Elaine Karuru
About me
Finance and operations professional with over 5 years of experience supporting finance functions across startups and growing organizations, with strong experience in accounts payable, receivables, vendor management, reconciliations, financial reporting, payment processing, expense management and financial controls. Experienced in managing end-to-end payment workflows, reconciling bank, payment platform, credit card, receivables and petty cash transactions, resolving discrepancies, maintaining supporting documentation and coordinating with vendors and internal teams to ensure timely and accurate payments. Hands-on experience supporting month-end close, statutory payments, consultant withholding tax, financial reporting, aged receivables/payables monitoring, asset tracking and audit-ready recordkeeping. Comfortable working across finance, operations, procurement and external suppliers in fast-paced environments where accuracy, accountability, confidentiality and strong follow-up are essential.
Work Experience
Research Assistant
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
May 5, 2025
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May 29, 2026
Coordinated field teams supporting research and data collection activities, monitoring implementation progress and supporting delivery against established requirements and timelines.
Identified implementation challenges and worked with field teams to resolve issues affecting delivery.
Conducted quality assurance and data consistency checks, reviewing information for discrepancies, missing data and inconsistencies.
Validated collected information and followed up on identified issues to improve accuracy and completeness.
Organised and reviewed research information and contributed to reporting and analysis.
Maintained accurate research and field documentation throughout implementation.
Worked collaboratively with teams and stakeholders in an environment requiring attention to detail, adaptability and consistent execution.
Used analytical thinking to identify patterns, investigate issues and support practical solutions.
Finance Analyst
Uncover Skincare
September 2, 2024
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April 30, 2025
Managed accounts payable processes, including supplier invoices, payment requests, expense documentation, payment processing and supporting records.
Reconciled transactions across M-Pesa, Paystack and PayPal, ensuring payment records agreed with supporting documentation and identifying and resolving discrepancies.
Performed bank, credit card, receivables and petty cash reconciliations, investigating variances and following up on outstanding reconciling items.
Processed supplier and operational payments while ensuring appropriate supporting documentation and approvals were in place.
Maintained vendor records and coordinated with suppliers to resolve payment and documentation issues.
Supported month-end financial close activities, including reconciliation of accounts, review of transactions and preparation of financial information for reporting.
Monitored aged receivables and followed up on outstanding balances and payment issues.
Supported consultant payments and related withholding tax requirements.
Maintained accurate financial records and supporting documentation to facilitate reporting, review and audit processes.
Created and maintained a finance dashboard to track financial information, outstanding items and operational deliverables.
Developed a standard payment cycle after identifying that ad hoc payment requests were creating pressure on the finance function, improving structure and visibility around payment processing.
Prepared monthly sales and marketing reports for both Kenya and Nigeria, translating financial and operational data into insights for leadership.
Developed market-specific recommendations based on differences in performance and customer behaviour between the Kenya and Nigeria markets rather than applying a single approach across both markets.
Used analytical review and variance identification to support decision-making and flag issues requiring management attention.
Worked closely with vendors, leadership, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of finance and operational matters.
Finance and Operations Associate
Finished by Friday
January 4, 2021
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August 30, 2024
Managed day-to-day accounts payable activities, including supplier invoices, expenses, reimbursements, payment requests and supporting documentation.
Reviewed invoices and supporting documents before processing payments, ensuring expenditure was appropriately documented and aligned with internal requirements.
Coordinated supplier and vendor payments and followed up on outstanding invoices and payment-related issues.
Supported the establishment and maintenance of structured payment and finance processes as the business grew.
Prepared and maintained financial records, payment documentation, expense records and supporting schedules.
Supported statutory payments, ensuring obligations were tracked and processed on time.
Supported accounting treatment and tracking of prepayments and other recurring expenses, including maintaining schedules and supporting records.
Assisted with account reconciliations and review of financial transactions to identify discrepancies and ensure records remained accurate.
Supported expenditure monitoring and ensured transactions were appropriately documented and classified.
Maintained organized, audit-ready financial and administrative records, including invoices, payment documentation, contracts, and supplier records.
Supported the preparation and organization of documentation required for financial reviews and external stakeholders.
Coordinated asset tracking, maintaining records of company equipment and assets and supporting accountability for organizational resources.
Managed vendor relationships, including communication, follow-up, documentation and resolution of operational issues.
Set up the Nairobi office from scratch coordinating vendors, operational requirements, documentation, resources and timelines.
Managed founder calendar, meetings, actions, travel coordination and administrative priorities.
Supported recruitment, onboarding and offboarding processes and maintained relevant employee documentation.
Supervised sales associates and coordinated team deliverables, ensuring accountability while providing support and guidance.
Completely onboarded the team onto SharePoint, establishing a more structured approach to document management, collaboration and access to organizational information.
Developed and improved SOPs and operational workflows to create greater consistency and accountability across the organization.
Education
Bachelors of Economics and Finance
Bachelors Degree
May 5, 2014
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December 17, 2021