PowerGen Renewable Energy Careers

Purpose / Overview

The Financial Accountant is responsible for processing of accounting transactions, preparation of reconciliation and supporting schedules that provide confidence that the Kenya balance sheet is accurate and collaborative improvement of inefficient finance and business system team process improvement.

The Finance team will ensure that we use our technical competence to help PowerGen achieve its vision of becoming the leading renewable energy utility in Africa, profitably. 

Our team supports the vision by processing transactions within the agreed due dates, we maintain up-to-date reconciliations and schedules, we review our balance sheet accounts every month to ensure it is accurate, we achieve unqualified audit opinions and we continually improve our processes to make them more efficient so that we spend less time processing transactions and more time on analysis and growth opportunities. We continuously review and improve our internal controls i.e our mechanisms and procedures to ensure PowerGen is operating effectively and efficiently, has reliable financial reporting and is compliant with company policies, government laws and regulations.

Activities:

Accounting, Reporting & Auditing: 

• Maintain, in conjunction with the Finance Manager, the monthly cash flow forecast file for the company to ensure that cash is available for operations for at least 12 months 
• Ensure that strong internal controls exist and are followed over the company's cash, inventory and fixed assets. Internal controls include but are not limited to preparing reconciliations between the amounts held on mobile money vs amounts on the general ledger, preparing and reviewing with the financial controller monthly balance sheet account reconciliations, verifying the reconciliation between physical Inventory and ERP inventory values and ensuring the Fixed asset register is accurate
• Ensure to obtain a finance scorecard score of at least 90% each month
• Post all Kenya and Germany transactions in the ERP by the 5th of every month recommending further courses of action
• Process Kenya payments and work with the finance and supply chain teams to improve controls around the procure to pay process
• Recognition of revenue generated from electricity sales and other sources in accordance with IFRS
• Every month report on the Kenya electricity revenue assurance performance of the Kenya business i.e comparison between electricity paid for versus electricity delivered, circulate the report to the CFO, COO, Chief of utility operations and Financial Controller by the 10th of every month
• Maintaining fixed assets register ensuring that assets are properly recognized and depreciation calculated appropriately
• Ensure intercompany accounts between Kenya and the other entities reconcile on a monthly basis
• Manage the Kenya Audit and ensure we obtain an unqualified opinion by the agreed due dates
• Implement the Management letter recommendations as advised by the External Auditors

Tax & Regulatory Compliance

• Prepare and Verify that tax filings VAT, PAYE, withholding taxes, NSSF and NHIF calculations, corporate income tax are accurate and are filed before the statutory due dates
• Ensure tax compliance with the relevant regulators and become an expert in local tax law to ensure optimal planning
• Serve as lead liaison with KRA
• Ensure Kenya business is  compliant with regulatory filings such as the corporate annual return and ensuring all investment through share capital is properly registered at the registrar of companies

Analysis and Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in areas of responsibility
• Collaborate on working groups and committees as requested
• Conduct reviews and evaluation for cost-reduction opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years' experience as a progressively advanced accountant
• CPA

Competencies:

•  Working capital management
•  Grant Reporting 
•  Financial statement analysis
• External audit management
•  Cashflow management & forecasting
• Balance sheet reconciliation
• Cost accounting
• Tax & regulatory knowledge

Job Description

What You’ll Make Happen:  

• Maintain and improve existing software
• Develop new features based on user requirements
• Support in the generation of analytical reports to the rest of the business
• Develop automated processes to ease the workflow of our business units
• Participate in our Agile development process and take turns leading Scrum

What Excites You: 

• Creating reliable and easy to use software
• Learning new technologies and skills
• A fast-paced environment where constant change is the norm and individual initiative-taking is encouraged 
• Having autonomy to implement your creative solutions – not just coming up with ideas, but possessing the commitment and skill to implement them
• Passion for organization, details, and precision in all you do 
• Being part of, and contributing to, a vibrant team culture

Qualifications

You Already Have:

• Knowledge of at least one programming language
• Some familiarity with SQL databases
• We use the following technologies in our stack, none is a requirement but any relevant experience is valuable:
  • Our core web services are written in Golang.
  • We also have a number of data analysis pipelines written in Python.
  • The user interface is React.js. 
  • We use Azure for hosting, any cloud DevOps experience is meaningful. o Linux literacy is a plus. 
  • Docker

Additional Information

What Excites You:

• Intense attention to detail and managing multiple and varied work streams at the same time
• Working collaboratively with many internal teams across multiple countries and offices to drive growth and operational excellence
• A fast-paced, informal environment where constant change is the norm.

What You’ll Make Happen:

The software team at PowerGen is responsible for customer management and data analytics. We integrate with a number of external API’s for payment processing and smart metering. The company is in an exciting growth phase and the software team is tasked with developing systems and processes that will allow the business to scale. We are hiring software engineers at all levels to support this growth. PowerGen is a company that encourages mentorship and career development. A skilled and self-motivated developer will be an asset to our team regardless of your level of experience.

We follow an Agile process, with a different member of the team running each Sprint. This gives everyone an exposure to project management and creates a shared sense of responsibility around delivering our products

What Excites You:

• Creating reliable and easy to use software
• Learning new technologies and skills
• A fast-paced environment where constant change is the norm and individual initiative-taking
• is encouraged
• Having autonomy to implement your creative solutions – not just coming up with ideas, but possessing the commitment and skill to implement them
• Passion for organization, details, and precision in all you do
• Being part of, and contributing to, a vibrant team culture

Qualifications

You should have some familiarity with web development and relational databases.

A successful candidate will be eager to learn new things, and you need not come in knowing our tech stack. Nevertheless experience in the following is relevant:

• Our core web services are written in Golang
• Relational databases especially PostgreSQL
• We also have a number of data analysis pipelines and ETL’s written in Python
• The user interface is React.js
• We use Azure for hosting, any cloud DevOps experience is meaningful
• Linux literacy
• Docker is a plus

Job Description

Sr Control System Engineer will have power generation control system and SCADA design experience. You will be responsible for the planning, design, technical and commissioning of the controls and SCADA systems for small to medium scale solar Battery hybrid projects.  The position exists to ensure that the power generation, transmission and distribution controls and monitoring systems designs, integration and associated works activities are carried out and delivered on time, budget and in compliance with project scope and specifications. You will also be responsible to provide subject matter technical inputs to other teams including project development, project management, procurement, and commercial & Industrial minigrid development as part of the day-to-day activities.

What You'll Make Happen:

• Develop SCADA and control system functional Design Specifications (FDS), Network architecture and designs for generation system – Solar, BESS and hybrid, transmission and distribution network.
• Automation platform programming (such as Rockwell, Schneider, Siemens PLC’s)
• Developing the Logic and HMI Screens as per the project requirement. RTU programming.
• Communications system configuration (Narrowband/wideband radio, microwave, LTE, etc.)
• SCADA programming (such as iFix, Citect, Ignition, ClearSCADA or other)
• IoT network and device configuration.
• Automation/SCADA system FAT, SAT & commissioning
• Automation/SCADA system troubleshooting (including provision of operational support)

Key Relationships and Areas of Influence  

• Maintain effective communications and relationships with Commercial Owners, Project Managers /Project Engineers, efficient resource planning, priority settings.
• Develop and maintain documentation including QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) standards.
• Produce design and documentation to support the execution of projects/works including drawings, work scopes, technical specifications and functional descriptions, data maps and test documentation
• Integrate any relevant or required additional data from the projects/works into the Company’s Operational systems.
• Interact with other engineering/technical to assist with optimisation projects.
• Work closely with other design engineering disciplines in developing, maintaining and improving appropriate control systems for operational and project-based work.
• Provide control systems engineering expertise for effective problem solving and troubleshooting complex problems related to operating assets.
• Assist with the implementation of control system engineering standards for asset management, maintenance and projects, including drawings, documentation, and procedures. 
• Project Team: Maintain effective communication with internal / external customers. Ensure an excellent customer service by responding to customer enquiries, providing sound technical advice and delivery timely, accurate and efficient control system, SCADA and monitoring solutions for solar and BESS designs.

Qualifications

• Engineering Degree (Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication, Control System Engineering)
• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in design and development of the control system and SCADA projects in relevant energy project areas.
• Experience in Power Generation control systems, SCADA and RTU system design such as solar, BESS, hybrid microgrid projects control system and monitoring solution design and development.
• MV / LV grid control and monitoring solution design and development including cloud based integrated monitoring.
• Expertise in control system design, SCADA and monitoring for generation, transmission and distribution components of the project. Proven experience in major vendor technologies (such as Rockwell, Schneider, Siemens, Honeywell), configuring, programming and integrating automation and control equipment across a variety of industries and a demonstrated understanding of applicable standards, codes, best practices and how to apply these
• Experience in preparation of the control system and SCADA project functional design specifications, scope and construction works.
• Experience in implementation of contract technical specification into design.
• Knowledge of process and control safety and Risk Management.

Job Description

What You'll Make Happen:

• Provide subject matter expert (SME) support and expertise to the Project Managers, Project Engineers and procurement teams. 
• Review client expectations and requirements before handing over to the design team and ensure it is communicated clearly to the design team.
• Review and provide input to detailed designs submitted both internally and externally to ensure  it meets minimum required standards as well as efficient and cost-effective constructability.
• Develop electrical power system designs for large and relatively larger projects and associated bill of quantities and technical specifications.
• Develop solar concept designs (including layout, SLDs, and BoM) as and when required by the project development team.
• Provide input into detailed design both internal and external to ensure efficient and cost-effective constructability.
• Support preparation of technical specification and inputs during equipment and contractors tendering and equipment selection stage.
• Support in preparation of  technical site survey requirements.
• Develop generation and distribution system capacity and equipment operating models using selected simulation and analysis tools
• Inspect and approve relevant and reusable technical documents and design templates and models.
• Identify initiatives to improve designs and cut unnecessary costs
• Support business development and nurture relationships with client
• Support technical investigations and fault finding in PowerGen’s O&M areas to identify root causes to help restoration of the network quickly and prevent recurrence of the issue.
• Train, upskill and recommend learning opportunities to other engineers to ensure team growth and sustainability.

Qualifications

What Excites You:

• Tackling big, thorny problems with smart technology that will transform the African energy sector 
• The opportunity to become a technical expert in an area that might be previously unfamiliar to you
• A fast-paced environment where constant change is the norm and individual initiative is expected
• Autonomy to implement your creative solutions – not just generating ideas, but committing the time, creativity, and skill to make them happen
• Excellence – in your peers, in your work, and in our company’s commitment to our customers
• Passion for organization, details, and precision in all you do.
• Become a part of the fast-growing power generation business.

You Already Have:

• Bachelors(BSc./BTech/BEng Engineering (Electrical,Mechanical or structural)
• Related Masters degree is additional credit
• 5+ years’ relevant experience
• Certification and licenses
  • EPRA T3 or equivalent
  • EBK Graduate engineer or equivalent
  • EBK Professional or equivalent, preferred
• Advanced technical skillset
• Power Generation (Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage and Hybrid generation)
• Power Distribution ( LV ,MV)
• Power Installation
• Testing & Commissioning
• Site Management ( Technical Support for construction)
• Troubleshooting Capability
• Quality Control
• Solar and BESS design software knowledge and experience e.g PVSyst,Helioscope, Homer 
• Advanced analytical ability
• Advanced communication skills - written and verbal
• Advanced project management and stakeholder management

Job Description

Health and safety is of critical importance in achieving PowerGen’s mission to Transform Lives Through Smarter Power. As PowerGen’s HSSE Manager, you will be responsible for building a safety-first culture that empowers our team and drives adoption of a safety-first mentality. You will establish, oversee and ensure compliance of HSE Management across the Company.  As HSE Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the health and safety of our team, customers, investors, government bodies, contractors and suppliers visiting any of the Company’s sites. The Company will look to you to uphold a culture of safety across the organization.

What You'll Make Happen:

• First and foremost, you will build a safety-first culture that will drive ownership and accountability of safety across the organization. 
• Develop and implement HSSE Management system across the organization, including continuous monitoring, ensuring compliance with Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
• Conduct regular HSSE training for all employees and customers in all relevant areas (public safety, safety laws, regulations, hazardous condition monitoring, use of safety equipment, etc).
• Survey worksites to ensure HSSE compliance with Company policies, safety standards and government requirements
• Investigate and properly document construction accidents, near-miss incidents, and occupational injuries to determine causes, install preventative measures and manage return-to-work activities
• Recommend corrective action and systems to ensure quick response to all incidents and accidents
• Implement risk assessment and controls, including regular reporting to Executive Team and Board on compliance and risks

Qualifications

What You Already Have:

• OSHA certification, or equivalent 
• 5+ year’s experience in a managerial capacity within Health, Safety, Sustainability & Environment role
• Health and Safety Membership of relevant professional and industry associations
• Good knowledge of relevant ISO and international HSE standards such as  Occupational health and safety Management systems ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
• Knowledge of the HSE regulatory requirements and good utility industry practices.
• Strong project management skills to ensure adoption of HSE program
• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal - across all levels 
• Energy utility, projects or Construction industry experience is desirable.

Additional Information

What Excites You:

• Intense attention to detail and managing multiple and varied work streams at the same time
• Working collaboratively with many internal teams across multiple countries and offices to drive growth and operational excellence
• A fast-paced, informal environment where constant change is the norm.

Purpose / Overview

• The SBU Accountant is responsible for processing of accounting transactions, preparation of reconciliation and supporting schedules that provide confidence that the Kenya balance sheet is accurate and collaborative improvement of inefficient finance and business system team process improvement.
• The Finance team will ensure that we use our technical competence to help PowerGen achieve its vision of becoming the leading renewable energy utility in Africa profitably. 
• We do this by processing transactions within the agreed due dates, we maintain up to date reconciliations and schedules, we review our balance sheet accounts every month to ensure it is accurate, we achieve unqualified audit opinions and we continually improve our processes to make them more efficient so that we spend less time processing transactions and more time on analysis and growth opportunities. We continuously review and improve our internal controls i.e. our mechanisms and procedures to ensure PowerGen is operating effectively and efficiently, has reliable financial reporting and is compliant with company policies government laws and regulations.

KPIs:

• Reduce the number of days it takes to complete the Kenya month end close to 3 business days after month end
• Achieve a Kenya Finance scorecard score of > 90% every month for the accounts responsible for
• Achieve 100% score every month on the Finance timeliness scorecard that tracks how long it takes the finance team to complete key processes such as year end audit, month end close, monthly cash flow forecasting and circulation of monthly management reports
• Process Improvement. Each quarter suggest one process improvement that the  finance team can address in the way the team works within and with other teams and collaborate with the relevant teams to drive the implementation of those improvements
• Proficiency in excel, balance sheet analysis and PowerGen ERP ODOO

Activities:

• Process transactions in ODOO i.e posting cash and bank expenses, creating bills, paying bills, billing purchase orders, following up on open purchase orders, process expense reports and tag transactions as per agreed timelines;
• Accounting activities including preparation and processing of SBU payments, document management (organization and filing of receipts) and cash management
• Support the SBU Finance team achieve a monthly finance scorecard score of >90%
• Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations and  up to date balance sheet schedules that verify that our balance sheet is accurate, where it is not accurate work with the senior accountant and financial controller to correct the discrepancies within 30 days
• Prepare and file tax filings i.e., VAT, withholding tax, withholding VAT within statutory due dates
• Assist with the external audit and tax audits to ensure an unqualified audit opinion and compliance
• Ensure PowerGen is compliant with IFRS, VAT Act, Income Tax Act, Companies Act and all other relevant regulations
• Work with the senior accountant and financial controller  to improve the Internal controls at PGKE particularly around cash management, on balance sheet accuracy and overall financial reporting
• Maintain the Kenya fixed asset register, depreciation of assets every monthly and maintain documents for all fixed assets
• Proactively identify areas where the finance team processes are inefficient and collaboratively implement more efficient processes
• Perform related duties as assigne

Competencies:

• Good understanding of IFRS and local tax laws and regulations
• Collaborative skills. Ability to work with other powergen team members to collectively solve problems and progress towards a common goal
• Good communication skills. Ability to express ideas and information clearly.
• Curiosity. Ability to take responsibility for your own development, accept feedback, remain teachable and keep raising the bar when targets are met.
• Familiarity with at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system
• Problem solving skills. Ability to identify what is causing an issue to happen and how to resolve it.
• Bias for action. Ability to have a sense of urgency to close on agreed activities.
• Ability to work independently i.e you can get the job done with minimal direction
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines and produce high quality outputs
• Self-motivated, positive attitude, flexible and adaptable to the needs of team and organization

Qualifications

You Already Have:

• A CPA or ACCA or other recognised accounting qualification in addition to a Commercial degree
• 3 plus years of relevant professional experience in an accountant
• A record of previous relevant accomplishments in previous roles

Job Description

As a Customer Assistant, you will be a key member of the Customer Engagement Team, focusing on supporting our East African customers who use electricity from our micro-grids each day. You will be based in the Kericho Business Unit, Kenya and you will report to the Customer Engagement Manager. 

What You'll Make Happen

• Providing post-installation customer service to micro-grid customers via phone and online channels as well as in-person through customer engagement site visits.
• Gathering information on current Customer issues and creating an Operations & Maintenance (O&M) ticket for each issue escalating it to the PowerGen maintenance team when necessary.
• Cross collaboration with the internal team to ensure issues are resolved effectively and efficiently to ensure Customer Satisfaction.
• Assisting with data gathering on the performance and customer behavior of PowerGen’s operational micro-grids.
• Coordinating logistics for field work, including transport, accommodation, and planning routes before embarking on any trips to the field. 
• Supervising and training other team members during all of the above areas as needed.
• Completing customer surveys and other data gathering and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Train customers on energy use, payment systems, and issue troubleshooting.
• Support and implement the identified customer initiatives to improve customer experience and improve electricity sales.
• Create and regularly update the Standard Operating procedures documents as and when issues emerge.
• Any other duty as assigned by your manager.

KPI's

• 100% customer tickets resolved within SLA
• Conduct CSAT and ensure a minimum of 50 survey complete calls by 30th June, 2022
• Convert 40% of zero users in the customer portfolio assigned to active users using continuous engagement throughout Q2.
• 100% UTK customer data segregation by gender type.

You Already Have:

• College Degree/Diploma or Certificate in related field
• Call center or Customer care experience is an added advantage.
• Willingness to work in shifts is a MUST
• Fluency in Kiswahili and English, both in written and oral communications
• Passion for serving and engaging customers
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, with exceptional Microsoft Excel skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Enthusiasm in working for the field of renewable energy!

Benefits

• Competitive annual compensation
• Annual holiday bonus
• Medical insurance
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional development opportunities internally and externally
• Individualized career development
• Performance feedback and open-door company culture
• Team building and company-wide events
• Opportunity to work with a dynamic team of brilliant people passionate about electrifying Subsaharan Africa!

Job Description

PowerGen Renewable Energy is a developer, implementer and operator of solar mini-grids and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solar projects in Africa. PowerGen is building the leading renewable power utility in Africa.

We uniquely combine our mission -- to build the leading renewable power utility in Africa, while improving lives through smarter power -- with technical, on-the-ground expertise and an innovative business model. We build, own and operate AC micro-grids and C&I solar projects to bring power to residential, commercial and industrial customers. With over 120 employees, a 7,000 sq. ft. workshop and headquarters in Nairobi, offices in Tanzania, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, PowerGen is building a company that is set to have an impact on the energy sector in Africa for years to come.

​Corporate KPIs

Assist Project Managers in achieving the corporate KPIs as well as delivering on individual KPIs:

• Deliver projects on time (revenue)
• Deliver projects on budget (gross margin)
• Deliver projects to required standards

Requirements

Must have:

• You are an Electrical Engineer. 
• You have some experience in project engineering, designing and building LV and/or MV projects.
• You have experience with renewable energy projects - Solar PV
• You have experience with project management. 
• You speak French and English – Reading, report writing, and translation skills are required for these projects.

Preferred

• You have experience managing construction projects and contractors.
• You are familiar with the DRC or Francophone West African electricity norms.
• You are familiar with the interconnected electricity network SNEL (DRC-centric);
• You have international experience.
• Willing to work remotely or temporarily relocate.