Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO) job at Outbox Hub Uganda

About Outbox

Outbox is a trusted implementor, delivering access-to-markets and access-to-finance initiatives through user-centered, service oriented and tech-enabled approaches for startups, MSMEs, investors, corporates, development partners and government.

Founded in 2012 and located in Kampala, Uganda -- Outbox operates at the intersection of entrepreneurship support, digital transformation, ecosystem building to support inclusive economic development.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO) provides strategic financial and risk leadership for the organization as a whole — leading a multidisciplinary finance team, directing program and grant financial management, owning the organization-wide risk management framework, and partnering with the Team Principal and cross-functional leaders to inform business decisions. The role balances organization-wide financial and risk stewardship with hands-on ownership of program finance, ensuring every part of the business, not just individual projects, is financially sound, adequately protected against risk, and strategically resourced.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Financial Leadership & Decision Support

• Serve as strategic financial advisor to the Team Principal and senior leadership, translating financial data and analysis into actionable insight that shapes company strategy, investment, and portfolio decisions.
• Develop financial models to evaluate business initiatives and new ventures; lead the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts in consultation with the Team Principal and function heads.
• Identify and evaluate new revenue-generating opportunities and cost-efficiency initiatives to strengthen overall profitability and long-term sustainability.

Finance & Risk function design and continuous improvement

• Design, build, and maintain the organization's finance and risk policies, systems, and controls — establishing new processes where none exist and adapting existing ones as the organization, its programs, and its risk landscape evolve.
• Periodically review the finance and risk operating model — structure, roles, workflows, and systems — to identify gaps and inefficiencies, and lead the redesign of processes to close them.
• Lead the rollout of new or revised financial and risk processes across the organization, ensuring managers and teams are trained and that changes are properly embedded in day-to-day practice.
• Benchmark the finance and risk function against sector good practice, and adapt policies, tools, and ways of working to keep pace with organizational growth and changing donor, regulatory, or business requirements.
• Determine the right structure, staffing, and systems for the finance unit at each stage of the organization's growth, and lead its buildout accordingly.

Program & Grant Finance

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and monitoring for individual programs and grants, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, contractual terms, and organizational policy.
• Oversee accurate allocation of shared and organizational costs across programs, business units, and funding sources.
• Ensure timely, compliant financial reporting to donors and funding partners, and lead preparation for program and grant audits.
• Build the financial management capacity of program and project teams so they can manage budgets and donor compliance requirements with confidence.

Organization-Wide Financial Management

• Develop and maintain accurate, timely financial statements and management reports in accordance with GAAP, including monthly variance reporting against budget for the organization as a whole.
• Oversee cash flow management and forecasting across the organization, and maintain systems for cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and petty cash that serve all business units and programs — not only individual projects.
• Monitor statutory, tax, and regulatory compliance across the organization, and ensure all financial documentation and records are accurately filed and maintained.
• Own value-for-money procurement policy and oversight for all goods and services on behalf of the organization.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, supervise, and develop the finance team — setting clear objectives and building team capability.
• Establish performance management, coaching, and succession plans for direct reports, and foster a high-performing, service-oriented finance function.

Cross-Functional Business Partnering

• Partner with Programs, Operations, HR, and other functional leads to embed financial discipline and data-driven decision-making into planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring across the organization.
• Oversee the design of reporting tools and dashboards that give business and program managers timely, relevant financial data to guide decisions and monitor performance.
• Represent Finance in cross-functional planning forums and leadership meetings, ensuring financial considerations are integrated into organizational strategy and day-to-day operations.

Financial Operations & Controls

• Ensure timely, accurate processing and review of all company payments — including payroll and service provider payments — through appropriate controls and delegated authority.
• Maintain strong internal controls across all financial operations and drive continuous improvement of finance systems and processes.

Risk Management & Governance (Organization-Wide)

• Own and continuously develop an organization-wide enterprise risk management (ERM) framework covering financial, operational, compliance, reputational, and strategic risk across all business units and programs.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize risks across the organization; maintain a live risk register and ensure mitigation plans are assigned, tracked, and closed out.
• Advise the Team Principal and leadership team on the organization's overall risk exposure and risk appetite, and embed risk assessment into strategic planning, new initiatives, and major decisions.
• Oversee business continuity planning, insurance coverage, and coordination of internal and external audits to ensure the organization is adequately protected.
• Champion a risk-aware culture across all functions and programs, equipping managers to identify and manage risk within their own areas.
• Ensure organization-wide compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, statutory, and donor risk requirements, escalating material risks to the Team Principal and leadership without delay.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree in the same field is an added advantage.
• Professional certification such as CPA, ACCA, or CFA.
• Registered ICPAU member (or equivalent recognized professional body).
• A recognized risk management certification is an added advantage

Experience

• 10 years’ experience in financial management or accounting, including at least 5 years in a management/supervisory role leading a finance team.
• Demonstrated experience managing program or donor-funded budgets, including donor compliance and reporting requirements.
• Proven track record delivering financial analysis and strategic input that has directly informed business or organizational decisions.
• Experience partnering with non-finance functions (e.g., Programs, Operations, HR) to embed financial planning and accountability across an organization.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or leading an organization wide risk management framework

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and sound business judgment.
• Team leadership and people management.
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Clear communication — able to translate financial data for non-finance audiences.

• Serve as strategic financial advisor to the Team Principal and senior leadership, translating financial data and analysis into actionable insight that shapes company strategy, investment, and portfolio decisions.
• Develop financial models to evaluate business initiatives and new ventures; lead the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts in consultation with the Team Principal and function heads.
• Identify and evaluate new revenue-generating opportunities and cost-efficiency initiatives to strengthen overall profitability and long-term sustainability.
• Design, build, and maintain the organization's finance and risk policies, systems, and controls — establishing new processes where none exist and adapting existing ones as the organization, its programs, and its risk landscape evolve.
• Periodically review the finance and risk operating model — structure, roles, workflows, and systems — to identify gaps and inefficiencies, and lead the redesign of processes to close them.
• Lead the rollout of new or revised financial and risk processes across the organization, ensuring managers and teams are trained and that changes are properly embedded in day-to-day practice.
• Benchmark the finance and risk function against sector good practice, and adapt policies, tools, and ways of working to keep pace with organizational growth and changing donor, regulatory, or business requirements.
• Determine the right structure, staffing, and systems for the finance unit at each stage of the organization's growth, and lead its buildout accordingly.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and monitoring for individual programs and grants, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, contractual terms, and organizational policy.
• Oversee accurate allocation of shared and organizational costs across programs, business units, and funding sources.
• Ensure timely, compliant financial reporting to donors and funding partners, and lead preparation for program and grant audits.
• Build the financial management capacity of program and project teams so they can manage budgets and donor compliance requirements with confidence.
• Develop and maintain accurate, timely financial statements and management reports in accordance with GAAP, including monthly variance reporting against budget for the organization as a whole.
• Oversee cash flow management and forecasting across the organization, and maintain systems for cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and petty cash that serve all business units and programs — not only individual projects.
• Monitor statutory, tax, and regulatory compliance across the organization, and ensure all financial documentation and records are accurately filed and maintained.
• Own value-for-money procurement policy and oversight for all goods and services on behalf of the organization.
• Lead, supervise, and develop the finance team — setting clear objectives and building team capability.
• Establish performance management, coaching, and succession plans for direct reports, and foster a high-performing, service-oriented finance function.
• Partner with Programs, Operations, HR, and other functional leads to embed financial discipline and data-driven decision-making into planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring across the organization.
• Oversee the design of reporting tools and dashboards that give business and program managers timely, relevant financial data to guide decisions and monitor performance.
• Represent Finance in cross-functional planning forums and leadership meetings, ensuring financial considerations are integrated into organizational strategy and day-to-day operations.
• Ensure timely, accurate processing and review of all company payments — including payroll and service provider payments — through appropriate controls and delegated authority.
• Maintain strong internal controls across all financial operations and drive continuous improvement of finance systems and processes.
• Own and continuously develop an organization-wide enterprise risk management (ERM) framework covering financial, operational, compliance, reputational, and strategic risk across all business units and programs.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize risks across the organization; maintain a live risk register and ensure mitigation plans are assigned, tracked, and closed out.
• Advise the Team Principal and leadership team on the organization's overall risk exposure and risk appetite, and embed risk assessment into strategic planning, new initiatives, and major decisions.
• Oversee business continuity planning, insurance coverage, and coordination of internal and external audits to ensure the organization is adequately protected.
• Champion a risk-aware culture across all functions and programs, equipping managers to identify and manage risk within their own areas.
• Ensure organization-wide compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, statutory, and donor risk requirements, escalating material risks to the Team Principal and leadership without delay.

• Strategic thinking and sound business judgment.
• Team leadership and people management.
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Clear communication — able to translate financial data for non-finance audiences.

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree in the same field is an added advantage.
• Professional certification such as CPA, ACCA, or CFA.
• Registered ICPAU member (or equivalent recognized professional body).
• A recognized risk management certification is an added advantage