Finance & Accounting Intern

Job Title: Finance and Accounting Intern

Location: Nairobi

Reporting to: National Coordinator

Duration: 4 months

About TechnoServe

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of TechnoServe’s work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. But they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing. When incomes increase and living conditions for families get better, they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

TechnoServe is incubating the National Duka Owners Umbrella Organization ("NDO"), a social enterprise, that brings together individual micro-retailers, business groups, and regional associations across Kenya. The NDO’s mission is to empower and transform the micro-retail sector by enhancing trading capacity, fostering job creation, and driving sustainable growth through formalization, advocacy, and innovation. With a network of approximately 5,000 micro-retail members across four counties, the NDO supports duka owners through price negotiations, training, and policy advocacy. For corporate partners, it provides access to the BoP market, opportunities to pilot products and services, and a platform to deepen corporate partner impact.

Job Summary:

Financial management is a cornerstone of the National Duka Owners Organization’s mission to formalize and empower micro-retailers. Maintaining accurate records, managing budgets efficiently, and upholding financial transparency are vital to sustaining the organization’s activities and fostering trust among members and partners. The finance and accounting intern will play a critical role in supporting these objectives by overseeing financial operations and providing administrative assistance.

 Program Overview:

The finance and accounting intern will ensure the organization’s financial activities are well-organized, compliant, and aligned with strategic objectives. Collaborating closely with the TechnoServe finance team, the intern will be responsible for maintaining records, preparing reports, and supporting budgeting processes essential to the organization’s operations. This role focuses on ensuring that the organization’s financial activities are properly managed, compliant with relevant regulations, and in line with the organization’s goals.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Financial Records & Reporting

•  Maintain accurate financial records, including tracking membership contributions and expenditures under the supervision of the finance team.
•  Assist in preparing regular financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.
•  Support data entry, reconciliations, and document organization to ensure accurate financial tracking.

Budgeting & Expense Monitoring

•  Assist in developing operational and project-specific budgets.
•  Monitor expenditures to ensure they align with approved budgets and report any discrepancies.
•  Participate in reviewing financial documents to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Membership Contributions & Financial Process Automation

•  Track member dues, update records, and support timely reconciliation of payments.
•  Assist in exploring automation tools for financial tracking to enhance member convenience (training and guidance will be provided).
•  Provide support in member communication regarding contributions and financial inquiries.

Audit & Compliance Support

•  Assist with compliance reporting and preparation for financial audits.
•  Ensure adherence to Kenyan financial regulations, including tax filings, under the guidance of senior staff.
•  Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards in financial data management.

Additional Responsibilities

•  Perform any other responsibilities as assigned by the finance manager, ensuring alignment with the role’s purpose.
•  Participate in continuous learning opportunities to enhance financial and accounting knowledge.

 Qualifications:

•  Holding a degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
•  CPA in progress (preferred but not mandatory).
•  Familiarity with accounting software such as QuickBooks.
•  Proficiency in Excel for financial analysis and reporting.
•  Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ethical conduct.
•  Good communication and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.