Sage Intact, Sage Evolution Power BI, power query,Quick Book Online, Sunsystem, Macros Fidelia, Opera, materials control, google sheets, Microsoft 365 dynamic
Catherine Kaguri Mbaya
Senior Receivable Accountant
Meru
Summary
Results-driven finance professional with extensive experience in managing accounts receivable processes and ensuring timely collections. Adept in general ledger management, accounts payable, financial planning, and budgeting. Proven ability to implement efficient accounting practices that enhance financial accuracy and streamline operations across departments. Strong track record of maintaining meticulous records and resolving discrepancies, contributing to the overall financial health of the organization. Committed to leveraging analytical skills and strategic insights to support sound financial decision-making and drive organizational success.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Receivable Accountant
Lintons Place Ltd
06.2024 - Current
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- 1. Bank Reconciliations:
- Perform daily, weekly, and monthly bank reconciliations to ensure all transactions are accurately recorded.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies between bank statements and the general ledger.
- 2. Sales Reconciliation:
- Reconcile sales data across multiple platforms and ensure accurate recording in the financial system.
- Monitor and verify daily sales postings for consistency and accuracy.
- 3. Management of Bank Guarantees and Loans:
- Oversee and manage the issuance, renewal, and liquidation of bank guarantees.
- Monitor and track bank loan repayments and ensure compliance with loan agreements.
- 4. Customer Refunds and Credit Notes:
- Process customer refunds promptly and ensure accurate documentation.
- Oversee the issuance and reconciliation of credit notes, ensuring alignment with company policies.
- 5. VAT Refunds for Non-Residents:
- Process VAT refunds for non-residents who qualify for exemption from the 16% VAT.
- Ensure compliance with Kenyan tax regulations and maintain proper records for audit purposes.
- 6. Receivables General Ledger Reconciliations:
- Reconcile accounts receivable ledgers to ensure all payments are accounted for and posted correctly.
- Prepare monthly reconciliations of receivables to align with the general ledger.
- 7. Compliance and Reporting:
- Ensure all financial transactions adhere to company policies and regulatory requirements.
- Generate and present detailed reports on receivables, reconciliations, and variances to the Finance Manager.
- 8. Collaboration with Financial Operations & Banking Liaison
- Guarantee Issuance & Management:
- Facilitated the issuance of bank guarantees (bid bonds, performance guarantees, and advance payment guarantees) across multiple financial institutions, ensuring compliance with company policies and banking regulations.
- Negotiated terms with banks to secure favourable guarantee fees and optimized credit line utilization.
- Maintained a tracking system for guarantee expirations, renewals, and releases to mitigate financial risks.
- Liquidation & Settlement Coordination:
- Oversaw the liquidation process of guarantees upon contract completion, ensuring timely release of liabilities and recovery of collateral.
- Liaised with banks, legal teams, and clients to resolve discrepancies and expedite settlements.
- Prepared reconciliation reports for management, highlighting outstanding guarantees and financial exposures.
- Cross-Bank Relationship Management:
- Acted as the primary point of contact between Lintons Place Ltd and partner banks, streamlining communication for guarantee-related transactions.
- Evaluated banking partners for cost efficiency, reliability, and turnaround time, recommending strategic adjustments as needed.
- Stakeholders:
- Work closely with the sales, operations, and customer service teams to address financial queries.
- Liaise with banks and external auditors as necessary to ensure smooth financial processes.
- 9. Process Improvement:
- Identify opportunities to improve receivables and reconciliation processes.
- Implement strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce errors.
- 10. Successfully managed the Co-op Bank Integration Project, ensuring seamless alignment of the banking system with organizational processes to enhance financial transaction efficiency.
- 11. Led the E-TIMS Integration Project, overseeing the implementation of compliant electronic tax invoice management systems in adherence to KRA regulations.
- 12. Coordinated cross-functional teams and liaised with external stakeholders to deliver projects within scope, budget, and timelines.
- 13. Implemented process improvements during these projects, reducing reconciliation errors and enhancing reporting accuracy.
- 14. Facilitate Timely Setup of Mpesa Pay bill Services:
- Ensure that Mpesa Paybill accounts are set up by Safaricom promptly when opening new branches, enabling seamless transaction processing from day one.
- 15. Coordinate PDQ Applications for Multiple Banks:
- Oversee the application and setup of PDQ with Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank, and KCB to ensure that each new branch is equipped with the necessary payment systems for customer convenience.
- 16. Manage Bank Guarantee Processes:
- Handle the liquidation of existing bank guarantees and follow up on the issuance of new guarantees required for landlords at new branch locations, ensuring compliance and smooth lease agreements.
- 17. Other Duties:
- Perform any other tasks related to receivables, banking, and financial management as assigned by the Finance Manager.
General Ledger Accountant
Lintons Place Ltd
11.2023 - 06.2024
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- 1. Depreciation Management
- Ensure accurate calculation and recording of depreciation expenses in line with regulatory standards and organizational policies.
- Exercise meticulous attention to detail and apply a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles to maintain precision.
- 2. Withholding VAT (WHVAT) Compliance
- Handle the calculation, documentation, and timely filing of WHVAT returns, including the correct application of 5% withholding Tax on professional fees and 2% WHVAT, 7.5% WHVAT(Rental) other applicable rates as per Kenyan tax regulations.
- Maintain strict compliance to avoid penalties and ensure the integrity of financial records.
- 3. VAT Filing and Compliance
- Manage the timely and accurate filing of Value Added Tax (VAT) returns while adhering to statutory requirements.
- Facilitate smooth interactions with tax authorities and optimize tax efficiency through compliance expertise.
- 4. Receivables and Payables Management
- Oversee the reconciliation and maintenance of receivables and payables ledgers, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Foster proactive communication with internal stakeholders and external partners to resolve discrepancies and streamline financial processes.
- 5. Prepayments, Accruals, and Provisions
- Manage the accounting treatment of prepayments, accruals, and provisions to align with accounting standards and accurately reflect the financial position of the organization.
- Utilize strong analytical skills and attention to detail to forecast and record these items effectively.
- 6. Tax Filings and Reporting
- Prepare and submit various tax returns, including Income Tax, VAT, and Withholding Tax, ensuring adherence to prescribed deadlines.
- Leverage a thorough understanding of tax legislation to mitigate risks and maintain compliance while supporting accurate financial reporting.
- Maintain accurate chart of accounts and transaction coding within Sage Evolution.
- Compare GL Balances to Subledgers and reconcile the figures to ensure there no variances and gaps.
- Confirm the GL balances are matching the Trial Balance, Profit and loss.
Accountant-Bookkeeper
Year-to-Date Bookkeepers
07.2022 - 07.2023
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- Timely computation, filing and payment of payroll deductions and taxes for clients including WHT, WHVAT, PAYE, NHIF, NSSF, and NITA
- Posting of supplier and vendor invoices in the correct ledger accounts in the ERP system
- Monthly Mpesa Reconciliation
- Verifying and filing supplier invoices, LPOs and delivery notes before processing payments
- Maintain customer confidence and protect operations by keeping financial information confidential.
- Assist in the preparation and processing of financial statements e.g balance sheets & income statements in accordance with legal and company accounting and financial guidelines.
- Ensures the credibility of the accounts of the company in accordance with the standards determined by management
- Ensuring all EFT, RTGS, cheque and MPESA payments are made within credit terms and remittance advices shared with the supplier
- Preparing cash plans for cash flow monitoring, sales commissions reports and creditor aging reports for the Head of Finance
- Ensuring all supplier sub-ledger accounts are reconciled and reflect accurate balances at any given time to avoid double payment or non-payment of invoices
- Weekly and monthly bank reconciliations
- Posting journal vouchers and reconcile the monthly final accounts in accordance with IFRS
- Preparation of interim and annual audit schedules, samples and files
- Negotiating for favorable credit terms with new and existing suppliers
- Resolving supplier and vendor related issues within reasonable timelines
- Preparation and spooling of accrual reports on monthly basis
- Renewal of all annual subscriptions including insurance, and County Licenses.
- Preparation of assigned balance sheet reconciliations monthly, to be completed and submitted by the 07th of every month.
- Preparation of Trial Balance Profit and loss and Balance sheet.
Credit Controller
Safepak Ltd
01.2021 - 05.2022
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- Generation of customer statements (local & export).
- Reconciliation of the local and export customer accounts.
- Checking & reconciliation of ledgers to ensure invoices and payments are updated.
- Preparing of debtors aging list /schedule and highlighting collections due so as to meet the targets
- Making daily calls/sending emails/ reminders to customers requesting for payments and payments plans.
- Answering to any billing questions that clients might have, receiving, invoicing and any other related billing query.
- Preparations of end month stock sheet and stock valuation.
- Maintenance of the cashbook and entries posting to the general ledger.
- Generating financial reports and statements that derail the status of the customer accounts.
- Updating export customer statements
- Addressing any billing queries.
- Ensuring compliance of standard procedures.
- Reconcile sales against the revenue report and propose the necessary adjustments
- Updating the cash flow template on a weekly basis with payments made and cash received
- Petty cash management
- Resolve un-reconciled items by 5th of the following month.
- Checking and confirming the invoices prices, excise duty and the customers invoiced.
- Communicate with customers via phone, email, or personally on due dates and collections
- Any other duties assigned.
Receivables Accountant
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
05.2019 - 07.2020
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- Perform Night audit function on OBTS to ensure the correct numbers, Prices, account outlet and department are captured.
- Process OBTS text file upon approval by HOU into the Sun system
- Review livestock orders in terms of prices, quantity, account, outlets and department
- Process orders for other revenue centres, supported by their daily sales summary report.
- Process invoice/credit notes in the financial system upon approval by HOU
- Generate and print all invoices/credit notes through E-signer machine & ensure they are signed by the HOD
- Dispatch customer invoices/credit notes
- Request for customers remittance advises, process customer receipt and allocate accounts accordingly
- Prepare and record petty cash vouchers in our accounting system before seeking approval from authorizing signatory.
- Provide monthly reports on payables and petty cash regular expenses.
- Clear staff members parting with the company
- Allocate staff after payroll deductions
- Dispatch statement and collect debt according to the finance procedure manual.
- Resolve and respond to all customer queries by email by the close of the day.
- Reconcile sales against the livestock report, Tourism report and propose the necessary adjustments
- Processing of the payroll.
- Updating the daily operations report.
- Allocate staff accounts after payroll processing.
- Assist in updating the weekly revenue report and monthly finance reports.
- Resolve un-reconciled items by 03rd of the following month
- Assist in updating the ledgers.
- Help in accounting for donations.
- Rotational duties
- Shared Team reports-Cash position, Vat schedule Revenue Report
- Reliever duties in Finance department.
- Any other Duty
Accounts Assistant-Income Auditor
Serena Hotels
01.2017 - 05.2019
- Duties & Responsibilities:
- Stocktaking (Daily Bar stocks and End Month stocks)
- Opera -Billing & checkouts (using opera systems) Daily
- Preparation of reports (food cost report, Bar sales report, daily Sales Report)
- Cheque payments to suppliers, raising of PCV’s and Preparation of JV’s
- Stock reconciliations (using materials control system)
- Night audit (confirming daily revenues using opera systems)
- Preparation of JV(posted to the Sun system)
- Daily Banking’s
- Receive, check and record regular vendor invoices before paying.
- Reconciling the vendor’s monthly statement to ensure all the invoices are received and booked for payments.
- Preparation and submission of VAT, Withholding tax, and ensuring they are done on timely basis.
- Reconciling and processing supplier payments
- Cashiering (unit daily reimbursements and payments)
- Bank Reconciliation on a Monthly basis and maintaining monthly bank statement from all the banks.
- Filing and payment of statutory deductions i.e NHIF, NSSF and PAYE.
- Checking of daily Room rates by use of File Maker Software
- Combining invoices checked out to City Ledger by use of pdf element.
- Archiving all checked out invoices in the Laser fiche
- End month close of system’s, e.g. Material Control Software (ensuring all stores are closed on time and the actual physical stocks correspond with book value)
- Accounts Review
Education
Computer Packages -
Thika school of Proffesional Studies
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance
KCA University
11-2021
Certified Public Accountants - CPA PART 1&2
Vision Institute of Proffesional, Nairobi
12-2017
Kenya Certificate of Secondary School - C+Minus
Kathita pry School
12-2017
Certificate in Quick books - undefined
Royal Business school
12-2016
Kenya Accounting of Technician - KATC
Vision Institute Of Proffesional, Nairobi
12-2015
Kenya Certificate of Primary School - B+
Kathita pry School
12-2007
Skills
- I am skilled in bank liaison, project management, and tax compliance
- Expert in reconciliations, VAT processes, and financial reporting
- Proven project leadership and cross-functional team coordination
- Advanced proficiency in multiple accounting software and
systems
Add power Query and Power BI as the skills acquired lately also the financial Modelling and forecasting
Journal entries
Accounts receivable management
Bank reconciliation
Microsoft Excel expertise
Collection strategy development
Payment reconciliation
Accounting software proficiency
Internal controls
Cash application
Customer account management
Budget preparation
Credit control
Revenue recognition
Credit risk assessment
Accounting policies implementation
General ledger maintenance
Debt collection
QMSoftware receivables management
Credit management
Month-end closing
Financial statement preparation
Teamwork
Bookkeeping and reconciliation
Customer service
Teamwork and collaboration
Microsoft office
Problem-solving
General accounting
Team management
Time management
Accounting processes
Problem-solving abilities
Multitasking
Multitasking Abilities
Financial statement analysis
Accounting software systems
Accounting records analysis
Decision-making
Team building and leadership
Tax return filing
Documentation and reports
Balance sheets
Time management abilities
Adaptability and flexibility
Data collection
Verbal and written communication
Financial reporting
Critical thinking
Financial statements
Effective communication
Team collaboration
Active listening
Financial statements review
Organizational skills
Clear communication
Tax preparation
Journal entry preparation
Document recordkeeping
Accounts payable
Attention to detail
Budget analysis
Account reconciliation processes
Financial analysis
Bookkeeping
Accomplishments
- Improved financial accuracy in serena Hotels by implementing a structured process for transferring guest checkout records from front office to finance, reducing invoice discrepancies by 80% and strengthening coordination with the credit control team.
- Improved invoice posting efficiency in ol Pejeta Conservancy by learning and utilizing the OBTS local system to export sales data directly into SunSystems, significantly reducing manual processing time while correcting over 90% of receivables discrepancies.
- Strengthened Safepak receivables position by collecting 85%+ of bad debts and maintaining 95% monthly collection performance, reducing aged receivables and improving debtor days.
- Ensured timely completion of bank reconciliations, In Lintons Place Ltd , improving financial accuracy and providing management with up-to-date financial information to support strategic decision-making; also led eTIMS and bank integration projects, delivering implementation within record timelines.
Software
Interests
Investment Banking
Financial Modelling & Forecasting
Modelling Techniques
Timeline
Senior Receivable Accountant
Lintons Place Ltd
06.2024 - Current
General Ledger Accountant
Lintons Place Ltd
11.2023 - 06.2024
Accountant-Bookkeeper
Year-to-Date Bookkeepers
07.2022 - 07.2023
Credit Controller
Safepak Ltd
01.2021 - 05.2022
Receivables Accountant
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
05.2019 - 07.2020
Accounts Assistant-Income Auditor
Serena Hotels
01.2017 - 05.2019
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance
KCA University
Certified Public Accountants - CPA PART 1&2
Vision Institute of Proffesional, Nairobi
Kenya Certificate of Secondary School - C+Minus
Kathita pry School
Certificate in Quick books - undefined
Royal Business school
Kenya Accounting of Technician - KATC
Vision Institute Of Proffesional, Nairobi
Kenya Certificate of Primary School - B+
Kathita pry School
Computer Packages -
Thika school of Proffesional Studies