Godfrey Githinji
Finance Manager and Certified Public Accountant
Nairobi
Summary
An accomplished finance, audit, and governance professional with 25 years of experience; 19 out of the 25 years was gained in international organizations in a multicountry and multicultural setup. I occasionally work in multidisciplinary teams and matrix reporting relationships to achieve my work objectives. Seasoned auditing professional knowledgeable about risk aversion strategies, cost reduction options and financial processes. Decisive and persuasive communicator with proven problem-solving, leadership and planning abilities. Resourceful Accounting professional with over 15 years of experience in audit preparation and reporting.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
3
3
(1) CPA (2) CIA (3) CISA
Work History
Senior Auditor, Global Audit and Assurance (Short-Term Consultancy)
International Rescue Committee
03.2024 - 06.2024
- Worked in a project team of 3 that helped refine Audit tool user needs and identify vendors for appropriate software
- The role includes analysis of the user needs assessment, vendor offerings, and confirming software configurations is aligned with those needs
- Identified and engaged vendor on Audit team concerns and their resolution
- Developed Question-and-answer reference materials for the audit software implementation
- Trained users and stakeholders on the use of the audit software that is now in User Acceptance Phase (UAT)
- Support the implementation of audit software by liaising with the Performing Operational Audits in selected country offices.
Global Internal Auditor & Investigator Advisor
Population Services International
08.2011 - 12.2023
- Worked in a project team to identify gaps in audit methodologies and execution that would be addressed through appropriate technologies
- The output was adoption of AuditBoard as an audit software to support audit activity with a turnaround of the audit cycle reduced by about 30%
- Lead investigations to conclusion in selected Anglophone countries with assistance from respective country office Auditors
- Investigations resulted in the strengthening of internal controls, disciplinary actions, or exoneration of implicated staff
- Drafted and delivered ethics awareness training in-country offices and contracted partners such as sub awards and vendors to promote integrity value of the organization and safeguard donor resources
- Led and facilitated cross-functional teams to develop solutions for complex problems, for instance developing data quality assessment (DQA) tools for programs
- The DQA tools were adopted globally where PSI has program operations
- Coordinated and performed about 5-6 audit activities annually at PSI and PSI affiliate locations, in accordance with the schedule determined by the Vice President, Global Internal Audit & Investigations
- Supervise Audit team in execution of specific assignment to ensure adherence to department, IIA and best practice standards
- Audits executed within established departmental metrics
- Identify internal control gaps or weaknesses and instances of non-compliance with PSI global/local policies and procedures, errors in the recording of transactions and determine the root causes
- Work with country office leadership to identify root causes and make recommendations on resources, control design or enhancement needed to address issues identified
- Produced a report after each audit, using the Global Internal Audit template, which summarizes the findings and recommendations to local management
- Furthermore, coordinating with local management to obtain timely management responses and for ensuring that the report is reviewed by the Vice President, Global Internal Audit & Investigations prior to being issued as final
- Consulting with local management, Regional Directors and the Vice President, Global Internal Audit & Investigations to ensure any disputed findings or issues with the reports are resolved on a timely basis
- Identified fraud incidents in several assignments that stopped further financial losses to the organization, led to disciplinary actions, criminal prosecutions or recovery of cash lost through fraudulent schemes
- Providing guidance and/or training to country office staff on administrative, accounting and/or financial procedures as required
- This may be ad hoc or more formal training to enhance their controls awareness and capacity
- Providing consultancy or technical assistance in administrative, accounting and/or financial procedures to local offices as agreed and approved by the Vice President, Global Internal Audit & Investigations
- Scope of consultancies also included developing and reviewing Global operation policies to meet best practices, donor, and regulatory requirements
- Led the revamp function of internal audit procedures, audit steps/tests and templates
- This ensured that they are up to date, include emerging risks and revised policies
- Participating in the annual Global Internal Audit risk assessment and scheduling process
- Identifying improvement opportunities for PSI policies and procedures both at a local level and for PSI as an organization
- Performing additional ad hoc or special investigations at local offices, as approved by the Vice President, Global Internal Audit & Investigations.
Regional Audit & Governance Manager
Technoserve Inc
12.2009 - 06.2011
- Led annual enterprise risk assessment of the country offices and established risk matrix for each
- Worked with regional leadership to establish appropriate internal controls through policies and procedures and practices to mitigate against the identified risks
- Established a procedure of continuous evaluation of established internal controls of the four country offices to ensure their adequacy in safeguarding assets of the organization and donor resources
- Reviewed and determined that country offices are following internal policies and local laws and regulations
- Identified gaps in existing internal policies and procedures with a view to improving them and making them more effective and efficient in support business processes
- Achieved for Financial, procurement, sub award/partners and Fleet management
- Leading special investigative assignments as requested by the Regional Director or individual country offices
- The scope of the assignment may be within Technoserve or involve a partner
- Prepare and coordinate country office and partners audit in four East Africa countries
- Making quarterly presentations to country offices on audit findings and recommendations and agreeing on a reasonable action plan to implement audit recommendations
- Capacity building initiatives for eight business advisors to ensure they have requisite competencies to audit, advice management and Technoserve clients
- Supervising eight business advisors in a matrix reporting structure and being responsible for their output
- Developed partners (clients) selection strategy within the region
- This includes risk assessment of potential partners
- Designed appropriate training modules for Technoserve clients in conjunction with internal and external training consultants on Governance, financing, and credit risk management.
Finance and Administration Director
CARE South Sudan
07.2009 - 12.2009
- Established and implemented internal controls in Accounting and Finance to assure accurate, efficient and effective processing of financial transactions
- Led a team of Finance and Program in monthly, quarterly and end of program activities and financial data review to ensure they match for accurate donor reporting and accountability reporting to management
- Oversaw remediation actions to achieve a reconciliation between reported program activities and financial data
- Custodian of financial data and information in the balance sheet to ensure integrity and reliability of country office financial statements
- Recruitment and training of new finance, human resources, procurement, and general administration staff at three sub offices in South Sudan
- Supported Program Managers in budget preparation, monitoring, and donor reporting
- A member of the senior management team that deliberated and made decisions within delegated authority on behalf of the country office
- Established a system of accurate and equitable charging of common direct costs to donors
- Overall, in charge of CARE South Sudan compliance with donor and CARE regulations and GAAP
- Responsible for timely closure of the ERP systems and submission of financial report to CARE Headquarters
- Treasury and cash management, Budgeting, and forecasting
- Supervise effective and efficient implementation of HR, administration, and procurement functions
- Staff supervision and talent management in Finance, Procurement, IT, HR and Administration departments
- Facilitate internal and external audits and oversee the implementation of management action plans
- Security focal point for the country office
- Helped establish, implement, and monitor compliance with Security and safety policies and procedures.
Deputy Financial Controller
CARE Somalia & South Sudan
03.2007 - 07.2009
- Review and approval of all Country Office payments before data entry in scala ERP financial system
- Ensuring CARE policies and procedures are observed in the payment process
- IN liaison with the Head Office Grants team, set up projects in the ERP system and Mapped program budgets to the chart of accounts
- In liaison with the internal audit unit review and challenge current internal controls to ensure their adequacy and address weaknesses noted
- Assisted in establishment of country office risk register and monitored the effectiveness of controls to mitigate against identified risks through periodic reviews with process owners
- Periodic review of Country Office Balance Sheet and providing explanations on certain entries as required by the Country Office Core Leadership Team
- Overseeing Treasury Management functions to ensure country office has adequate cash and maintaining cordial banking relationship
- Maintaining a positive relationship with CARE banks
- Overseeing the credit control functions on staff and vendor advances, prepayments, deposits, and project accruals
- Review of the Accounts Payable responsibilities with a view to minimizing Country Office Risk exposure
- Participation in the preparation, monitoring, and review of the Shared Program Costs Budget
- Keeping abreast and implementing accounts payable policies and procedure issued by the Head office and the Country office
- Supervising four staff in the Accounts Payable unit
- Undertaking the responsibilities of financial controller in her absence
- Coordinate external audit process, respond to audit queries, and follow up on implementation of audit recommendations.
Internal Auditor CARE Somalia/South Sudan
CARE Somalia & South Sudan
05.2006 - 02.2007
- Review of Grants and contracts financial reports before submission to donors
- Review Country office operations to ensure conformity to CARE USA and internal policies and procedures
- Review of current policies and procedures to with a view to identify gaps and make recommendations to enhance their relevance and completeness
- Review accounting processes with a view to identify risks and recommend appropriate controls
- Ensure adherence to major donors, US Federal agencies, EC, ECHO, rules and regulations in administration of grants
- Make quarterly audit reports to Country Director for review by Senior management
- Undertake programme specific audits on behalf of donors
- Organize for external audits and follow up on audit recommendations.
Internal Auditor CARE USA
CARE USA
10.2005 - 04.2006
- Risk profiling of country offices based on pre-determined metrics that guided preparation of annual audit plan
- Evaluation of internal controls of country offices to ensure they conform to CARE USA and Donor regulations
- Audit areas include procurement, property, grant and sub grants management, cash and accounting
- Drafting of findings and recommendations on areas covered.
Sub Grants Auditor/Finance Trainer
CARE Somalia & Sudan
05.2003 - 10.2005
- Reviewing capacity of accounting function at sub offices in Somalia and South Sudan and providing training to address gaps identified
- Conducting systems audits on CARE partner non-governmental organizations to identify their capacity of managing grants advanced to them by CARE
- Assist Project Managers in the review of CARE Sub Recipient's project budgets before their approvals
- Training CARE Sub Recipients on sound financial administrative systems
- Reviewing financial reports presented by Sub Recipients to CARE and ascertaining that the costs reported are projects related, reasonable and allowable under the sub grant agreement terms and conditions
- Conducting regular audits on CARE Sub Recipients to ascertain that value for money is realized in the implementation of CARE projects
- Providing regular and timely reconciliation of funds advanced, accounted for, and committed to CARE SSS Sub Recipients
- Conducting reconciliation of advances made to CARE Sub Recipients and the liquidation of the same.
Audit Senior
Kigathi & Co. Certified Public Accountants
01.2000 - 04.2003
- Audit Senior with Kigathi and Company, Certified Public Accountants of Kenya
- Reporting to Audit Manager
- In charge of various audit assignments and included preparation audit planning memorandum, holding of entrance and exit conferences with clients, supervision of audit assistants, and ensuring the completeness of audit workings paper files and drafting of audit reports.
Education
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (FINANCE) -
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
NAIROBI, KENYA01.2012
BACHELOR OF ARTS - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
NAIROBI, KENYA01.1997
Skills
- International NGO
- Strategy formulation, Implementation and monitoring
- Internal Control System implementation
- Data Quality Assessments
- Grant Management
- Financial Management
- Financial Strategy
- Tax Regulations & Compliance
- Project Budgeting and Control
- Audits
- Fraud Investigations
- Ethics training and monitoring
- Governance
- Leadership
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Strategy
- Financial Performance
- East and South Africa Experience
- Risk Management
- Data Analysis
- Training & Development
- Coaching
- Financial Processes & Procedures
- Talent Management
- COSO Framework
- Balance sheets
- Process evaluations
- Project management experience
- Client Relationship Management
- Internal Audit Administration
- Compliance Monitoring
- GAAP understanding
- Internal Controls
- Negotiation and Persuasion
Certification
- CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OF KENYA (CPA)
- CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR (CIA)
- CERTIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS AUDITOR (CISA)
Languages
English (Native Proficiency)
Kiswahili (Native Proficiency)
French (Elementary)
Technologyskills
- ERP Systems such as QuickBooks Enterprise
- Scala
- Lawson
- AuditBoard
Auditsystems
- AuditBoard
- Teammate
Community Service
- KARINDI SECONDARY SCHOOL, NYERI COUNTY, KENYA, PATRON, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, 2023
- KARINDI SECONDARY SCHOOL, NYERI COUNTY, KENYA, CHAIRPERSON BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, 2016, 2022
References
- George Amemba, Associate Compliance Director, African Region, International Aids Vaccine Initiative, +254721947840, gamemba@iavi.org
- Elizabeth Folsom, Vice President Internal Audit, Population Services International, +1 (202) 785-0072, efolsom@psi.org
- Stanley Mharadze, Global Director of Finance, Population Services International, +1 (301) 675-5921, smharadze@psi.org
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Senior Auditor, Global Audit and Assurance (Short-Term Consultancy)
International Rescue Committee
03.2024 - 06.2024
Global Internal Auditor & Investigator Advisor
Population Services International
08.2011 - 12.2023
Regional Audit & Governance Manager
Technoserve Inc
12.2009 - 06.2011
Finance and Administration Director
CARE South Sudan
07.2009 - 12.2009
Deputy Financial Controller
CARE Somalia & South Sudan
03.2007 - 07.2009
Internal Auditor CARE Somalia/South Sudan
CARE Somalia & South Sudan
05.2006 - 02.2007
Internal Auditor CARE USA
CARE USA
10.2005 - 04.2006
Sub Grants Auditor/Finance Trainer
CARE Somalia & Sudan
05.2003 - 10.2005
Audit Senior
Kigathi & Co. Certified Public Accountants
01.2000 - 04.2003
BACHELOR OF ARTS - undefined
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (FINANCE) -
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
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