Accounts Associate - Payables

Our Pitch – Who We Are

MoPhones is on a mission to empower Africans with high-quality, premium smartphones that do not break the bank. By combining a trusted online marketplace, local retail presence, and integrated financing, MoPhones makes renewed devices accessible, affordable, and better for the planet through circular, lower-waste models.

At MoPhones, everything we do is guided by three values: Authenticity, Ownership, and Focus.

1. Authenticity We build trust through honesty, transparency, and real care. From clear pricing and fair policies to dependable, renewed devices, we stand behind what we promise and treat every customer with dignity.
2. Ownership We take responsibility for outcomes. When customers choose MoPhones, they should never feel alone, we solve problems end-to-end, stand behind our products, and take pride in delivering excellent work.
3. Focus We prioritise what matters most: making high-quality smartphones accessible and affordable. We stay disciplined about simplicity, impact, and solutions that expand access to technology across our communities.

The team works with leading refurbishers and a growing network of sales agents and outlets to bring warrantied devices and flexible instalment plans to customers across Kenya, with ambitions to scale across Africa. The culture is mission-driven, data-informed, and deeply performance-oriented, with a strong bias toward ownership, coaching, and experimentation.

Role Purpose

The Accounts Associate – Payables owns the full supplier-to-payment cycle: every shilling MoPhones spends. You will ensure that vendor bills are captured accurately in Odoo, matched to purchase orders and receipts, paid on time through approved payment runs, and reconciled to supplier statements — while protecting the company through disciplined controls, WHT compliance, and clean AP records.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor Bill Processing & Controls

• Receive, verify, and capture all vendor bills in Odoo (Accounting → Vendor Bills), ensuring correct vendor, amounts, tax treatment, analytic accounts, and cost centres

• Perform 3-way matching of purchase orders, goods received notes, and vendor bills in Odoo Purchase before any bill is approved for payment

• Verify that supplier invoices are eTIMS-compliant and reject or query non-compliant invoices before capture

• Maintain accurate vendor master data in Odoo (bank details, KRA PINs, payment terms), with all changes independently verified to prevent fraud

Payments & Cash Out

• Prepare weekly payment runs in Odoo, applying agreed payment terms and cash priorities, and submit for Finance Manager and authorised-signatory approval

• Compute and deduct withholding tax (WHT) where applicable, and support timely remittance and issuance of WHT certificates to suppliers

• Manage petty cash and staff expense claims through Odoo Expenses, ensuring policy compliance, receipts, and timely reimbursement

• Never initiate or release payments outside the approved workflow; escalate any pressure to bypass controls immediately

Reconciliations & Reporting

• Reconcile supplier statements to the Odoo AP sub-ledger monthly and resolve variances (missing bills, duplicate captures, unapplied credits) within agreed SLAs

• Produce the weekly AP ageing report from Odoo, flag bills falling due, and maintain a clean, current payables position at month-end

• Support month-end close: AP cut-off, accruals for un-billed goods/services, prepayments schedules, and input VAT reconciliation

• Support internal and external audits with complete, well-organised payables documentation

Odoo Proficiency Required for This Role

• Purchase module: purchase orders, receipts, and 3-way matching workflows

• Accounting module: vendor bills, bill approval workflows, payment registration, and batch/vendor payments

• Expenses module: expense claim review, approval routing, and reimbursement processing

• Vendor master data management, payment terms configuration, and AP ageing/partner ledger reports

• Bank statement import and matching of outgoing payments to bank lines

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field

• CPA Part II (or equivalent ACCA progress) minimum; CPA finalist an advantage

• 2–3 years' experience in an accounts payable or general accounting role, ideally in retail, distribution, financial services, or a high-transaction-volume business

• Demonstrable hands-on proficiency in Odoo (Purchase, Accounting, and Expenses modules) — this will be tested at interview

• Working knowledge of Kenyan tax compliance relevant to payables: WHT, input VAT, and eTIMS invoice requirements

Competencies & Attributes

• High accuracy and attention to detail; comfortable owning a ledger end-to-end

• Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills (lookups, pivot tables, reconciliation workings)

• Organised and deadline-driven; able to run recurring weekly and monthly cycles without prompting

• High integrity and discretion in handling payment data and financial records

• Clear written and verbal communication with non-finance colleagues and external parties

• Firm and professional in holding the line on payment controls, even under pressure

• Comfortable negotiating payment timelines and resolving disputes with suppliers

Reporting & Working Relationships

Reports to the Finance Manager. Works daily with Procurement/Operations (POs and receipts), budget holders across departments (bill approvals and accruals), suppliers and service providers, and the Accounts Associate – Receivables counterpart to keep the combined cash position accurate.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary aligned to MoPhones' compensation bands

• A high-growth, mission-driven environment at the centre of Kenya's device financing space

• Hands-on exposure to a modern, fully digital Odoo-based finance function

• Structured performance management, OKRs, and clear growth pathways