Open to opportunities

Caroline Gakinya

@carolinegakinya

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Finance and accounting professional specializing in compliance, grants, audit readiness, and financial operations.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I seek a finance role where I can lead compliance, optimize processes, support audits and grants, and scale financial operations in a collaborative, growth-oriented team.

I am a versatile finance and accounting professional with over 5 years of experience in international accounting, compliance, risk analysis, auditing, and financial reporting across Kenya, the U.S., and the UK.

I have driven payroll integrity and audit readiness for multi-state U.S. operations, managed vendor payouts and grant-funded contracts, and streamlined financial processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.

My strengths include developing compliant budgets, monitoring federal and donor-funded grants, building tracking systems, and implementing SOPs and automation that reduce reporting time and payment discrepancies.

I work effectively with remote and distributed teams, mentor staff on controls and reporting, and bring a proven record of improving audit readiness, cash flow visibility, and compliance maturity.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Assistant Controller

Current

Bay Management Group

Dec 2024 - Present (1 year 6 months)

Supported financial operations for a $50M+ property management company by driving payroll compliance, audit readiness, and process automation, reducing monthly reporting time by 40% and streamlining vendor payables across 300+ vendors.

Payroll Compliance Accounts Payable SOP Development Cash Flow Forecasting GL Adjustments

Staff Accountant

Bay Management Group

Jul 2022 - Dec 2024 (2 years 5 months)

Managed $1M+ monthly payouts and improved payout accuracy by 60% using AppFolio, automated vendor discount and 1099 tracking, and supported month-end close and financial reporting improvements.

Appfolio Accounts Payable 1099 K Reporting Month End Close Reconciliations Vendor Management Financial Reporting Process Automation

Finance and Operations Assistant

ICF Macro Incorporation

Nov 2021 - Mar 2022 (4 months)

Managed USAID-funded contracts in-country with procurement and compliance oversight, reduced M-Pesa transaction processing time by 30%, and improved variance analysis to inform budgeting decisions.

Grant Compliance Procurement M Pesa Reconciliation Local Purchase Orders Financial Reporting Mpesa Reconciliation

Finance and Administration Lead

SNDBX International

May 2021 - Oct 2021 (5 months)

Supervised financial records and month-end processes, reducing discrepancies by 20% and outstanding accounts by 15% through strengthened internal controls and timely reporting.

Month End Close Internal Controls Financial Reporting Supplier Management

Finance Associate

Acumen EA Advisory Limited

Mar 2020 - Jan 2021 (10 months)

Prepared regional financial reports and improved reporting accuracy by 35%, accelerated investment disbursements by 27%, and ensured compliance with tax and statutory requirements.

Financial Reporting Tax Compliance Reconciliations