Ann Gachanja

Finance Manager with over 12 years of progressive experience across accounting, budgeting and budget control, financial analysis and reporting, internal controls, and loan/credit portfolio oversight in corporate and donor-funded environments. Directly manage a portfolio of enterprise, SBA and vehicle loans, including repayment tracking, collections on overdue accounts, and loan performance reporting to leadership. Proven senior leadership track record managing multi-project funds — overseeing budgeting, fund utilisation, compliance and risk across multiple concurrent donor-funded projects, achieving 100% compliance with funder regulations and internal audit requirements.

Experienced in designing and enforcing internal control systems, coordinating with external auditors, and leading and mentoring finance teams. Comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on levels, with strong analytical, communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Accounting Manager at Sweetwater Plumbing (2026-02 – Present)

• Recruited specifically to design and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the financial management team — now fully developed and in active use, standardizing processes across accounting, reporting and controls.
• Hold full financial management responsibility for the company, overseeing accounting, reporting, payables/receivables, payroll oversight and month-end/year-end close.
• Manage the company's loan portfolio, including enterprise/customer loans, SBA loans, vehicle loans and internal credit lines — tracking repayments, handling collections on overdue accounts, and reporting loan performance to leadership.
• Lead and manage the accounting team, reviewing output for quality, consistency and compliance.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all financial matters, providing oversight and guidance across the finance function.
• Coordinate audit documentation and readiness for external review.

Finance & Admin Manager at The College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (2022-05 – 2026-01)

• Held senior leadership responsibility for funds management across donor-funded projects — budgeting, fund utilisation tracking, and variance analysis — improving budget efficiency by 20%.
• Designed and enforced financial policies and internal control systems, achieving 100% compliance with donor regulations and internal audit requirements.
• Led three successful audit cycles end-to-end, coordinating directly with external auditors and closing recommendations.
• Streamlined procurement and payment systems across 10+ projects, cutting overdue payments by 25% and saving over $40,000 in operational costs.
• Led, supervised and mentored finance and administrative staff, setting goals and building team capacity through coaching.

Payables & Intercompany Accountant at VS Hydro Ltd (2018-10 – 2022-04)

• Managed monthly reconciliations for 20+ vendors and intercompany accounts, improving reporting efficiency by 25%.
• Prepared and analysed monthly profit and loss statements to support senior management's operational and financial decisions.

Assistant & GL Accountant at VS Hydro Ltd (2016-09 – 2018-09)

• Managed general ledger entries and reconciliations across 10+ accounts, ensuring 100% accuracy and timely close.
• Supported audit preparation and compliance reviews across two external audits completed with zero major findings.

Assistant Accountant at Lord Endures Forever (2012-01 – 2016-08)

• Prepared monthly financial reports and variance analyses, improving budget adherence by 25%.
• Liaised directly with auditors, ensuring documentation compliance and smooth, zero-issue audit processes.

MSc in Project Management – Liverpool John Moores University

Bachelor of Commerce in Finance – Kenyatta University