FRANCIS NGUNJIRI KARIUKI

Ag Wild is a sustainable conservation co-operative of 10 Conservancies and Ranches across Laikipia, whose main role is to increase collaboration among the members in addressing common challenges and increase benefits from conservation and regenerative livestock farming. Ag Wild fully owns The Well Hung Butcher Ltd, a state-of-the-art Category A abattoir and meat processing factory in Nanyuki, which is tasked to respectfully and compassionately process the livestock produced by members and later distribute to the HORECA and retail markets. HRM Ltd is the retail arm of the business that operates a state of the art meat outlet in Nanyuki.

• Direct reporting lines to the General Manager, the MD and the Board.
• Preparation, high-quality analysis, and submission of the group's monthly and quarterly management report set for the Board, including P&L, balance sheet and other related reports providing a clear picture of the financial performance of the business to allow informed decision making.
• Financial Planning through development of multi-year budgeting and Forecasting, while strategically partnering and incorporating input from various stakeholders, e.g. the board and members.
• Custodian of the Internal Control Policies, thereby identifying, managing and mitigating any Financial, operational and compliance risks.
• An integral member of the group's finance committee.
• Financial modelling and scenario analysis to support the key decision making, e.g. the impact of change in production levels on GPM and EBITDA Margins.
• Extensive experience in management and tracking of International Donor funded grants, including preparation project budgets, expenditure tracking and grant reports requirements.
• Lead in performing yield block tests for a beef carcass to ensure achievement of desired GPM.
• Supervising the credit control function including customer risk assessment, review of debtors' reports and chairing the credit committee.
• Leading the AP function to ensure all suppliers and service providers are paid as per the agreed terms to ensure good business relations.
• Procurement Leadership, enhancing cost savings through the introduction of competitive bidding, contract negotiations and supplier relationship management.
• Extensive stakeholder relationship experience by working closely with member and nonmember livestock producers across Laikipia to ensure smooth operations.
• Responsible for the company's General Ledger, ensuring complete and accurate recording of all financial transactions, as well as monthly reconciliations of all balance sheet accounts.
• Safeguarding company resources and assets by continuously improving the internal control environment as well ensuring efficient deployment.
• Leading engagement with key external stakeholders including auditors, financial services Providers. (banks), company secretary and KRA.
• Coordinating external audits up to the preparation of audited financial statements, by ensuring audit readiness, audit schedules preparation and timely resolution of audit queries.
• Proactive Cash flow planning and working capital monitoring to ensure sufficient liquidity.
• Preparation of weekly financial and operational KPIs dashboards for management and the board.
• Ensuring timely and accurate filing of all statutory deductions including PAYE, NSSF, SHIF, WHT, etc.
• Production/Pack House oversight, tracking consumables usages to drive cost efficiencies.
• Leading, mentoring, capacity building, and performance management of the finance and administrative teams.
• Managing all recruitment processes, processing of the payroll, workforce planning, maintaining confidential employee records and leave tracking as per the organization's policies.
• Oversight and support of operational and logistical activities.
• Reviewer and custodian of all SLAs and contracts.

Main Achievements

• Setting up management information systems from scratch, by establishing a comprehensive monthly, quarterly and annual reporting structure.
• Reduced the DSO by 30% through implementation of strict collection procedures, resulting in financial stability occasioned by improved cash flows.
• The lead finance contact for the financial and legal due diligence during the successful transfer of ownership process for WHB Ltd from previous owners to Ag Wild PLC in 2022.
• Successfully led the finance and admin function during a period of great expansion for the company where the company's revenues grew by 400% in 4 years.

• Reporting directly to the Managing Director and the board.
• Proposing and overseeing the enhancement of the lodge's internal control environment to minimize chances of pilferage.
• Preparation and analysis the company's management accounts, in comparison to the budget and presenting the same to the management for informed decision making.
• Oversight on the company's book keeping, including the GL, sales and purchases ledgers.
• Preparation of financial budgets for the organization.
• Daily and monthly cash flow planning for the lodge to guarantee liquidity.
• Charged with ensuring compliance with the relevant statutory and regulatory authorities.
• Manage relationships with the lodge's suppliers and customers.
• Point of contact for external stakeholders, namely banks, auditors, company secretaries and KRA.
• Continuous training for staff to increase skills and enhance efficiency.

Main Achievements

• Setting up of a working Inventory and cost control system, resulting in resulting to a 15% cut in cost of sales.
• Setting up from scratch of effective daily, monthly and quarterly Management reporting structures to enhance business visibility and enable senior management make informed decision making.

• Reported to the Director of Finance.
• Coordinated the month-end closing processes, including USAH management reports generation, in compliance with aggressive deadlines.
• Sharing and closely analyzing departmental monthly performance reports with the various Head of Departments to assist them understand and interpret such reports, and to help them to make informed decisions and predictions for the future.
• In-depth variance analysis to ensure the set budgets are adhered to.
• Oversaw Cost control to ensure set food and beverage cost budgets are achieved and bettered.
• Spearhead close liaison with all Heads of Departments during the budgeting process in a bid to achieve accurate budgets.
• Responsible for the hotel's general ledger update and maintenance.
• Supervision, training and support of a 25-member finance team.
• Coordinate the roles of all finance section heads, e.g., Credit Manager, Cost Manager and Accounts Payable Manager to ensure smooth workflow and achievement of results.
• Carry out reconciliations for the hotel's 8 bank accounts, both local and foreign currencies, and responsible for the daily cash flow management, therefore ensuring funds are available in the various accounts, as and when required.
• Ensuring all house banks are counted monthly and counts submitted to the Director of Finance for sign off and to action discrepancies.
• Collaborating and working closely with the owners' representatives in matters relating to the financial operations of the hotel.
• Ensure compliance with all the hotel's Standard Operating Procedures.
• Liaising with external auditors to ensure timely and accurate audited financials.

Main Achievements

• Contributed to the improved the accuracy of the hotel annual budgets by 15% by championing the integration of the various HODs' input in the budget making process.
• Helped cut cost of sales by up to 10% by running a proactive cost tracking tool called "the shopping basket" that monitored weekly costs against the monthly budget.

• Reported directly to the Finance Director.
• Prepared and presented monthly management reports to the Board in a timely manner.
• Performing Bank Reconciliations for the two companies for both KES and USD bank accounts on a daily basis.
• Accurately performed daily cash flow functions, including A/P and A/R tracking, budgeting, payroll, expense management and various reconciliations.
• Computation and timely filing of all relevant tax returns , e.g. PAYE, NSSF, NHIF and Catering Levy.
• Accurate maintenance of the general ledger.
• Supervision of the lodge cost controllers to ensure lodge spending adheres to set budgets.
• Applying cost accounting methods to achieve accurate representation of cost center performance.
• Actively involved in the preparation of annual budgets.
• Preparing Working Papers and schedules for annual external audits and directly liaising with the auditors in the production of annual financial statements.
• Accurate and timely payroll processing and reconciliation, for 70 staff members.
• Cross checking all transactions entered into the system by lodge clerical staff, receptionists and Lodge managers, to ensure their accuracy, as well as offering support and guidance to a lodge management team of 10 staff.
• Working closely with the lodge general manager to ensure smooth operation of the lodge.