Chief Financial Officer
We are excited to announce an opening for the role of Chief Financial Officer at our nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to shaping the future of mental health. This role offers an opportunity to work closely with the CEO to provide strategic financial leadership and ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the organization.
About the role:
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the Leadership team at Shamiri. You will be responsible for providing strategic financial leadership and ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the organization. The CFO will oversee budgeting, financial planning, reporting, and compliance, working closely with the CEO to align financial strategy with Shamiri’s mission and goals. In particular, you will lead the development of financial projections and scenario planning to inform decision making. Your previous experience will have honed your skills as a financial operator, with deep expertise in nonprofit financial management and compliance.
Roles and responsibilities:
Strategic Financial Leadership - Partner with the CEO to shape and execute financial strategy aligned with Shamiri’s strategic plan.
- Lead the development of financial projections and scenario planning to inform strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
- Provide financial guidance on key organizational decisions, including new programs, funding opportunities, and expansion initiatives.
- Support scenario planning, growth modeling, and financial forecasting.
Budgeting and Financial Planning - Lead the annual budgeting process, including organization-wide and project-level budgets.
- Support grant proposal budgeting and alignment of donor budgets with internal cost structures.
- Monitor budget-to-actuals across departments and projects; flag variances and advise on course correction.
Financial Reporting and Analysis - Oversee preparation of monthly and quarterly financial reports for internal leadership and the Board of Directors.
- Translate financial data into clear insights and action-oriented recommendations for non-finance staff and decision-makers.
- Present financial updates at board meetings and contribute to materials for funders and investors.
Systems and Compliance - Strengthen internal financial systems, policies, and procedures in line with best practices and compliance standards.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, donor rules, and audit standards.
- Oversee financial risk management, including cash flow management and reserves strategy.
Capacity Building and Team Support - Mentor and support the internal finance team.
- Recommend and support implementation of tools, systems, or platforms to improve financial workflows.
- Advise on recruitment or upskilling needed within the finance function.
Who we're looking for:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, ideally including senior roles in social enterprises, NGOs, or impact organizations.
- Strong background in budgeting, grants management, compliance, and nonprofit financial strategy.
- Proven experience working with international donors (e.g. USAID, FCDO, Gates Foundation).
- Strong analytical, communication, and mentorship skills. CPA, CFA, or other relevant financial qualification preferred.
Please apply through our online application portal. Please note that you will be requested to upload your resume and cover letter in addition to completing a skills assessment.
About Shamiri Institute
We are a youth-led organization that is shaping the future of mental health by making it affordable for all, personalized to an individual’s needs and circumstances, and integrated within existing systems of caregiving and community life. This will help to build a future where young people can thrive across the African continent. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Shamiri was founded in 2018 at Harvard University by award-winning Kenyan entrepreneur and community – mobilizer Tom Osborn and rising global mental health researcher Katherine Venturo-Conerly. Since our founding in 2018, we have worked with more than 10,000 youths in secondary schools across Kenya. Through our work, young people have experienced a 40% improvement in mental health and wellbeing, a 14% improvement in social relations, and a 3% improvement in academic grades. Watch this TED talk for more information about our work.
Our Values
We adhere to several core values that guide our work:
- Data-Driven: Our decision-making is grounded in rigorous scientific research that respects the cultures of the communities we serve.
- Growth-Minded: We value passion, work ethic, and potential, recognizing that mistakes are opportunities for growth.
- Grassroots Orientation: Our bottom-up, anti-colonial approach uplifts the communities we work with.
- Collaboration: We embrace individual responsibility while actively seeking others' contributions and inputs.
- Clarity and Transparency: Our decision-making processes are both transparent and well-communicated.
- Hard Work: We are committed to working diligently for our team and Africa's youth.
- Embracing Fun: We value team-building activities across the organization.
- Nimbleness: We adapt our processes and structures to respond to new information and changing priorities.
