About the Role
Role Overview
We’re looking for a highly analytical and strategic Finance Planning Analyst to drive Zeraki’s financial planning, budgeting, and analytical functions. You’ll help leadership teams across multiple countries make informed, data-driven decisions, forecast accurately, and manage costs effectively. This is an impactful role, ideal for a finance professional excited about the intersection of finance, strategy, and technology in a fast-growing SaaS environment.
What You'll Do
1. Strategic Financial Analysis & Forecasting
● Lead the preparation of annual budgets and regular financial forecasts across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
● Conduct variance analysis and deliver insightful recommendations to guide business decisions.
● Develop sophisticated financial models (pricing, revenue, cost, growth scenarios) to support strategic decision-making.
2. SaaS Metrics & Business Intelligence
● Analyze critical SaaS metrics (MRR, ARR, CAC, churn, LTV) to identify trends, opportunities, and risks.
● Deliver clear, timely, and insightful monthly reporting to management, investors, and board members.
● Use data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) to create impactful dashboards and reports.
3. Product & Profitability Analysis
● Assess profitability and performance of each Zeraki product against financial targets.
● Collaborate closely with product teams, recommending adjustments for improved profitability or strategic positioning.
4. Cross-departmental Collaboration
● Work with department heads (Sales, Product, Operations, CX, Marketing) to set departmental KPIs, manage budgets, and align financial forecasting with operational realities.
● Provide continuous support and training to team leads in budgetary and financial best practices.
5. Process Improvement & Automation
● Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives (target: ≥10% total expense reduction annually).
● Drive automation initiatives across financial and operational processes, leading adoption of new finance technologies at Zeraki.
Requirements
Key Performance Metrics
Forecasting Precision: Maintain ≤5% variance between financial forecasts and actual performance.
Budget Management: Consistently achieve ≤3% variance from budgeted costs.
Strategic Contribution: Deliver actionable financial insights influencing at least 3 significant strategic decisions per quarter.
Cost Savings & Optimization: Implement measures saving at least 10% in total annual expenses.
SaaS Metrics Reporting: Monthly SaaS metrics reporting with deep analysis and strategic recommendations.
Process Automation: Successfully introduce at least 1 new finance/analytics automation tool or process each month.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree (Finance, Economics, Accounting, Data Analytics, or related field).
3–5 years of experience in FP&A, financial consulting, corporate finance, or business intelligence roles.
Expertise in financial modeling, advanced Excel, budgeting, and forecasting.
Proficiency in business analytics and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau).
Familiarity with SaaS metrics and marketplace/platform financial models.
Professional qualification (CPA, ACCA, CFA) advantageous, but not required.
Preferred Qualities (Aligned with Startup Culture)
You’ll thrive at Zeraki if you:
Align strongly with our core values: Integrity, Learning, Excellence, Empathy, Resilience, and Impact.
Possess excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Love a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
Are comfortable communicating complex financial insights clearly and persuasively to senior management and non-finance teams.
Enjoy proactively improving systems, processes, and reporting capabilities
What we offer
Why Join Zeraki?
● Strategic Impact: Drive strategic decision-making at a high-growth, ambitious organization scaling internationally.
● Career Acceleration: Clear growth path to senior finance leadership roles, including Head of Finance.
● Collaborative Environment: Work cross-functionally with dynamic teams building an EdTech platform poised for continental impact.
● Continuous Learning: Deepen expertise in SaaS metrics, marketplace economics, multi-country finance, and strategic leadership
Career Pathway
High performers in this role are prime candidates for progression into the Head of Finance role, with expanded responsibilities covering financial strategy, investor relations, global financial leadership, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Our culture
At Zeraki, our strength is rooted in our vibrant culture, driven by a shared commitment for integrity, learning, and excellence. Our environment demands the highest standards and focuses on delivering results. We hire and develop the best, manage through trust, value empathy, and practice having a backbone in all our dealings. We are a team that thrives on freedom, responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence. Joining us means being part of a community dedicated to growth, innovation, and transformation.
About the Company
Zeraki is transforming how education is managed and delivered across Africa. Serving millions of students, parents, teachers, and schools in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and beyond, our SaaS solutions set the standard in EdTech innovation. As we scale rapidly toward becoming a leading education marketplace and platform, our finance team is instrumental in shaping strategic decisions, financial sustainability, and long-term impact.