WILSON WAITHAKA WARONJA
Nairobi
Summary
Dynamic finance leader with a proven track record at Living Goods, driving financial planning excellence and strategic decision support. Expert in cost-benefit analysis and cash flow management, achieving an 18% reduction in operational costs. Adept at leveraging advanced analytics to enhance profitability and optimize marketing investments, fostering impactful business growth.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis
Living Goods
01.2023 - Current
- Directed financial planning across three African markets, achieving 18% reduction in operational costs.
- Monitored budgeting and forecasting processes, resulting in 25% improvement in working capital efficiency.
- Prepared monthly management accounts and cost-benefit analyses to support senior leadership decision-making.
- Implemented cash flow management systems to enhance financial operations across all markets.
Manager, Finance & Commercial
Ponea Health
Nairobi
10.2020 - 07.2023
- Reduced reporting cycle by three days monthly while ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
- Established month-end closure processes and management reporting systems to enhance efficiency.
- Managed customer credit cycles and AR/AP operations, increasing collection efficiency by 30%.
- Improved cash flow management through refined credit control procedures.
- Collaborated with commercial teams to develop pricing strategies, contributing to 40% revenue growth.
- Conducted customer profitability analysis, providing actionable financial insights for strategic decisions.
- Integrated financial analytics with business development, guiding expansion in African markets through cost-benefit analyses.
Finance Manager
Magnate Ventures Ltd
Nairobi
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Managed financial operations for $40M+ investment portfolio, enhancing investor transparency through detailed reports.
- Streamlined month-end closure processes in SAP, reducing cycle time by two days per quarter.
- Conducted cost-benefit analyses for investment decisions, identifying cost-saving opportunities that improved operational efficiency by 15%.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and coordinated audits, achieving clean audit opinions and meeting statutory obligations.
Finance Manager
Winnie's Pure Health Products Limited
Nairobi
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Reduced production costs by 15% through activity rate optimization and material consumption control.
- Validated product costing and P&L reconciliation across 35 product lines, ensuring financial accuracy.
- Prepared monthly EBITDA analysis and P&L reports, identifying performance improvement opportunities.
- Analyzed raw material quantity and price variances, implementing measures to safeguard margins.
- Consolidated BMI forecasts to create standardized reports for enhanced commercial decision-making.
- Developed annual marketing plans using SOSTAC models to optimize investment allocation.
- Managed ROI evaluations for promotional activities, enhancing marketing effectiveness by 25%.
- Tracked performance against targets, driving continuous improvement across product lines.
Finance Manager
King Beverage Ltd - Centum Investment Company Plc
Nairobi
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Formulated financial strategy and forecasting models for beverage value stream, achieving 20% cost efficiency through optimized procurement and inventory management.
- Established procurement financial controls and conducted supplier cost analysis, enhancing gross margins by 12%.
- Managed inventory accounting and margin control in high-volume beverage distribution, ensuring optimal working capital levels.
- Provided strategic financial insights to support C-level decision-making, including cost-benefit analyses for market expansion initiatives.
Payables & Compliance Supervisor
Coca-Cola Juices Kenya Ltd
Nairobi
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Streamlined Procure-to-Pay processes in alignment with global SOPs, enhancing working capital through efficient payment cycles.
- Executed GAAP-compliant reviews for over 500 monthly transactions, reducing audit issues by 22%.
- Monitored supplier cost performance, resolving payment disputes to improve procurement efficiency.
- Delivered quarterly and annual compliance reports, ensuring adherence to internal controls.
Cost Accountant
Kevian Kenya Ltd
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Created cost structures and break-even analysis models, improved pricing strategy effectiveness and enhanced gross margins by 7%
- Analyzed manufacturing variances and value chain costs, conducted product and customer profitability assessments that guided strategic decisions
- Advised on landed cost optimization for imported materials, improved procurement decision-making and reduced input costs by 10%
- Supported strategic planning for manufacturing capacity expansion, prepared financial models that secured $7.5M DEG financing facility.
Cost Accountant
Kinangop Dairy Ltd
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Prepared management accounts and financial reports for manufacturing operations to support decision-making.
- Formulated competitive pricing strategies and CVP scenarios, driving business growth through data analysis.
- Achieved 5% reduction in industrial average costs by optimizing processes and improving efficiency.
- Supported loan acquisition and capex expansion through detailed financial modeling and cost-benefit analysis.
Education
MBA - Financial Management
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Nairobi10-2025
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting
Kenyatta University
Nairobi01.2015
Skills
- Value stream finance excellence
- Cost-benefit analysis and management reporting
- P&L management
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Cash flow management
- Manufacturing and FMCG finance
- Marketing investment impact analysis
- Financial planning and analysis
- Strategic financial planning and decision support
- Manufacturing cost control and input cost monitoring
- Procurement finance and supplier cost optimization
- Working capital management and credit cycles
- Standard costing and variance analysis
- Multi-product line financial management
- Non-alcoholic beverage industry expertise
- Food processing and manufacturing finance
- Financial accuracy and compliance assurance
- Customer profitability and incentive management
- ERP systems: SAP, JD Edwards, Syspro, Microsoft Dynamics
- Advanced analytics: Excel, Power BI
- Financial modeling
Websites
Certification
- Green Belt, Coca-Cola Company, 2016
- Operational Excellence, CIM UK, 2015
- CPA (K), ICPAK, 2013, 13498
Analytics
- Excel (Advanced)
- Power BI
- Financial Modeling
Erp Systems
- SAP
- Tally, Quick Books, Sage
- Syspro
- Microsoft Dynamics
Timeline
Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis
Living Goods
01.2023 - Current
Manager, Finance & Commercial
Ponea Health
10.2020 - 07.2023
Finance Manager
Magnate Ventures Ltd
01.2018 - 01.2019
Finance Manager
Winnie's Pure Health Products Limited
01.2017 - 01.2018
Finance Manager
King Beverage Ltd - Centum Investment Company Plc
01.2016 - 01.2017
Payables & Compliance Supervisor
Coca-Cola Juices Kenya Ltd
01.2012 - 01.2016
Cost Accountant
Kevian Kenya Ltd
01.2012 - 01.2013
Cost Accountant
Kinangop Dairy Ltd
01.2010 - 01.2012
MBA - Financial Management
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting
Kenyatta University
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