Commercial Accountant

  • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Full-Time
  • On-Site
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Job Description:

JOB PROFILE JOB TITLE: COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTANT – CONTRACTS & GOVERNANCE (ENERGY SECTOR)


  • Department/Group: Finance & Legal Compliance

  • Reporting To: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) / Finance Director

  • Dotted Reporting Line: Managing Director / Board of Directors (for Corporate Secretarial duties)

  • Location: Head Office

  • Position Type: Full Time

  • Qualifications Required: CPA-K and CPS-K


POSITION PURPOSE & SCOPE



The Commercial Accountant – Contracts & Governance occupies a specialized hybrid role designed for the energy sector. This position bridges the gap between rigorous financial accounting, contract management, and corporate governance. Leveraging a professional background in a law firm or legal environment, the role holder ensures that all power purchase agreements (PPAs), project financing contracts, lease agreements, and joint ventures are financially optimized, legally sound, and strictly compliant. Holding both CPA-K and CPS-K qualifications, the candidate manages end-to-end accounting functions while driving regulatory compliance and board secretarial duties.



PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES


  • Financial Management, Reporting & Tax Compliance

  • Contract Lifecycle Management & Financial Vetting

  • Corporate Governance & Board Secretarial Services (CPS Scope)

  • Regulatory Compliance & Statutory Licensing

  • Project Financial Risk Mitigation & Liaison



KEY RESPONSIBILITIES



1. Financial Management & Accounting



  • Financial Reporting: Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in strict compliance with IFRS and company policies.

  • Tax Optimization: Manage all tax heads relevant to energy infrastructure, including Value Added Tax (VAT), Withholding Tax (WHT), and Corporate Income Tax, ensuring optimal compliance and zero penalties.

  • Budgetary Control: Monitor and manage operational and project budgets, tracking variances and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive cost efficiency.

  • Treasury & Cash Flow: Oversee cash flow forecasting, debt service obligations, and project financial drawdowns.


2. Contract Management & Legal-Financial Compliance



  • Contract Review: Analyze, review, and evaluate the financial clauses of legal contracts, including vendor service level agreements (SLAs), land leases, and energy construction contracts.

  • PPA Management: Track and monitor financial obligations, tariffs, escalations, and billing terms embedded within Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and off-taker contracts.

  • Financial Covenants: Review financing agreements to track and ensure absolute compliance with lender-imposed financial covenants, ratios, and deadlines.

  • Dispute Resolution: Utilize law firm and legal background experience to analyze billing discrepancies, contractual defaults, or financial claims, collaborating with external legal counsel when necessary.






3. Corporate Governance & Secretarial Services (CPS Duties)



  • Board Secretarial Support: Act as the corporate secretarial resource, coordinating board and committee meetings, compiling and formatting comprehensive board packs, and drafting precise minutes.

  • Statutory Returns: Maintain company registries and handle the timely filing of all statutory returns with the Registrar of Companies (CR12 updates, share allocations, annual returns).

  • Corporate Governance: Guide the executive team on contemporary corporate governance frameworks, ensuring ethical benchmarks and transparency in institutional operations.


4. Regulatory & Risk Management



  • Sector Compliance: Monitor regulatory requirements specific to the energy sector, ensuring active compliance with sector-specific utility regulations, environmental audits (NEMA), and county government business permits.

  • Risk Audits: Implement robust internal control frameworks that address both operational financial risks and contractual liabilities.


POSITION MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS


  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Commerce (Accounting/Finance option), Business Administration, or an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree.

  • Professional Qualifications:

    • Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) / Member of ICPAK in good standing.

    • Certified Public Secretary (CPS-K) / Member of ICS Kenya in good standing.

  • Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in accounting or financial management, with a minimum of 2–3 years spent working directly inside a reputable law firm or handling deep legal contract management within a corporate setting.

  • Sector Exposure: Experience or deep familiarity with project financing, the energy sector, infrastructure projects, or capital-intensive engineering environments is highly desirable.


COMPETENCIES & PROFESSIONAL SKILLS


  • Legal-Financial Translation: Unique capability to interpret complex legal jargon into clear financial numbers, balance sheet impacts, and operational workflows.

  • Contractual Precision: Exceptional eye for detail in reviewing liability clauses, indemnities, payment milestones, and financial risk triggers.

  • Communication & Liaison: Sophisticated verbal and written communication skills, equipped to present financial variables to technical engineers, board members, and legal advisors alike.

  • Systems Fluency: Experienced in using advanced ERP accounting systems alongside dedicated contract management or legal billing software.