Regional Finance & Compliance Officer

Wetlands International Eastern Africa is looking for a seasoned Regional Finance & Compliance Officer (RFCO) to provide strategic financial leadership across its regional operations. This is a senior role that sits at the intersection of financial management, donor accountability, and organisational compliance — ensuring that Wetlands International's Eastern Africa programmes are delivered with the highest standards of fiscal discipline and transparency.

Based in Nairobi, the RFCO will work closely with programme leads, country offices, and global headquarters to maintain robust financial systems, drive compliance across multi-country operations, and safeguard donor funds. If you are a finance professional with deep NGO experience and a passion for conservation and sustainable development, this role offers meaningful impact at a regional scale.

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes across Eastern Africa country and project offices.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of accurate, timely financial reports to donors, management, and the global organisation.
• Manage grants portfolios end-to-end — from budget development and donor compliance to financial closeout and reporting.
• Ensure strict adherence to donor requirements, organisational policies, and applicable statutory regulations across all jurisdictions in the region.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve internal financial controls, systems, and procedures to minimise risk.
• Lead and coordinate internal and external audit processes, responding to audit findings and implementing corrective action plans.
• Conduct financial risk assessments and support the development of risk mitigation frameworks for regional operations.
• Build the financial management capacity of programme and operations staff through training and mentorship.
• Provide strategic financial input during proposal development and budget negotiations with donors.
• Liaise with legal, procurement, and HR teams to ensure cross-functional compliance in operations.

• Ability to lead financial strategy across multiple countries and offices, aligning financial performance with organisational objectives.
• Demonstrated competency in managing donor-funded projects (EU, USAID, DFID, or similar) including budget monitoring and financial reporting.
• Proven ability to design and enforce internal control systems that prevent financial mismanagement and fraud.
• Experience conducting or coordinating statutory and donor audits, and translating findings into actionable improvements.
• Skilled at interpreting and applying donor compliance requirements, NGO accounting standards, and local statutory obligations.
• Strong analytical skills — able to generate financial insights from complex data and communicate them clearly to non-finance stakeholders.
• 8–10 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 2 years in a senior regional or multi-country finance leadership role within an INGO.
• Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
• CPA(K), ACCA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification is required.

Wetlands International offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and in line with international NGO salary scales in the region. The estimated monthly gross salary range for this role is KES 250,000 – 400,000. Additional benefits are provided in accordance with the organisation's HR policy.

Ideal candidate: A results-driven senior finance professional with extensive INGO experience, strong command of donor compliance frameworks, and the gravitas to lead financial oversight across a complex, multi-country region. You are detail-oriented yet strategic, collaborative yet firm on compliance, and committed to the mission of wetlands conservation.

Who should NOT apply: Candidates with fewer than 8 years of relevant finance experience, those without a professional accounting qualification (CPA/ACCA or equivalent), or those with no prior exposure to donor-funded project management in a non-profit or NGO context. This is not an entry-level or mid-level finance role.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application through the Wetlands International official recruitment portal or careers page. Prepare an updated CV and a tailored cover letter highlighting your regional NGO finance experience and donor compliance expertise. Applications must be received before the stated deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Note: Do not pay any fees for certificates, assessments, or notarisation at any stage of this recruitment process.