Office of the Controller of Budget Jobs in Kenya: Personal Assistant, Administrative Assistants, Accounts Assistants, Telephone Operator, Customer Care Assistant, Research Officers, Legal Officer, Chief Internal Auditor and Internal Auditor

Republic of Kenya

Office of the Controller of Budget

Career Opportunities

The Office of the Controller of Budget is an independent office established under Article 228 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. 

Its core mandate is to oversee implementation of the budgets of the national and county governments by authorizing withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund (Article 206), County Revenue Fund (Article 207) and Equalisation Fund (Article 204), if satisfied that the same is in accordance with the law (Article 228(5).

Pursuant to Article 252 (1) (c) of the Constitution, the Office seeks to recruit qualified and competent staff to fill the following vacant positions.

Position: Personal Assistant

Reporting to the Controller of Budget, the successful candidate shall be responsible for providing technical and operational support and personal assistance to the Controller of Budget.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide full administrative support to the Controller of Budget;
• Preparing correspondence on behalf of the Controller of Budget including drafting of general replies;
• Efficiently arranging and managing logistics related to the Controller of Budget’s travel and accommodation;
• Producing documents, briefing papers, reports and presentations;
• To establish and maintain good relations with stakeholders and deal confidently and competently with their matters;
• Comprehensive diary management, including internal and external meetings, formal and informal engagements and keeping up to date with all new activities/events;
• Conduct regular meetings with the Controller of Budget to discuss upcoming engagements, invitations and other requests;
• Preparing meeting requirements, taking minutes and following up on actions;
• Manage activities and initiatives designed to build on the Controller of Budget’s personal brand;
• Ensure meetings with the Controller of Budget are well arranged;
• Any other relevant duties assigned by the Controller of Budget from time to time

Requirements for the position:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration or its equivalent from a recognized university;
• A Masters degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration or its equivalent from a recognized university will be an added advantage;
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel and Power point);
• Must have minimum of five (5) years relevant work experience preferably gained in providing support to a top Executive.

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Professional and proactive approach to work;
• Ability to deal with issues with integrity, confidentiality and to use own initiative; 
• Excellent prioritization and communication skills with staff and stakeholders;
• Excellent telephone and office etiquette;
• Ability to organize complex events, multi- task and work under pressure;

Position: Administrative Assistant

2 Posts

Reporting to the Chief Manager Human Resources and Administration, the successful candidate will perform a wide range of administrative and office support activities for the department and/or managers and supervisors to facilitate the efficient operation of the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Answer, screen and transfer inbound phone calls;
• Receive and direct visitors and clients;
• General clerical duties including photocopying, fax and mailing;
• Maintain and retrieve documents from filing system
• Handle requests for information and data;
• Schedule and coordinate meetings, appointments and travel arrangements for managers or supervisors;
• Maintain office supply inventories;
• Coordinate maintenance of office equipment
• Any other basic administration duties assigned by the Chief Manager Human Resources and Administration from time to time.

Requirements for the position:

• A Diploma in Business and Office Management , Business Administration, Social Science or its equivalent from a recognized university;
• Proficiency in standard office software such as MS Office (Word, outlook, Excel and Power point);
• At least one year relevant work experience;

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Integrity
• Ability to perform multiple tasks and work under pressure;

Position: Accounts Assistant

2 Posts

Reporting to the Manager Finance/Accounts, the successful candidate will perform routine clerical accounting and bookkeeping duties following established procedures to accomplish duties.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in preparation of accurate and timely bank reconciliations;
• Assist in preparation and submission of statutory payments.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial statements.
• Assist in processing the payroll;
• Maintain ledgers;
• Prepare and maintain the cash book and other subsidiary books;
• Assist in processing payments to creditors;
• Administer petty cash.
• Assist in preparation of periodic payment reports( monthly expenditure returns)
• File documents.

Requirements for the position:

• Must have at least a CPA II or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
• One year clerical/accounting related experience;

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Integrity
• Excellent computer skills;
• Skills in maintaining accounting or bookkeeping records.
• Team player

Position: Telephone Operator

Reporting to the Communications officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for provision of telephone communication linkages to facilitate efficient telephone services delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage telephone exchange.
• Carry out telephone exchange routine work and preparation and collection of telephone traffic data;
• Liaise with technicians on maintenance of telephone exchange equipments/facilities;
• Receive and transferring of telephone calls, announcing callers, taking brief massages and passing these on via the telephone system or connecting callers to staff members;
• Any other relevant duties assigned by the Chief Manager Public Relations and Communications.

Requirements for the position:

• Diploma in Telecommunications Operations Management or its equivalent from a recognized institution;
• Must have at least KCSE mean grade C Plain with a grade C in English and Kiswahili.
• Proficiency in Computer Applications;
• One year relevant work experience.

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Good oral and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili;
• Integrity
• Team player

Position: Customer Care Assistant

Reporting to the Communications officer, the successful candidate will provide guidance and assistance to customers;

Key Responsibilities:

• To welcome all customers, visitors and prospective clients to the offices;
• To engage all customers in a pleasant manner and guide them according to their needs;
• To escalate customer enquiries to appropriate staff and revert to the customer within agreed turnaround time;
• To handle walk-in clients in a professional and friendly manner;
• To answer incoming telephone enquiries and respond to requests for information;
• To receive and respond to enquiries across a wide range of services and act as the initial point of assessment for eligibility;
• To receive and process ‘follow up’ information about previous requests and reports;
• To be able to quickly identify situations requiring specialist information and direct customers appropriately;
• To provide general administrative support such as mailing, faxing, photocopying, information storage and printing;
• Update on a regular basis the staff contact and telephone extension lists.
• Monitor and ensure that the reception area is kept tidy and projects a business-like image.
• To receive and sign for mail deliveries.

Requirements for the position:

• Diploma in Public Relations or its equivalent from a recognized institution;
• Must have at least KCSE mean grade C Plain with a grade C in English and Kiswahili.
• Proficiency in Computer Applications;
• One year relevant work experience.

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Good oral and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili;
• Integrity
• Team player

Position: Research Officer

2 Posts

Reporting to the Director Research and Planning, the successful candidate will be involved in carrying out research, basic policy analysis and statistical/data collection assignments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement research policies, systems and procedures.
• Prepare periodic research reports;
• Recommend appropriate programs from research findings;
• Undertake research and development activities in line with the organizations mandate;
• Analyze data with reference to the research objectives;
• Implement the research strategy, policies and procedures;
• Undertake research work considering best practices, policies, systems and procedures.
• Assist in drafting research specifications, testing research instruments and editing draft reports;
• Conduct research work;
• Any other relevant duties that may be assigned by the Director Research and Planning from time to time.

Requirements for the position:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from a recognized university
• Should be conversant with the Constitution of Kenya
• At least 2 years relevant work experience

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent computer skills;
• Integrity

Position: Legal Officer

Reporting to the Director Legal Affairs, the successful candidate will be responsible for implementation of legal policies, systems and procedures and undertake research on legal matters.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist in drawing and reviewing contracts /agreements for the organization;
• Handle legal matters including litigation;
• Maintain a comprehensive database of all legal matters with up to date status reports;
• Implement legal policies and procedures;
• Prepare periodic and special legal reports;
• Undertake research on legal matters
• Assist in reviewing legal documents/ instruments, opinions and briefs;
• Provide legal advice on legal and legislative issues impacting the Office;
• Any other relevant duties assigned by the Director Legal Affairs from time to time.

Requirements for the position:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized university;
• Must be an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
• Must be well versed with the Constitution of Kenya;
• Must have at least 3 years’ experience in legal practice;

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Integrity
• Excellent computer skills;
• Team player
• Sound knowledge of relevant government regulations and policies.

Position: Chief Internal Auditor

Reporting to the Controller of Budget, the successful candidate will be responsible for formulating and implementing appropriate internal control systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Formulate and implement appropriate internal control systems for the organization.
• Develop and implement internal audit policies, systems and procedures;
• Design audit plans;
• Compile periodic and special audit reports;
• Oversee the implementation of the Audit plan;
• Carry out internal audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;
• Develop business continuity, evaluate risk exposure and prepare mitigation strategies and policies;
• Ensure the organization is compliant with government, regulations and guidelines;
• Carry out post audit reviews to ensure implementation of agreed corrective action plans;
• Continuous review of procedures and policies to ensure that adequate controls are in place;
• Coordinate execution of special assignments as per the specified terms of reference;

Requirements for the position:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in either Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or its equivalent from a recognized university;
• Must have a Master’s degree in either Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or its equivalent from a recognized university
• Must be a Certified Public Accountant;
• Must have at least 10 years’ experience in an auditing environment at senior Management Level.
• Must be well versed with the Constitution of Kenya
• Must be an active member of a relevant professional accounting body with confirmed good standing record

Required Skills and Personal Attributes

Applicants to this position should possess the following skills and personal attributes

• Leadership skills;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Integrity;
• Excellent computer skills;
• Team player;
• Sound knowledge of relevant government regulations and policies

Position: Internal Auditor

Reporting to the Chief Internal Auditor, the successful candidate will assist in implementing and reviewing internal control systems, internal audit policies, systems and procedures in line with audit work plans and report as required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement internal control systems for the organization;
• Implement and maintain internal audit policies, systems and procedures;
• Implement the audit plan;
• Prepare periodic and special audit reports;
• Undertake internal audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;
• Monitor the organization’s compliance with statutes, government regulations and guidelines;

Requirements for the position:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or its equivalent from a recognized university;
• Must be Certified Public Accountant
• Should be conversant with Constitution of Kenya.
• At least 2 years relevant work experience.

Additional skills

• Leadership skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Integrity
• Team player
• Excellent computer skills;
• Sound knowledge of relevant laws, government regulations and policies

Successful candidates for the above positions will be offered a competitive remuneration package and will be appointed on a three year contract renewable upon satisfactory performance.

Application Process

If you possess the above qualifications and the drive to meet the challenges, please write in confidence quoting the job title on both the cover letter and envelope accompanied by a detailed and up-to-date curriculum vitae, indicating your current remuneration, academic and professional qualifications, work experience, home county, your e-mail and telephone contacts.

Your c.v must clearly indicate four names of referees who must be familiar with your previous academic/work experience and indicate their telephone, postal and email addresses. Attach copies of your educational, professional certificates, Identity Card and testimonials.

Applications should be addressed to the Controller of Budget P.O Box 35616-00100 Nairobi and be sent by post or hand delivered to our offices at Bima House 12th Floor by 28th September, 2012.

The Office of the Controller of Budget is an equal opportunity employer.

Canvassing of any form will lead to automatic disqualification