EVELYN MUKAMI MWEMA
Summary
Results-driven finance and grants professional with over nine years of experience managing donor-funded projects across nonprofit organizations. Skilled in strategic financial management, human resources administration, procurement, grant writing, budget management, and regulatory compliance, which ensure successful funding applications and project implementations. Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, strengthening internal controls, and aligning operations with donor and regulatory requirements. Brings a strong, solutions-driven approach, and hands-on expertise in systems development, payroll processing, and audit readiness. Excel at communication, time management, and problem-solving, enabling effective collaboration with stakeholders and maximizing grant opportunities. Previous work has led to a significant increase in funding for organizations served.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Budget and Grants Officer
AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
09.2023 - Current
- Coordinate and disseminate key budget, award, and grant modification information across Finance, Program Design, Management Systems, and Program teams.
- Prepare Grant Data Sheets summarizing donor conditions and ensure timely information flow.
- Maintain comprehensive grant documentation, including agreements, budgets, reports, invoices, and payment evidence, ensure monthly updates of Grant Folders in Box and ensure invoicing documentation is properly filed.
- Provide capacity building to Program, Field Finance, and Partner staff on donor requirements and organizational policies.
- Monitor and communicate upcoming grant milestones to ensure compliance (reporting deadlines, grant closures, etc.).
- Support development of cost proposals and partner sub-award budgets for new funding opportunities.
- Act as a key resource during project kick off meetings on budgets and donor requirements, conduct cost benefit analyses and participate in quarterly monitoring meetings to review budget utilization, staffing, and program progress.
- Support preparation of budget amendments and cost modifications.
- Administer the Unanet Timesheet system, ensuring alignment with approved operating budgets and optimal use of restricted funding.
- Identify financial risks and provide recommendations to management for mitigation.
- Generate, analyze, and distribute monthly budget management reports to Budget Managers.
- Communicate significant budget variances and emerging trends to Budget Managers for corrective action, manage grants receivables and advances, ensuring timely invoicing, drawdowns, and reconciliations.
- Monitor grant spending and promptly flag budget risks, support grant close-out processes, ensuring timely completion and compliance with donor requirements.
- Prepare monthly cost match reports.
Finance Officer - Temporary Cover
Catholic Relief Services
07.2023 - 08.2023
- Forecast financial requirements and allocate funds accordingly.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
- Monitor and manage the organization’s cash flow.
- Reconcile bank accounts and financial statements.
- Liaise with auditors during internal and external audits, ensuring all documentation and processes are in place.
- Assist in the preparation of financial sections of grant proposals.
- Review contracts and ensure payments are aligned with approved budgets.
- Ensure statutory deductions are properly calculated and remitted.
- Ensure proper documentation for all cash and asset transactions.
Finance Officer
OXFAM (Kenya Program)
04.2022 - 04.2023
- Preparation and submission of internal monthly and quarterly management and donor reports.
- Conducted monthly budget variance analysis to inform management on spending, and ensure the variances are understandable by the program teams.
- Reviewed and processed payroll ensuring timely statutory deductions (NSSF, NHIF, PAYE).
- Participated in onboarding and induction of new finance staff; guided on financial compliance protocols.
- Supported administrative functions including financial reviews, audit coordination, and contract management.
- Assisted the finance manager with timesheet review and allocating staff time accurately to respective projects monthly.
- Reviewed proposal budgets to be submitted to various donors in conformity with their regulations and formats.
- Assisted thematic leads in consolidation of the financial information for budgeting and reporting.
- Facilitated project audits both internal and external and donor reviews, follow-up on management letters and financial improvement plans.
- Conducted partner capacity assessments and take them through capacity building on identified areas of weakness in financial management, internal control, and administrative issues.
- Prepared timely and accurate monthly reconciliations of bank accounts, cash and staff advance accounts.
- Assisted with partner expenditure review, financial reports review to ensure compliance.
- Prepared correction journals and recharges.
- Carried out contract closures for ended donor contracts by conducting project reconciliations.
- Provided support and guidance to non-finance staff to promote good practices and adherence to donor requirements.
Grants Accountant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
05.2019 - 03.2022
- Developed a budget monitoring tool and prepare variance analysis monthly, provide management information reports.
- Proposal development and budgeting for new calls for proposals in the organization.
- Run subgrantees review, conduct capacity assessments & train the subgrantees on identified capacity building areas.
- Conducted monitoring visits to subgrantee offices to review support documents, as well as ensure financial reports are submitted on time and in agreed templates.
- Grant tracking for the project together with the project team to minimize underspend or overspend.
- Held and chaired monthly grant review meetings to establish identified areas of support and monitor project performance.
- Supported co-ordination of Project Audits and Donor reviews.
- Ensured subgrantee project audits are completed within agreed timelines.
- Preparation of vouchers and data entry for the projects' liquidation to the respective budget codes and budget lines.
- Maintained the project grant file with all relevant project documents.
- Staff and Volunteer payroll processing, bank loading and payment.
- Preparation of internal monthly project burn rates and donor reports within the specified time and lead the discussions with project teams.
- Value for Money reporting on a quarterly basis.
- Regular follow up with implementing partners for financial reports and documents.
Project Accountant/Business Advisor
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
12.2018 - 05.2019
- Ensured correct filing of award and subaward agreements and relevant grant documents.
- Maintained complete, accurate and up-to-date subgrantee filing and tracking systems.
- Managed and maintained the grants pipeline and associated trackers.
- Supported the preparation, planning and follow-up kick-off, review, and monitoring meetings.
- Ensured Grant files are maintained and ensure that they are always up-to-date and ready for audit.
- Reviewed designated subrecipient reports grants-related activities for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with donor policies.
- Trained and provided grants management assistance to subgrantees, resolve administrative issues, and make recommendations for effective project implementation.
- Performed financial monitoring of grant activities, reviewed financial reports submitted by subrecipients and provided follow up on any issues identified during the monitoring and review process.
- Maintained a broad and deep understanding of relevant donor policies, regulations, and procedures among subrecipients.
- Contributed to the implementation of improved financial systems and processes to facilitate better donor reporting and compliance in the organization.
- Identify, mitigate, and report finance and support services risks.
- Established monthly cash requirements for the field officers and partners and prepare cash requests to meet needs.
- Helped in tracking grant expenditure and budget through development of a budget monitoring tool.
- Responded to financial queries from staff, partners, and suppliers, carried out financial inductions to new staff and partners.
- Coordinated Fund manager project quarterly reviews.
Accounts Assistant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
03.2017 - 11.2018
- Reconciled multicurrency - cashbook with bank statements and checking balances against verifiable documents monthly.
- Prepared cheque, Mpesa and Online bank transfers and ensured that payments are made against verifiable accounting and documentation standards; ensuring that the approval process as per organization policies is always adhered to.
- Ensured accurate and timely posting of data into the accounting system - SUN Ledger i.e., payments, journals, consistency checks, among others.
- Supported staff travel processes by preparing official letters, documentation, and coordination with relevant teams.
- Provided logistical and administrative support for retreats, workshops, team meetings, and program events.
- Sourced, managed, and onboarded additional vendors where needed.
- Followed up on reimbursements and surrender of imprest as per approved procedures.
- Assisted in Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual revenue, expenditure returns and financial statements.
- Preparation of timely and accurate monthly payroll.
- Provided support to monthly closing processes, including preparation of; general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditure by cost center/project, required sub-grantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
- Withhold and remit statutory deductions e.g., PAYE, NHIF, NSSF, VAT, NITA, Housing Levy among others.
- Assisted in financial audit preparation and coordination of the audit process.
Acting Project Accountant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS
10.2018 - 10.2018
Accounts Assistant
Colnet Limited
09.2016 - 02.2017
Customer Service and Business Development Officer
Kenya Women Microfinance Bank
09.2014 - 04.2016
Education
Certified Public Accountant -
01.2026
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance
Kenyatta University
01.2013
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education -
Gitwe Girls High School
01.2008
Skills
- Financial and management accounting
- Grant and contract management
- Office administration
- Internal controls and financial systems
- Budgetary controls
- HR operations and policy
- Donor reporting
- Stakeholder engagement
- Audit and compliance
- Payroll administration
- Tax management
- Risk management
- Procurement processes
- Team leadership
- Proposal development
- Report writing skills
- Presentation skills
- Analytical problem-solving abilities
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Computer proficiency (MS Office)
- Accounting system expertise (SUN Systems, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, PeopleSoft, Insight, QuickBooks)
Training
- Advanced Excel Training, Techno Brain Kenya, 2019
- Computer Training, LIIT College, 2009
- Training of Facilitators (TOF), 2025
Hobbies and Interests
- Networking
- Team building
- Travelling to experience new cultures
- Watching movies
- Listening to music
References
- Moses Babai, Finance Manager, VSO Kenya, +254 724 526329, moses.babai@vsoint.org
- Edward Milgo, Senior Manager Cost Proposal & Grants, +254 792 750 156, EMilgo@awf.org
- James Gichohi, Grants Accountant, Oxfam GB, +254 714 804738, JNdirangu@oxfam.org.uk
Timeline
Budget and Grants Officer
AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
09.2023 - Current
Finance Officer - Temporary Cover
Catholic Relief Services
07.2023 - 08.2023
Finance Officer
OXFAM (Kenya Program)
04.2022 - 04.2023
Grants Accountant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
05.2019 - 03.2022
Project Accountant/Business Advisor
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
12.2018 - 05.2019
Acting Project Accountant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS
10.2018 - 10.2018
Accounts Assistant
VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS (VSO KENYA)
03.2017 - 11.2018
Accounts Assistant
Colnet Limited
09.2016 - 02.2017
Customer Service and Business Development Officer
Kenya Women Microfinance Bank
09.2014 - 04.2016
Certified Public Accountant -
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance
Kenyatta University
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education -
Gitwe Girls High School