Pula

Position: Senior Accountant 

Reports to: Finance Manager

Location: Nairobi, Kenya, Full-Time

Employment type: Full-Time 

Start date: ASAP 

Compensation: Market rate

If you love working in a dynamic environment where the demands are high, where you will be challenged every day and where you will get to deliver solutions that positively impact millions of farmers in emerging markets, then this role is for you! 

We are looking for an exceptional and best-in-class Accountant to build the finance and accounting systems to support our goal of building a billion dollar business that protects and advises rural farming communities across Africa and Asia. 

About Us 

Pula is an early stage insurance technology company with a radically different approach to insurance.  We target people who have never bought insurance before, starting with farmers. Most of our customers are semi-literate so our products must be simple to understand, easy to access and distribute, and cost effective.

Most of the poor in developing countries rely on farming as their main source of income and food. Farmers experience risks every day as an inherent part of their livelihood, whether caused by climate shocks such as drought or flooding or pest and disease. 

These risks currently prevent these farmers from investing in their farms, resulting in low yields, food insecurity and poverty. We look to provide technology enabled insurance products and related agronomy and climate advisory services that enable farmers to cover most of their production risks and ensure they maximize their harvest and hence secure their income.

In the last 4 years, Pula has developed insurance solutions that in 2016 reached over 600,000 farmers across 9 countries in Africa, we are on rapid growth path to reach one million farmers by the end of this year and are now looking to expand to Asia. For a brief on our work so far have a look at: 

https://www.ted.com/talks/rose_goslinga_crop_insurance_an_idea_worth_seeding

In the next 5 years we will further build on satellite and remote sensing technology to build our insurance and advisory products and look to leverage cutting edge technology solutions to deliver our product to millions of farmers across Africa and Asia.

What you will be working on?

You will be part of Pula’s Finance team and will be responsible for building and contributing to the objectives of the finance and accounting function. 

You will be responsible for:

1. Posting accounting transactions in the Sage ERP to ensure that they are promptly and correctly recorded.
2. Preparing ledger postings in a timely and accurate manner, including posting of payments and receipts. 
3. Preparing sales invoices in Sage ERP for review and issue to clients.
4. Posting vendor invoices in Sage ERP. 
5. Collating payment requests and initiate payments for authorization. 
6. Ensuring vendors are paid as per the credit and contracts terms. 
7. Communicating with vendors on matters including but not limited to payment terms, payment details and remittance advice. 
8. Ensuring month end procedures are carried out for statutory and tax filings.
9. Preparing monthly payroll for all the entities and submit for approval. 
10. Preparing monthly pension contributions schedule, initiating payment, and communicating with the fund to update staff records. 
11. Preparing monthly statutory returns in a timely manner and initiating statutory payments to ensure compliance with Income Tax Act, VAT Act, NHIF Act, NSSF Act and other regulations across the Group. 
12. Addressing information requests with regards to payments, receipts and related financial data. 
13. Address information requests from auditors.

Qualifications

1. Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance or Business related course
2. At least 6 years’ experience in a reputable company. Experience in a Big 4 audit firm will be an added advantage. 
3. Relevant Certification (ACCA, CPA). CFA will be an added advantage. 
4. Knowledge of Tax & Grants Reporting will be an added advantage. 
5. Proven experience as a Senior accountant, Finance controller or Financial accountant

You have the following capabilities and knowledge:

• Analytical and problem solving skills 
• Computer skills
• Communication & interpersonal skills
• Detail oriented

Our workplace and culture:

• We develop solutions for farming communities and are guided by their needs, timelines and technology environments. This permeates all aspects of our day-to-day work.
• Passionate about your field: you have a passion for technology and its role in creating value and changing the way farmers protect and grow their crops.
• Work hours: We are not a 9-5 company and operate within flexible working hours to deliver in time for the cropping seasons our customers operate in.
• Performance under pressure: You must be comfortable with consistently meeting and delivering on rising expectations.