Senior Manager: Record to Report (Internal/External)

The Senior Manager, Record to Report, will play a crucial role in managing the financial reporting requirements of the Group. This includes ensuring timely and accurate monthly, interim, and annual financial reporting, as well as overseeing the audit process. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining compliance with company procedures and accounting policies, and for leading a team to deliver high-quality financial reporting.

At Safaricom Ethiopia, we are a purpose-led technology company dedicated to transforming lives through digital connectivity and inclusive financial services. In under four years, we have grown to serve over 10 million customers, with our network now reaching 55% of Ethiopia’s population – a testament to our bold vision and trusted partnerships.

Guided by core values such as customer obsession, innovation, integrity, and get it done together, we are building a workplace that is dynamic, inclusive, and empowering. We believe our greatest strength lies in our people. That’s why, for two consecutive years, we have proudly get earned the Top Employer Award – in recognition for our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and inclusive environment to people.

Join Safaricom Ethiopia and be part of a team that is shaping the digital future of Ethiopia. Here, your work has meaning, your voice matters, and your growth is our priority. Together, we are transforming lives for a digital future.

Role purpose: 

The Senior Manager: Record to Report is accountable for leading the Record-to-Report (R2R) function and ensuring the timely, accurate, and compliant preparation of financial information across all legal entities. The role is responsible for financial reporting, month-end and year-end close, statutory reporting, group consolidations, audit management, balance sheet governance, accounting policy compliance, and IFRS reporting. The incumbent will provide technical accounting leadership, maintain strong financial controls, and drive continuous process improvement to support efficient and effective financial operations while ensuring compliance with Group policies, statutory regulations, and agreed service level requirements

Key responsibilities

Financial Close and Reporting

• Lead and oversee monthly, quarterly, interim, and annual financial close activities. 
• Maintain and govern the financial close calendar and reporting timelines. 
• Review and approve significant closing journals, accruals, provisions, and adjustments. 
• Ensure financial results are complete, accurate, and reported within established deadlines. 
•  Drive continuous improvements to the close process to reduce cycle times and enhance reporting quality.

General Ledger and Balance Sheet Governance

• Maintain accountability for the integrity of the General Ledger and Chart of Accounts Oversee balance sheet reconciliations and ensure timely resolution of reconciling items.
• Review and approve monthly balance sheet substantiation and certification processes.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of subsidiary ledgers and supporting schedules.
• Establish and monitor controls over accruals, prepayments, provisions, and other accounting estimates.

Consolidation and Statutory Reporting

• Lead preparation and review of statutory financial statements for all legal entities.
• Oversee Group consolidations and related elimination entries.
• Ensure completeness and accuracy of disclosures in accordance with IFRS and local regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate submissions to Group, Vodacom, Safaricom Plc, regulators, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure all reporting requirements are met within prescribed timelines.

Revenue, Intercompany and Technical Accounting

• Oversee revenue reporting and validation processes.
• Ensure appropriate accounting treatment of new products, services, and commercial initiatives.
• Manage intercompany accounting, reconciliations, eliminations, and settlements.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and leadership across the business.
• Review accounting implications of significant transactions and strategic initiatives.

Audit and Control Management

• Lead the end-to-end management of internal and external audits.

• Coordinate audit planning, fieldwork, information requests, and closure activities.

• Ensure timely resolution of audit findings and implementation of agreed actions.

• Strengthen financial controls and governance across the Record-to-Report process.

• Monitor compliance with internal control frameworks and regulatory requirements.

Process Improvement and Transformation

• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline Record-to-Report processes.

• Support ERP and finance transformation initiatives.

• Drive standardization, optimization, and continuous improvement of finance processes.

• Support Blackline and Workiva system implementation

• Promote best practices in financial reporting, controls, and governance.

Stakeholder and People Leadership

• Build strong working relationships with Finance, Commercial, Technology, Regulatory, Tax, Procurement, Human Resources, and External Audit stakeholders.

• Provide financial reporting support and advisory services to business functions.

• Lead, coach, develop, and mentor the R2R team.

• Drive high-performance culture, succession planning, capability development, and employee engagement.

• Ensure adequate resource planning and business continuity for critical finance processes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Financial Reporting

• Monthly management accounts submitted within agreed timelines.

• Timely submission of Group reporting packs and certifications.

• Accurate and completely consolidated financial statements.

Financial Control

• 100% completion of balance sheet reconciliations within policy timelines.

• No material unresolved balance sheet reconciling items.

• No material post-close adjustments.

Compliance and Audit

• Successful implementation of new accounting standards and policy updates.

• Timely closure of internal and external audit findings.

Revenue and Intercompany Governance

• Timely completion of revenue and deferred revenue reconciliations.

• Timely resolution of intercompany differences.

• Accurate accounting treatment of new products and business initiatives.

Process Excellence

• Achievement of agreed close-cycle timelines.

• Delivery of process automation and efficiency initiatives.

• SLA and stakeholder satisfaction targets achieved.

People Leadership

• Employee engagement and retention targets achieved.

• Completion of performance reviews and development plans.

• Succession and capability development objectives delivered.

Required Skills and Competencies

Technical & Professional Competencies

• Strong knowledge of IFRS, IAS, Group Accounting Policies, and financial reporting requirements.

• Extensive experience in General Ledger, Record-to-Report, and financial control processes.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Excellent financial statement analysis and interpretation capabilities.

• Strong audit management and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience with ERP systems and finance transformation initiatives.

• Strong project management and change management capabilities.

• High standards of accuracy, integrity, and attention to detail.

Business & Customer Focus

• Ability to translate financial information into business insights.

• Strong commercial awareness and business partnering capability.

• Ability to influence decision-making across multiple stakeholders.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.

• Highly organized and results oriented.

• Ability to prioritize and perform under tight deadlines.

• Demonstrates accountability and ownership.

• Continuous improvement mindset.

• Strong communication and relationship management skills.

• High ethical standards and professional judgment.

• Ability to manage change and lead transformation initiatives.

Working with Change

• Responds positively and flexibly to changing business requirements.

• Leads business and people through periods of change.

• Drives adaptation and continuous improvement across the function.

Direct Reports

• Senior Accountant: Reporting and Analysis
• Senior Accountant: Revenue Reporting and Compliance
• Senior Accountant: General Ledger Management

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related discipline.

• Professional accounting qualifications such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA, CA, or equivalent.

• Minimum 7–10 years' progressive experience in financial reporting, accounting, auditing, or financial control roles.

• Experience within a multinational organization, telecommunications environment, shared services environment, or leading audit firm is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated experience in statutory reporting, Group reporting, IFRS implementation, and audit management.

• Experience with ERP platforms and finance transformation programs is an added advantage.

How to Apply. If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualification and experience, kindly proceed to create/ update your candidate profile on the recruitment portal and then Click on the apply button. Remember to attach your resume.