Senior Manager, Financial Control

Save the Children International is seeking an experienced and driven Senior Manager, Financial Control to oversee and strengthen the organisation's global financial control framework. In this pivotal role, you will ensure that control and compliance issues are identified promptly through rigorous reviews of country and global financial reporting, KPIs, and financial returns. You will serve as the primary liaison between country, global, and member teams to develop actionable plans that address financial risks and control weaknesses.

You will lead two critical teams — the Financial Control team and the Donor/Award Audit team — driving best practices, standardisation, and automation across the organisation. This is a high-impact leadership role that demands both strategic vision and hands-on technical expertise in financial control within a complex, multi-country NGO environment.

• Ensure SCI's financial control framework operates effectively by conducting quality reviews and analysis of country financial returns and KPIs, identifying control and compliance issues in a timely manner.
• Engage with country, global, and member teams to develop and monitor action plans that address and minimise financial risks and control weaknesses.
• Manage the QRR financial control and compliance process; prepare KPI reporting and risk commentary for discussion with Finance SMT and IP SMT.
• Continuously improve the quality and impact of financial information for decision support, driving standardisation and automation across global and country finance teams.
• Provide expert guidance and support to country and global teams to embed best-practice financial controls and ensure documentation of policies, procedures, and guidance within the Quality Framework.
• Support the development of professional financial control skills across global and country finance teams, ensuring appropriate training is available and accessible.
• Lead on annual donor and member award audits, managing day-to-day relationships with auditors, engaging with members and donors on audit requirements, and delivering accurate reporting and successful audit outcomes.
• Develop and monitor action plans to address and reduce donor audit findings, reporting results back to donors and members.
• Lead Financial Control and donor/award audit teams, providing clear direction, performance management, and professional development support.
• Contribute financial control input to TDIT projects, ensuring financial control matters are fully considered and implemented to achieve project deliverables and benefits.

• Demonstrated experience leading a financial control function within a large, complex organisation, including managing donor audits and engaging directly with external auditors.
• Ability to apply exceptional analytical skills to review, interpret, and act on financial data and KPIs, identifying trends, anomalies, and areas of risk.
• Proven track record of maintaining meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy and reliability in financial reporting across multiple geographies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders including country teams, global staff, member organisations, auditors, and donors.
• Ability to develop and implement pragmatic solutions to complex financial issues and compliance challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience driving standardisation and automation of financial processes across global or multi-country teams.
• Experience developing and rolling out financial control policies, procedures, and training programmes.
• Prior experience in an INGO or NGO financial management environment is strongly preferred.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) is highly desirable.

Save the Children offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority and scope of this role. Estimated monthly salary range is KES 300,000 – 500,000, in line with INGO Senior Manager benchmarks in Kenya. The package typically includes comprehensive medical insurance, pension/provident fund contributions, and professional development opportunities. Specific benefits will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

This role is ideal for a seasoned finance professional with at least 7–10 years of progressive experience in financial control, audit management, and compliance — preferably within an international NGO or large multi-country organisation. You are a confident team leader who can balance strategic oversight with hands-on technical work, and you thrive in complex, fast-moving environments. You should be comfortable engaging with senior leadership, donors, and external auditors simultaneously.

Please do not apply if you have fewer than five years of relevant financial control experience, have no exposure to donor-funded audit processes, or are not comfortable leading geographically dispersed teams and managing multiple stakeholder relationships concurrently.

• Visit the Save the Children International careers portal at savethechildren.net/jobs or the Save the Children Kenya country office careers page.
• Search for the Senior Manager, Financial Control position and click Apply Now.
• Complete the online application form, attaching your updated CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation for the role.
• Ensure your cover letter specifically addresses your experience managing donor audits and leading financial control frameworks.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, disability, or background.