Alex Mbithi

Results-driven Finance and Accounting Specialist with over 15 years of experience in the non-governmental sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. Proven success in managing multi-million dollar budgets, overseeing regional financial operations, and leading cross-functional remote teams to enhance fiscal responsibility. Eager to apply comprehensive expertise in financial strategy, virtual collaboration, and compliance to drive efficiency and achieve organizational goals in a senior-level remote finance role.

Skills

Financial Planning, Financial Analysis, Budget Management, Financial Reporting, Strategic Planning, Grant Management, Donor Compliance, Financial Audits, Internal Controls, Cost Reduction, Risk Management, NGO Finance, Regional Oversight, Cash Flow Forecasting.

Experiences

Senior Finance Manager (East Africa Region)

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) | Nairobi, Kenya | Feb 2024 – Present

Roles And Responsibilities:

• Streamlined financial operations by managing regional budgets, tracking expenses, and ensuring compliance, resulting in a 15% improvement in reporting accuracy.
• Engineered and implemented new financial policies and procedures aligned with organizational objectives, increasing departmental compliance by 20%.
• Directed the timely production of accounting reports for the East Africa region, reducing the month-end closing time by 3 business days.
• Mentored and developed a team of 5 country-level Heads of Finance through targeted capacity building, enhancing their technical skills and performance management.
• Spearheaded internal and external audit processes for the region, achieving zero major findings for 2 consecutive audit cycles.
• Coordinated all regional financial planning and team meetings virtually across multiple time zones, maintaining seamless communication and project continuity.
• Partnered with key stakeholders to develop financial forecasts and budgets, providing direct technical support that improved budget alignment with strategic goals.

Finance and Administration Team Lead (Africa Region)

Norwegian Red Cross Society | Nairobi, Kenya | Jan 2023 – Jan 2024

Roles And Responsibilities:

• Led the strategic financial planning for the opening of a new country office in Ethiopia, managing the entire process from feasibility study to operational launch.
• Reduced operational costs by 10% through the successful renegotiation of service contracts with IFRC and ICRC movement partners.
• Managed a regional budget of over $50 million, ensuring strict compliance with diverse donor requirements and organizational policies across multiple countries.
• Directed the successful closure of the Burundi country office, managing asset disposal, contract terminations, and final audits within a 6-month timeline.
• Overhauled the finance and support services Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Africa region, improving workflow efficiency and internal controls.

Senior Finance and Admin Coordinator (Africa Region)

Norwegian Red Cross Society | Nairobi, Kenya | Oct 2019 – Dec 2022

Roles And Responsibilities:

• Managed grant funding from over 10 major international donors, including governments and private foundations, ensuring 100% compliance with all reporting requirements.
• Prepared and presented comprehensive financial reports, including income statements and cash flow analyses, providing key insights that informed senior leadership decisions.
• Improved financial controls by systematically implementing recommendations from annual audits, leading to a significantly stronger internal control environment.
• Validated and provided technical advice on all finance-related Job Descriptions for new country-level positions, ensuring role clarity and alignment with regional objectives.

Regional Projects Finance Officer (East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) | Nairobi, Kenya | Oct 2019 – Jun 2021

Roles And Responsibilities:

• Oversaw all grant management functions for 15 National Societies across the East Africa cluster, enhancing financial compliance and timely donor reporting.
• Deployed as a finance surge delegate during the Cyclone Idai & Kenneth emergency response in Mozambique, successfully establishing financial systems and controls in a high-pressure environment.
• Developed and delivered financial management training to staff and partners in 5 cluster countries, improving local capacity and adherence to IFRC policies.
• Provided direct technical finance support to the Red Cross Societies of Seychelles and Tanzania, reconciling long-outstanding donor funds and strengthening risk management frameworks.

Education

• Master of Finance | Strathmore University
• Bachelor of Commerce | Strathmore University (Ongoing)
• Certified Public Accountant| Strathmore University