HENRY OWAGA (CPA)
Nairobi
Summary
Highly skilled and experienced finance and project management professional with a track record of accurate reporting and analysis, project support and procurement oversight, and operations. Main area of expertise are multi-country project execution support, business tracking, risk signaling, and financial reports and monitoring controls. Experienced in mentoring employees, leading teams, and making decisions promptly.
As the finance and compliance lead for three large projects, delivered sustained results in collaboration with country finance and project team leads in more than 15 countries over 10 years.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Finance Lead-Multicounty Projects
SNV
05.2014 - Current
- Verified and processed accurate and timely financial transactions, invoices, and purchase orders.
- Monitored financial procedures and policies. Ensured compliance with donor contracts, internal controls, and finance policies.
- Reviewed donor and consortium contracts at project proposal stage. Advised multi-country project manager and Project director. Prepared/reviewed consultant and partner contracts at procurement.
- Led financial planning and development of annual budgets & forecasts.
- Analyzed actual financial results vs budget to prepare variance reporting to functional groups and to the project oversight boards. Tracked spending across 15 countries in Africa & Asia.
- Analyzed financial trends and operational risks and initiated risk mitigation measures. It is estimated that SNV avoided Euro 300,000 in forex losses after I assessed and persuaded senior management to review organization policy on currency management to avert possible losses during DFID-RBF project implementation.
- Made estimates of funds required for short and long-term financial objectives.
- Provided scheduled and ad hoc financial reports and consolidated business data into actionable metrics to simplify and highlight areas of concern and opportunity.
- Kept records audit-ready. Led procurement of project auditors and ensured internal/external audit recommendations were implemented by country teams. Achieved unqualified audit reports for 7 years running and with minimum management comments.
- Mentored country teams and new finance officers. Two mentees are now valued finance staff in NL Global office.
Regional (Shared Services) Finance Administrator
SNV
01.2007 - 04.2014
- Supported nine (9) regional units/countries to maintain financial data quality, country budgeting, liquidity monitoring, and risk assessment by ensuring compliance with Policies, Procedures, and GAAPs.
- Supported country directors with headline information for driving financial sustainability of country programs.
- Conducted training and capacity building for new junior accounting staff in Regional Office and new finance managers joining country programs.
- Advised country teams on regulatory changes and tax regimes.
- 2011/2012, was part of a three-member team that successfully reviewed SNV Financial Procedures & Policies to harmonize ESA & WCA Region financial policies that created Africa manual.
- Maintained assets register and managed RO cash and procurement processes.
Management Accountant
Total Kenya (Oil & Gas)
08.2003 - 12.2006
- Maintained general ledger and chart of accounts, performed complex accounting functions such as journal entry preparation, account analysis, balance sheet reconciliation and preparation of quarterly financial statements for 35 fuel stations.
- Maintain NETCO general ledger by reviewing and making necessary adjustments in balance sheet items each quarter to ensure correct payables and receivable position.
- As acting section Finance Head, review payroll and all product and utility payments before approval by treasury.
- Preparation of annual budget, expense monitoring, and exception reports. Coordinated quarterly country-wide Business Reviews with station managers.
- In collaboration with section head, coordinated staff appraisals, rotations, and training as well as motivated and led them to achieve company objectives.
- Successfully coordinated data migration from Sun to SAP, and supervised accountants for my section.
- Drafted NETCO payment procedures.
- Ensured timely payments of all tax (VAT, Corporate Tax) and other statutory obligations resulting in zero penalties.
- Coordinated External and Internal Audits and monitored cost control and Internal Control Initiatives.
Education
CPA - Accounting And Finance
Institute of Certified Public Accountants
06.2010
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting
University of Nairobi
2001
Skills
- Compliance Assessment and Internal Control
- Financial and Donor Reporting, project life-cycle financial management
- Cross-country budget development and monitoring
- Local Law and Tax Compliance
- Audit procurement support, and management
- Risk Management, Business Analytics & Intelligence
- Relationship and Team Building Leadership
- Problem Anticipation and Resolution
- Mentoring and Training
Languages
English
Proficient
C2
Swahili
Proficient
C2
Certification
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Kenya
- Certificate in Business Risk Management Course-University of Cape Town- April 2019
- Certificate-Change into Excellent Performance Course 2018 CIEP_Netherlands
- PMP (ongoing study)
Additional Information
Referees Available On Request
Timeline
Finance Lead-Multicounty Projects
SNV
05.2014 - Current
Regional (Shared Services) Finance Administrator
SNV
01.2007 - 04.2014
Management Accountant
Total Kenya (Oil & Gas)
08.2003 - 12.2006
CPA - Accounting And Finance
Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting
University of Nairobi
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