments, funders, and communities to design and scale policies and practices that uplift HBCC providers and transform early childhood outcomes. Currently operating in Kenya as our first country of focus, we plan to expand to additional countries over the next decade.
• Global movement-building: Alongside our country-level work, we are building a Global HBCC Alliance with partner organizations to elevate the visibility of home-based childcare worldwide, share evidence and best practices, and accelerate adoption of supportive policies across contexts.

 

NurtureFirst is currently incubated as an initiative of GDI and is in the process of independent registration, expected to be completed in late 2026.

Role Overview

NurtureFirst is seeking a Finance Manager to design, establish, and steward the organization's financial function as it transitions from incubation to operational independence.

This is not a role that maintains an existing finance system; it is a role that helps build one.

The successful candidate will lead the design and implementation of NurtureFirst's financial architecture, controls environment, reporting capability, compliance framework, and audit readiness while supporting the transition from GDI's infrastructure to an independent operating model. This includes establishing the organization's standalone financial backbone, including financial controls, budgeting and reporting processes, payroll and statutory compliance, grant financial management, and audit readiness.

The role will initially own both the strategic and operational aspects of the function - from establishing financial systems and presenting to the Board, through to risk management, supporting payroll, grant reporting, statutory compliance, cash flow management, and monthly financial close processes.

Working closely with leadership, programs, fundraising, operations, external advisors, and the Board, the Finance Manager will serve as the primary steward of financial integrity, visibility, and compliance as NurtureFirst establishes itself as a credible, sustainable, independent organization.

This role requires both technical depth and judgment to operate effectively within a small, fast-moving team. The ideal candidate is comfortable building systems from scratch, engaging with auditors and tax advisers, supporting Board discussions, and translating financial information into clear insights for decision-making.

 

Key Responsibilities

Financial Infrastructure and Controls

• Design and establish NurtureFirst's standalone financial architecture, including chart of accounts, financial policies, approval thresholds, delegations of authority, and reporting templates.
• Implement maker-checker processes and internal controls from day one with a target of audit readiness before the first audit period.
• Lead the selection and implementation of accounting, payroll, expense management, and financial reporting systems appropriate for NurtureFirst's size and complexity.
• Establish banking arrangements, treasury processes, and cash management practices.
• Develop and maintain a finance compliance calendar covering statutory obligations, donor requirements, audit deadlines, and internal reporting cycles.
• Monitor regulatory and policy developments in Kenya that could pose compliance risk, and escalate emerging issues to the CEO in a timely manner

Budget Management and Financial Visibility

• Own and maintain the organizational budget
• Establish and run monthly and quarterly budget-versus-actual review processes with budget owners.
• Provide leadership with clear visibility on burn rate, cash runway, committed expenditure, staffing costs, and forecast variances.
• Lead cash flow forecasting and financial scenario modeling to support strategic decision-making.
• Surface financial risks, underspend, savings opportunities, and emerging pressures proactively.

 

Grant Financial Management and Donor Reporting

• Oversee the financial management of all grants and funding agreements.
• Ensure expenditure is tracked against approved budgets and donor restrictions.
• Review and approve donor financial reports prepared internally or through shared services arrangements.
• Support proposal development through robust budgeting, cost modeling, and financial assumptions.
• Oversee sub-award and partner financial management processes where applicable.

Governance, Audit and Compliance

• Lead preparations for NurtureFirst's first independent audit and coordinate external auditors.
• Develop finance reporting packs and dashboards for leadership and Board meetings.
• Support the establishment and operation of the Finance and Audit Committee.
• Ensure compliance with Kenyan statutory obligations, company law requirements, and donor compliance obligations.
• Coordinate specialist tax, legal, transfer pricing, and regulatory advice where required.

Transition to Independence

• Lead the financial decoupling from GDI Africa, including settling outstanding balances, transferring asset registers, reconciling sub-award accounts, and closing out the financial relationship cleanly
• Establish NurtureFirst’s financial independence so the organization can receive, manage, and report on funds directly
• Advise the CEO and Director of Operations on the financial implications of strategic decisions

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Qualified accountant, CPA(K), ACCA, or equivalent professional certification
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 3 years in a senior finance role within a nonprofit, INGO, or development organization
• Demonstrated experience building financial systems and controls from scratch or during an organizational transition, not just maintaining existing ones
• Knowledge of Kenyan statutory and regulatory requirements
• Proven experience managing multi-donor grant portfolios with diverse reporting requirements, budget formats, and compliance standards
• Experience preparing for and managing external audits, with a track record of clean audit outcomes
• Strong financial planning and analysis capability, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and scenario modeling.
• Proficiency in accounting systems (QuickBooks, Xero, or equivalent) and advanced Excel or Google Sheets
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences; board members, program leads, and funders
• High integrity, discretion, and professional judgment; trusted with sensitive financial information and organizational decisions
• Experience working effectively in small, fast-moving environments where the ability to operate strategically and pragmatically is equally important.

Desirable

• Experience with organizational spin-offs, entity setup, or financial decoupling from a parent organization
• Familiarity with CLG (Company Limited by Guarantee) financial requirements in Kenya
• Experience with transfer pricing, multi-entity financial flows, or fiscal sponsorship arrangements
• Knowledge of international payroll or EOR arrangements for staff in multiple jurisdictions
• Experience with early childhood, gender, or social infrastructure sectors

 

Why NurtureFirst

• A defining moment: build the financial foundation of a new global organization from the ground up
• Mission-driven team with a strong culture of care and excellence
• Opportunity to shape not just finance, but the operational infrastructure of an organization at a pivotal inflection point

 

How to Apply

If this role resonates with you and you meet the qualifications above, please submit a single PDF document containing a cover letter and your CV. The cover letter should speak specifically to your experience building financial systems and managing multi-donor grant portfolios. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled and are to be submitted via https://www.gdiafrica.org/our-careers/