Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Job Safaricom, Nairobi, Kenya
Safaricom, Nairobi, Kenya
Job description
Reporting to the Senior Manager Financial Planning & Analysis the role holder will play a critical role in supporting business performance through budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning (LRP), management reporting, financial modelling, performance analysis, and business partnering.
The role is responsible for translating financial and operational data into actionable insights that support executive decision-making, capital allocation, strategic planning, and performance management. The successful candidate will possess a strong commercial mindset, advanced financial modelling capabilities, and the ability to influence business decisions through data-driven insights. Key responsibilities align with P&L forecasting, cashflow forecasting, LRP development, scenario analysis, executive communication and business partnering
Responsibilities
Health and Safety
- Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
- All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions.
Financial Planning & Forecasting
- Support the preparation and consolidation of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and long-range plans (LRPs).
- Develop and maintain integrated financial models covering revenue, operating costs, EBITDA, profitability, cashflow, and capital expenditure.
- Coordinate forecast submissions across business units and ensure alignment to strategic objectives.
- Perform driver-based forecasting and sensitivity analysis to evaluate financial outcomes under various scenarios.
- Monitor forecast accuracy and provide recommendations to improve planning effectiveness.
Management Reporting & Performance Analysis
- Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports.
- Deliver insightful variance analysis comparing Actuals, Budget, Forecast, and Prior Year performance.
- Identify key business drivers impacting revenue growth, profitability, cashflow, and return on investment.
- Develop executive-level dashboards and KPI reporting.
- Present financial performance trends and implications to senior management.
Business Partnering
- Partner with Commercial, Technology, Operations, Enterprise, and Support Functions to provide financial decision support.
- Challenge assumptions and ensure business initiatives are supported by robust financial analysis.
- Support pricing reviews, business cases, investment proposals, and strategic initiatives.
- Influence stakeholders through data-driven insights and recommendations.
- Act as a trusted advisor on performance management and financial implications of business decisions.
Long-Range Planning & Strategy Support
- Support development and maintenance of multi-year strategic plans and long-range financial outlooks.
- Assess business opportunities, investment cases, and growth initiatives.
- Translate strategic initiatives into financial plans and measurable performance targets.
- Evaluate revenue growth, margin expansion, cash generation, and investment affordability.
Cashflow & Investment Analysis
- Develop and maintain cashflow forecasts and liquidity projections.
- Monitor working capital performance and identify improvement opportunities.
- Support capital expenditure planning, prioritization, and investment reviews.
- Evaluate funding requirements and free cashflow generation.
- Perform post-investment reviews to assess business case realization.
Financial Modelling & Scenario Analysis
- Build robust and auditable financial models.
- Conduct sensitivity analysis and scenario planning to assess financial risk and opportunities.
- Evaluate downside and upside scenarios and recommend mitigation actions.
- Support strategic decision-making through advanced modelling techniques.
Continuous Improvement
- Drive improvements in FP&A processes, tools, and reporting capabilities.
- Enhance automation and data analytics within planning and reporting processes.
- Support finance transformation initiatives and adoption of best practices.
- Improve data quality, consistency, and governance across planning cycles.
Core competencies, knowledge and experience
Technical Competencies
Financial Expertise
- Advanced financial modelling
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Long-range planning (LRP)
- Management reporting
- Variance analysis
- Business case development
- Capital investment analysis
- Cashflow forecasting
- Scenario and sensitivity analysis
Systems & Tools
- Advanced Microsoft Excel
- ERP and HFM platforms (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Hyperion, OneStream, Anaplan)
- PowerPoint and executive presentation development
Behavioural Competencies
- Commercial Acumen: Ability to interpret business performance drivers and convert analysis into actionable recommendations.
- Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving capability with attention to detail and ability to manage ambiguity.
- Business Partnering: Confidence to challenge assumptions and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- Communication: Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial audiences and executive leadership.
- Strategic Mindset: Ability to link short-term performance to long-term strategic objectives and business outcomes.
- Results Orientation: Focus on delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial insights.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Business, or related field.
- MBA or master’s degree is an added advantage.
- Professional Qualifications: CPA & ACCA
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in Financial Planning & Analysis, Commercial Finance, Business Finance, Corporate Finance, or Management Reporting.
- Demonstrated experience in budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, and financial modelling.
- Experience supporting senior stakeholders and business leaders.
- Experience working with large datasets and complex financial models.
- Telecommunications, Technology, FMCG, Banking, or other large corporate experience is desirable.