Group Chief Financial Officer

Our client is a leading Kenyan exporter of premium fruits and vegetables, supplying major international markets. Headquartered in Nairobi, they operate five state-of-the-art pack houses and a crude avocado oil extraction unit. They are part of a diversified group of 10+ companies with a strong presence across Kenya, Tanzania and Dubai. They are seeking a Group Chief Financial Officer to lead the finance function across the entire group, reporting directly to the Group CEO. Relocation to Nairobi is required.

- Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with group goals, growth plans and fundraising objectives.

- Perform structured financial analysis, scenario planning and performance monitoring to identify improvement opportunities.

- Assess foreign exchange exposure and define hedging methodology across Kenya, Tanzania and Dubai operations.

- Participate in board finance meetings and prepare board-level reporting packages.

- Lead monthly, quarterly and annual closing cycles by producing group consolidations and management accounts.

- Prepare consolidated financial statements with accurate multi-country tax reporting.

- Manage working capital, cash flow and investments to ensure financial stability across all entities.

- Oversee inventory management systems and production cost controls.

- Ensure compliance with IFRS, applicable accounting standards and statutory requirements across all jurisdictions.

- Manage investor relations for debt & equity and support fundraising or financing initiatives as required.

- Coordinate and drive annual operating, capital and program budgets.

- Build and continuously refine finance systems infrastructure to preserve company assets and ensure data integrity.

- Establish and oversee robust internal controls, audit trails and compliance policies across all entities.

- Lead financial risk management frameworks including currency, credit and operational risk mitigation.

- Manage the annual external audit process and maintain strong relationships with auditors.

- Liaise with local tax authorities to ensure full taxation compliance across all jurisdictions.

- Lead ERP implementation and optimization aligning systems with business workflows.

- Monitor business performance using KPIs and financial dashboards, implementing corrective actions where needed.

- Supervise, mentor and develop the finance and data management teams across all group entities.

- Promote a culture of accountability, high performance and a service mindset within the finance department.

* Qualified CA, ACCA (ICAP membership preferred) or equivalent relevant professional designation.

* Master's degree in Finance, Accounting or MBA from a recognized university is preferred.

* Minimum 10 years of total finance/audit experience, with at least 4 years in a senior management or CFO-level role.

* At least 2 years of international experience outside Pakistan, preferably in group or multi-company structures.

* Proven experience in complex commercial organizations, ideally Agriculture, Manufacturing, FMCG or Export sectors.

* Strong background in group reporting, consolidations and multi-entity financial management.

* Hands-on experience configuring and implementing ERP systems (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, SAGE or similar).

* In-depth knowledge of IFRS, corporate financial law, risk management and compliance.

* Solid understanding of tax, commercial, banking and foreign exchange regulations.

* Proven experience in budgeting, costing, financial forecasting and scenario analysis.

* High proficiency in Excel and financial management software.

* Mission-focused leader who delivers cost-effective outcomes in fast-paced entrepreneurial environments.