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Principal Accountant

Reference Number: KF/HRM/PA/1/2026

Salary: Ksh. 82,300 x 7,200 – 118,300 x 8,600 – 152,700

Job Overview

KASNEB Foundation is seeking a qualified and experienced finance professional to fill the position of Principal Accountant. Reporting to the Manager, the successful candidate will provide financial management and accounting support while ensuring that the Foundation's financial resources, records, and assets are properly managed and accounted for.

The Principal Accountant will play a key role in budgeting, financial reporting, expenditure monitoring, cash-flow management, donor reporting, reconciliations, asset management, and resource mobilization. The position requires a strong understanding of public-sector financial management, accounting standards, budgeting procedures, and financial controls.

The successful candidate should be analytical, organized, and capable of providing accurate and timely financial information to support management decisions. The role also requires a high level of integrity, professionalism, accountability, and attention to detail.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Budget Preparation and Management

The Principal Accountant will support the preparation and management of the Foundation's annual budgets.

Responsibilities will include:

• Preparing annual budgets in line with organizational priorities.

• Providing technical financial support to departments during the budget preparation process.

• Providing reliable and up-to-date financial information to support budget decisions.

• Reviewing proposed expenditure against available budget provisions.

• Monitoring the use of approved budgets throughout the financial year.

• Advising departments on budget availability and financial requirements.

• Ensuring commitments and expenditures remain within approved limits.

• Identifying potential budget pressures and reporting them to management.

• Supporting effective financial planning across the organization.

The successful candidate should be able to analyse financial requirements and ensure that available resources are used responsibly.

2. Financial Statements and Reporting

The Principal Accountant will be responsible for preparing financial statements and supporting schedules in accordance with applicable public-sector requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Preparing draft annual financial statements.

• Preparing quarterly financial statements.

• Preparing supporting schedules and financial documentation.

• Ensuring reports comply with the Public Finance Management Act and applicable IPSAS requirements.

• Reviewing financial information for accuracy and completeness.

• Supporting management with timely financial reports.

• Preparing monthly and quarterly expenditure reports.

• Preparing variance analysis reports.

• Explaining significant differences between approved budgets and actual expenditure.

The role requires strong knowledge of financial reporting and the ability to prepare accurate reports within established deadlines.

3. Expenditure Monitoring and Control

The Principal Accountant will monitor expenditure to ensure that financial resources are used in accordance with approved budgets and procedures.

This will involve:

• Monitoring expenditure against approved budgets.

• Reviewing financial transactions for accuracy and completeness.

• Analysing postings made in the accounting system.

• Identifying incorrect or incomplete transactions.

• Verifying payment documentation.

• Monitoring financial commitments.

• Ensuring expenditures are supported by appropriate documentation.

• Escalating irregularities or potential budget overruns.

• Supporting the implementation of effective financial controls.

The successful candidate should be able to identify financial risks early and recommend appropriate corrective measures.

4. Payroll, Invoices and Imprests

The Principal Accountant will review various payment-related documents before processing.

Responsibilities will include:

• Verifying payroll information.

• Reviewing payment invoices.

• Checking staff imprests.

• Confirming that payments are accurate and within approved budgets.

• Reviewing payment vouchers.

• Checking Local Purchase Orders and relevant supporting documents.

• Ensuring payments comply with established procedures.

• Supporting timely processing of approved payments.

The candidate will need to demonstrate strong attention to detail because errors in payroll, invoices, or imprests can have significant financial and operational consequences.

5. Supplier and Service Provider Payments

The Principal Accountant will help facilitate timely payments to suppliers, contractors, employees, and other service providers.

Key duties will include:

• Reviewing payment vouchers.

• Verifying supporting documentation.

• Checking LPOs and related records.

• Confirming budget availability.

• Ensuring approved payments are processed promptly.

• Following up on outstanding payment requirements.

• Addressing discrepancies that may delay payments.

• Maintaining proper records of financial transactions.

Efficient payment processing will help maintain positive relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders.

6. Bank and General Ledger Reconciliations

The successful candidate will support regular reconciliation of financial records to ensure accuracy.

Responsibilities will include:

• Preparing monthly reconciliations of budget line items within the ERP accounting system.

• Reviewing general ledger reconciliations.

• Identifying discrepancies between financial records.

• Investigating unusual or unexplained balances.

• Supporting timely correction of accounting errors.

• Ensuring reconciliations are properly documented.

• Maintaining accurate accounting records.

Strong analytical skills will be required to identify differences and determine their causes.

7. Cash Flow Management

The Principal Accountant will assist in managing the Foundation's cash flows.

This will include:

• Monitoring available cash resources.

• Reviewing expected receipts and payments.

• Supporting cash-flow forecasting.

• Ensuring sufficient funds are available for approved obligations.

• Monitoring cash requirements across different activities.

• Providing management with relevant cash-flow information.

• Supporting effective planning of financial commitments.

Good cash-flow management will help ensure that the Foundation can meet its financial obligations without unnecessary disruption.

8. Donor Funds and Project Reporting

The Principal Accountant will support the management and accountability of donor-funded activities.

Responsibilities will include:

• Preparing donor accounts.

• Preparing donor project financial reports.

• Monitoring donor-funded expenditure.

• Ensuring donor funds are used in accordance with agreed frameworks.

• Maintaining appropriate supporting documentation.

• Monitoring donor project budgets.

• Supporting accountability and reporting requirements.

• Coordinating financial information required for donor reporting.

• Supporting resource mobilization initiatives.

Experience with donor-funded programmes and financial reporting will be valuable in performing these responsibilities effectively.

9. Asset Register Management

The Principal Accountant will maintain accurate records of the Foundation's assets.

Key duties will include:

• Maintaining the organization's asset register.

• Updating asset records when necessary.

• Ensuring assets are properly recorded.

• Monitoring asset movements.

• Supporting verification of organizational assets.

• Ensuring disposed assets are properly accounted for.

• Maintaining appropriate documentation for asset disposals.

• Supporting management with accurate asset information.

Effective asset management will help protect organizational resources and ensure that financial records remain accurate.

10. Government Financial Management Systems

The Principal Accountant will maintain and update relevant information in the Government Investment Management Information System (GIMIS) or any other government-approved system.

Responsibilities will include:

• Entering and updating required financial information.

• Ensuring data is accurate and current.

• Reviewing information submitted through the relevant system.

• Supporting compliance with government reporting requirements.

• Maintaining appropriate records relating to system submissions.

The candidate should be comfortable working with computerized financial management systems and handling financial data accurately.

11. Debtors and Accounts Receivable

The Principal Accountant will maintain accurate records relating to debtors and accounts receivable.

This will involve:

• Maintaining debtor records.

• Monitoring outstanding receivables.

• Preparing regular debtor reports.

• Identifying overdue accounts.

• Providing management with information on outstanding amounts.

• Supporting timely collection of accounts receivable.

• Following up on relevant financial records where required.

Effective management of receivables will help improve cash flow and reduce outstanding debts.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. A cumulative service period of at least nine (9) years of relevant work experience.

2. At least three (3) years of the required experience should have been at the level of Senior Accountant or in a comparable position.

3. A Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Accounting, Finance, or another relevant qualification from a recognized institution.

4. Certified Public Accountant (K) qualification or an equivalent qualification from an accredited examination body.

5. Membership of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) or another relevant professional body in good standing.

6. A Management Course Certificate lasting at least four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.

7. Proficiency in computer applications.

8. Demonstrated merit and ability as reflected in previous work performance and results.

Candidates with strong experience in public-sector financial management, donor accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting will be well suited to the position.

Key Skills and Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Excellent planning and organizational skills.

• Strong financial and analytical abilities.

• Good negotiation skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities.

• Good understanding of corporate governance.

• Knowledge of public-sector management principles.

• Ability to develop and implement financial strategies.

• Ability to support resource mobilization initiatives.

• Ability to develop and implement business and research strategies.

• Strong understanding of financial controls.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• High levels of integrity and professionalism.

• Strong attention to detail.

The ideal candidate should also be able to work collaboratively with different departments while maintaining accountability for assigned financial responsibilities.

Application Requirements

Interested and qualified candidates should submit: - kasneb on docs.google.com

• A detailed and updated curriculum vitae.

• Copies of academic transcripts.

• Copies of academic and professional certificates.

• Copy of National Identity Card.

• Relevant testimonials.

• Names and addresses of three referees.

The application letter should clearly indicate the reference number of the position being applied for.

Applications should be submitted online through the provided application link and addressed to:

The Secretary/Chief Executive Officer
KASNEB
P.O. Box 41362-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

The application deadline is Thursday, 20 August 2026 at 5:00 p.m. East African Time.

Hard-copy applications will not be considered.

Important Information

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to present the originals of their National Identity Card, academic certificates, professional certificates, and other relevant documents during the interview.

Successful candidates will be required to provide the necessary clearance and compliance documents before receiving an appointment offer, in accordance with Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

These documents include:

1. Valid Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

2. Clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

3. Tax Compliance Certificate from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

4. Clearance Certificate from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

5. Clearance Certificate from an approved Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).

Interested candidates should ensure that their applications are complete and submitted before the stated deadline.

The successful Principal Accountant will be expected to uphold high standards of financial accountability, support sound decision-making, and contribute to the effective management of KASNEB Foundation's financial resources.