Finance Operations Manager

Job Summary

Centum Real Estate, East Africa’s leading Real Estate developer focused on enhancing productivity by building lifestyle communities where individuals, families and businesses grow thrive, is seeking a results-driven Finance Operations Manager to join the team.

The Finance Operations Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end financial operations of Centum RE where multiple residential projects are currently under construction, completed project inventory is on sale and additionally, sale of bulk and serviced land is ongoing.

This is a high-intensity, hands-on role requiring precision, speed and strategic oversight to ensure optimal cash utilization, strong cost & operational control, compliance with all statutory and debt obligations plus accurate and timely financial reporting to support executive decision-making.

Centum Re is building iconic real estate projects and requires a financial powerhouse to keep them on track. The projects are funded from both equity and debt facilities and require a hands-on high performing Finance Operations Manager who can keep cash flowing, projects on budget and profitability on target.

Job Details

Key Responsibilities.

• Financial Operations and Reporting
  • Manage day-to-day financial operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory
  • General ledger accounting including prepayments, accruals, payroll accounting & tax accounting 
  • Accurate Revenue reporting by ensuring compliance to revenue recognition as per signed contracts recorded in CRM both for IFRS reporting and management reporting
  • Timely & accurate month end financial books’ closure 
  • Preparation of management & statutory financial reports including variance analysis, KPIs and relevant insightful commentaries
  • Preparation of financial forecasts including the primary financial statements
• Cash flow & Treasury management 
  • Oversee all daily finance operations, ensuring liquidity for ongoing projects and corporate needs 
  • Maintain strict cashflow discipline, liaising with the Collections Officer for collections and the business teams for payments
  • Forecast, monitor and report operational cash flow positions weekly, identifying risks and proposing corrective actions.
  • Manage working capital to optimize use of own cash, customer deposits and bank financing.
• Project finance and cost control 
  • Supervise project accountants across all developments, currently these being Nairobi, Vipingo & Entebbe and ensure budget discipline
  • Track project costs and margins against approved budgets, initiating corrective measures when variances arise
  • Review and recommend for approval project payment certificates only after verifying progress and budget alignment.
• Compliance and reporting 
  • Ensure full statutory compliance in line with IFRS and local reporting standards.
  • Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual statutory returns (VAT, corporate tax, payroll taxes).
  • Maintain compliance with all debt covenants, submitting accurate lender reports on time.
• Governance, risk and audit
  • Implement robust internal controls to safeguard assets and prevent leakages.
  • Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring timely resolution of findings.
  • Maintain a risk register for finance operations, escalating significant issues promptly.

Requirements

Core competencies & Qualifications:

• Minimum 8 years progressive finance experience, with at least 4 years in real estate development, construction, or other capital-intensive sectors.
• Demonstrate experience in multi-project finance operations with complex funding structures.
• Strong understanding of IFRS and statutory reporting frameworks.
• Proven track record in cashflow optimization, debt covenant compliance, and cost control.
• Commercial acumen - deep understanding of real estate cash cycles, project financing, and profitability drivers.
• Analytical rigour - advanced excel and financial modeling skills, with ability to turn numbers into actionable insights.
• Demonstrate experience working with a large ERP.
• Execution focus -  ability to deliver under high pressure, balancing multiple priorities.
• Stakeholder management - skilled in liaising with banks, investors, contractors, auditors, and regulators.
• Leadership - ability to lead and mentor finance teams, fostering accountability and performance excellence.
• Minimum KCSE B+ and a Bachelor’s Degree (Second Upper)  degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field; CPA, ACCA, or equivalent required.

About Company

Centum Real Estate Limited

https://centumre.co.ke/

Centum Real Estate is a leading real estate developer of urban nodes in east Africa, transforming areas into places where people want to live, companies want to grow, and neighborhoods come alive.