Francis Gitau

Accounting and finance professional with 8+ years of experience in accounting, accounts payable, reconciliations, financial reporting, payroll support, financial controls, and general finance operations. I have worked mainly in NGO and project-based environments, including managing and monitoring project funds of up to KES 60 million. My experience covers the accounting process from recording and checking transactions to processing payments, reconciling accounts, monitoring expenditure, and preparing financial reports.

I am comfortable working with suppliers, financial records, budgets and supporting documents, and I have experience preparing records for audits and ensuring financial information is accurate and complete. I use QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Microsoft Excel, and digital finance tools and bring strong attention to detail, practical problem-solving skills, and a good understanding of day-to-day finance operations.

Operations Lead at EcoCampus, Learning Planet Institute (2026-06 – Present)

In the MOOD for Climate Action Programme

• Designed the governance and risk-monitoring infrastructure for an international climate-action pilot: a Work Breakdown Structure, RACI accountability matrix, risk register with named mitigations and owners, and a KPI dashboard tracking operational metrics.
• Built cash-handling, payout, and same-day record-keeping procedures designed to be auditable from day one, plus escalation protocols for cross-team issue resolution.
• Coordinating a seven-person, multi-country team with no prior working history under an 11-week delivery deadline.

AI Trainer & Freelance Digital Analyst at uTest, Oneforma, Prolific, Crowdgen (2025-01 – Present)

• Process and validate structured datasets across 10+ concurrent global projects, systematically identifying inconsistencies, missing records, and duplication errors ahead of deployment.
• Meet strict productivity targets while collaborating with distributed international teams in fully remote environments.

Finance and Administration Manager at Project 82 Kenya (2021-09 – 2024-12)

• Managed and monitored project funds of approximately KES 50–60 million p.a, ensuring spending followed approved budgets, financial policies and donor requirements.
• Handled key finance activities including invoice checking, supplier payments, account reconciliations, expenditure tracking and financial reporting.
• Reviewed transactions and supporting documents to make sure records were complete, accurate and properly supported.
• Prepared financial reports, schedules and expenditure analysis for management review.
• Reconciled financial accounts and followed up on differences between accounting records, bank transactions and supporting documents.
• Monitored expenditure against approved budgets and helped management identify areas requiring attention.
• Strengthened financial controls and filing processes, making financial records easier to review during audits.
• Improved procurement and finance workflows, helping reduce operational delays by approximately 20%.
• Monitored cash requirements and supported cash-flow planning to ensure important payments were made on time.
• Maintained accurate financial records and supporting documents for reporting and audit purposes.

Accountant at Project 82 Kenya (2018-08 – 2021-08)

• Recorded day-to-day financial transactions and maintained complete and accurate accounting records.
• Processed payments and maintained payable schedules, including tracking supplier balances and outstanding obligations.
• Conducted monthly bank, ledger and account reconciliations and followed up on discrepancies.
• Prepared financial reports, schedules and variance analysis for management use.
• Monitored expenditure against approved budgets and supported cash-flow planning.
• Supported payroll processing and maintained accurate payroll and employee records.
• Ensured statutory obligations were properly accounted for, including PAYE, VAT, NHIF and NSSF during the relevant period.
• Prepared schedules and supporting documents required for audits.
• Supported management with financial information needed for planning and day-to-day decision-making.
• Helped maintain reliable accounting records through regular checking, reconciliation, and documentation.

Bookkeeper at Project 82 Kenya (2016-09 – 2018-01)

• Recorded and maintained payroll and expense information for 50+ staff.
• Supported daily accounting data entry, transaction tracking, and reconciliation.
• Maintained organized physical and digital financial records, improving document retrieval by approximately 60%.
• Checked financial information for errors and missing documents before reporting.
• Supported payroll and expense processing while ensuring records were complete and accurate.
• Helped maintain audit-ready financial records through proper filing and documentation.

Bachelor in Project Planning and Management – University of Nairobi (2019-09 – 2026-09)