Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

Mara Elephant Project (MEP) operates in the Maasai Mara to protect elephants and their habitats across the Greater Mara Ecosystem (GME). The GME, an extension of the vast Serengeti ecosystem, is one of Kenya's most important wildlife areas and tourism assets. The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is one of the last major wildlife refuges on Earth.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with MEP’s strategic plan and operational priorities. Provide high-quality financial analysis and decision support to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board.
• Sustainability & Advisory: Lead long-term financial planning, scenario modelling, and funding risk analysis to strengthen sustainability. Act as the principal advisor to the CEO and Board on financial sustainability and funding risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with the Board, funders, and other stakeholders to communicate financial performance and build trust.
• Financial Governance: Act as senior custodian of financial governance, internal control, and risk management frameworks. Safeguard organizational assets, ensuring ethical and mission-aligned deployment.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with statutory, donor, and regulatory obligations. Oversee timely filing of statutory returns, payroll obligations, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting.
• Audit & Reporting: Lead engagements with auditors and regulators. Prepare management accounts and financial dashboards for senior management and the Board. Coordinate external audits.
• Risk Management: Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and lead development of mitigation strategies. Strengthen supplier due diligence.
• Budgeting & Grant Management: Lead annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting. Oversee financial management of all donor-funded grants, ensuring compliance and accurate reporting. Establish grant tracking systems.
• Operational Oversight: Review contracts and MOUs from a financial perspective. Set financial approval thresholds and oversee procurement commitments.
• Systems Improvement: Drive continuous improvements to financial systems and processes. Develop and maintain a Finance Manual and SOPs.
• Cash Management: Manage and monitor cash flow to ensure adequate liquidity. Oversee banking relationships and reserves policy.
• Team Leadership: Lead and develop a high-performing finance department. Provide coaching, mentorship, and succession planning for finance and administrative staff.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA-K, ACCA, or equivalent).
• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related discipline is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, including senior executive or CFO-level responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience operating in donor-funded, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations with complex compliance requirements.
• Proven track record in financial governance, strategic planning, and Board-level engagement.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send their applications to humanresources@maraelephantproject.org, quoting the job title on the subject line, before 28th February 2026.