M-pesa Principal Specialist

Job Description

Role purpose

To provide strategic financial partnership to the business unit by delivering high-quality analysis, informed insights, business cases, and commercial recommendations that drive value creation, support strategic decision-making, and enhance operational performance.

Key accountabilities and decision ownership

• Contribute to strategy formulation at business unit level through financial insight, scenario modelling, and commercial evaluation.
• Prepare structured, data-driven business cases to support investments, product launches, pricing proposals, and commercial initiatives.
• Execute profitability analysis across products, channels, customers, and new services, highlighting value drivers and improvement opportunities.
• Analyse actual performance against budget and forecast; identify gaps, risks, and opportunities; and recommend management actions.
• Provide proactive advice to ensure that an effective operating and financial control environment is in place across the business unit.
• Conduct analysis of competitor market offers, promotions, pricing trends, and benchmark positioning to support commercial strategy.
• Review and support the development of channel policies to strengthen performance, profitability, and operational consistency.
• Evaluate new tariff proposals and pricing developments, ensuring alignment with profitability targets and competitive market positioning.
• Work cross-functionally with Commercial, Marketing, Technology, Operations and Finance teams to ensure aligned decisions and data accuracy.
• Support long-term value creation by providing insights that guide product strategy, portfolio optimisation, and market expansion initiatives.

Job Related Skill

• Strong commercial and strategic finance acumen
• Advanced financial modelling and business case development
• Strong communication, stakeholder influence, and presentation skills
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Commercial awareness and external market orientation

Job Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of mobile money / telecom pricing, margins, and unit economics
• Strong understanding of competitor analysis and market dynamics
• Knowledge of channel structures, operating models, and incentives
• Familiarity with strategic planning, value management, and commercial finance
• Proficiency in analytics tools (Excel, Power BI, financial models)

Job Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years in finance business partnering, strategy, commercial finance, or FP&A
• Experience in telecom, fintech, or fast-paced commercial environments
• Proven experience influencing senior stakeholders with data-driven insights
• Strong background in pricing, profitability, and investment evaluation.

Must have technical / professional qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or related discipline.
• Professional certification (ACT, CFA, CIMA, or ACCA) is an advantage.