Nairobi native Jennifer Nyaga is a Finance Associate at Laterite, known for being an all-rounder who manages every aspect of finance, from daily cash flow to taxes and audits. She began her Laterite journey in January 2022 as an Accounts and Admin Assistant and quickly progressed, now working as a Finance Associate. Her work in finance was driven by her lifelong aptitude for maths and the positive influence of her mother, who is also a qualified accountant.
Jennifer pursued a BA in Economics and Sociology and successfully completed her CPA exams after university. Her professional career started swiftly; she jumped from a receptionist role at a micro-finance institution to an accountant position in just four months. Drawn to Laterite by the international firm environment, she joined the team and rapidly expanded her expertise beyond the Kenya team, supporting both the Tanzania office and later the Rwanda team.
We’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with Jennifer to learn about her background, professional path, personal interests, daily life at Laterite, and her experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda!
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Jennifer. Would you mind telling us a bit about your role at Laterite and your Laterite journey so far?
I started my journey here back in January 2022 as an Accounts and Admin Assistant. Over the years, I’ve grown alongside the company, transitioning into the role of Accountant and now serving as a Finance Associate. What I absolutely love about working in finance here is that you don’t just get pigeonholed into one tiny area. Laterite has given me the incredible opportunity to dive into all aspects of finance, from handling day-to-day tasks and managing cash flows to handling taxes and audits. It keeps things exciting and constantly pushes me to learn!
I know that you’re based in Nairobi now, but did you grow up in Nairobi? What was your childhood like?
I was born in Nairobi and was an only child for 11 years; initially, it was just myself and my mother. My mum later got married, and then I had a brother and a sister.
I went to boarding school when I was nine years old and continued until the undergraduate level, which does sound quite intense. My primary school, high school, and university were all located two to three hours away from my home in Nairobi. I will say, it was stressful at first, especially when I first left, but I got used to it, even though the school was quite far away from home. The boarding aspect was necessary because my mum was busy working full-time, and studying for her qualifications alongside work, which was a lot to take on. Despite it being a new and different experience, the boarding aspect grew on me, and I enjoyed my time throughout primary and secondary, even though it was far from my family.
After school, I went to university to study for my BA in Economics and Sociology. During my undergraduate campus days in Chuka-Meru, I wasn’t a bookworm, per se; instead, I focused on balancing my social life and my studies. I really enjoyed both the academic and social sides of university. If I had to go back and do it all again, I think I would, as it was a time when I learned a lot and enjoyed time with my friends.
Once I finished university, but before I had completed my CPA (accountancy exams), my mum really encouraged me to take on the accounting exams which I had set my sights on before heading into the world of full-time work, which was definitely the right choice. She made sure I committed to them fully before I could “start going out with your friends and forgetting about your exams” (haha). She kindly supported me so I could concentrate fully without any distractions, ensuring I would finish the studies I wanted to do.
However, I also tried to support her during this time. When I was studying for my CPAs, I would often help my mum on days I didn’t have classes by taking my siblings to school and picking them up, particularly on Fridays when I didn’t have any in-person classes. It was a great opportunity to spend time with them too, after my time away at university.
How did you decide on finance and accounting? Was there anything in particular that influenced your decision?
I do think being around my mum might have partially influenced me, or at least encouraged me to work within finance, since she currently works as an internal auditor. When I was younger, given that I was quite aware of what my mum was doing, I really wanted to work for the government in some capacity, as I thought it sounded quite posh (haha). However, I’ve come to realize that when you work for a big organization, you often find yourself mainly just working in one area. What I really love about working for Laterite is that you really are an all-rounder, dealing with different types of work every day.
Mainly, I think I ended up in finance and accounting because I was quite good at maths all through school and I’ve always really liked solving problems. That’s mainly why I decided to study economics for my undergraduate degree, and later went on to study for my CPAs. I knew that this was the right choice, particularly as I felt very comfortable doing my accountancy exams, and sometimes I would even lead some of the CPA courses for the exams that we were taking at the university.
Although it seems you were always quite set on your career path, did you ever have another profession in mind?
Although I always knew that finance was for me, at one point I did think about the idea of doing something within IT. I actually ended up getting a diploma in IT, because I wanted to have a better understanding of IT in general, as well as a better idea of how to solve IT-related issues on my own. It was actually a really helpful experience and, even now, I find that other team members come to me with IT-related issues, and since I’m able to help them, they often end up coming back to ask me questions again and again!
It sounds like you’re the go-to person for a lot of queries, from IT to regional finance support! Do you mind being such an invaluable resource?
I don’t mind this at all! I try to help people as much as possible if they come to me with questions. If it’s something I know, I will always help, and if it’s something I don’t know, I will always try to point people in the right direction. It’s somewhat similar now that I’m working for the Laterite Rwanda office, and supporting the Laterite Tanzania office, as you’ll still find someone from the Laterite Kenya office reaching out to me, even though I’m not working there anymore.
Let’s dive into your career journey. How did you make the jump from receptionist to accountant, and eventually find your way to Laterite?
My first job was as a receptionist at a micro-finance institution, which I found a little boring when exclusively greeting and directing people. Luckily, colleagues soon found out about my Economics degree and CPA certification, and knew that I could support them outside of reception work. I began helping out the finance team, and after four months, I was able to interview for and secure the role of accountant when the previous staff member resigned.
I then spent four and a half years there, before moving to a marketing firm, which offered a great mix of work, including finance, HR, and marketing. I found my way to Laterite thanks to a family member, who I was living with at the time. She spotted the opportunity, convinced me I’d be a great fit, and encouraged me to apply, so I’m very grateful to her for that!
Although the role was initially for an Accounts and Administrative assistant, I was excited by the prospect of working for an international firm like Laterite and decided to go for it. I joined in January 2022, and it was a quick jump: by May of that year, I was already supporting the Tanzania office. I learned so much, and was often surprised by the similarities in work and tax regulations across our different offices.
You quickly began supporting the Tanzania office, and now you support the Rwanda team as well. Can you tell us more about how you ended up supporting the Rwanda team?
That’s right, I was asked to support the Rwanda office last year due to a big ongoing project. The request wasn’t entirely a surprise, as I often used to ask Christine, a colleague based in the Kenya office, about Rwanda’s operations, including their taxes, projects, and what the finance team was doing. I just loved learning about anything and everything different Laterite offices were up to! We would frequently chat and catch up when leaving the office, which was a great opportunity for me to find out more. The fact that I was already so interested in the Rwanda office’s work meant the request to support them felt natural and welcome.
You are based in Nairobi but, as you mention, you’ve spent time in our other offices. How do you navigate the different work contexts and cultures?
It has been an amazing adventure! Nairobi is my home base, and it has a very fast-paced, bustling energy. But I’ve been lucky enough to spend significant time in our other regional offices, which has taught me how to adapt to different rhythms.
When our team in Rwanda had a heavy workload, I traveled to Kigali to jump in and assist. I instantly fell in love with the city, it is incredibly clean, and the people are so warm and welcoming. In fact, everyone just assumed I was Rwandan! Kigali truly felt like a home away from home. I also travelled to our Tanzania office in Dar es Salaam to train a new finance team member and assist with their audit. While Laterite’s core mission of impactful data and research remains the same everywhere, experiencing these different office cultures and connecting with the wider team has been a major highlight of my time here.
Quick-fire questions
I get the feeling that a lot of Lateristas are huge foodies, so I hope you are too! What is your favorite meal? Do you have any recommendations for us?
Yes, I’m definitely a foodie! My absolute favorite meal is chicken biryani, any day of the week. But if I’m looking for my go-to light meal, a good shawarma always has my heart. Also, if you ever get to visit Kisumu, you have to go to Atella, they serve amazing food paired with great music.
Live music at Atella sounds like great fun. What’s a song you’ve been playing on repeat at the moment?
That would have to be the remix of KEDJEVARA’S “Ça Fais Mal.” I am absolutely loving the beats and the energy it gives me.
What is one item you prize very highly, or couldn’t live without?
I would say my family. My family is everything to me. They support me, guide me, and create a safe space for me to thrive. They make my life, both inside and outside of work, meaningful and fulfilling.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy spending time on? What does an ideal weekend look like for you?
I enjoy spending time with my family, whether we are relaxing at home or exploring somewhere new. Honestly, you’ll hardly ever find me sitting at home over the weekend! We always have somewhere to be, whether it’s taking road trips or finding fun outdoor activities.
Do you have a surprising hidden talent or passion that you don’t think your colleagues would be able to guess easily?
I love listening to music, all kinds of music, depending entirely on the mood I’m in. Music gives me peace, calms me down, and uplifts my spirits. To give you an idea of how serious this is: if I were to move houses, the very first item I would need to confirm I have packed is my music system! Haha.
Thank you so much for sharing with us so far Jennifer! One final question to wrap up: what advice would you give to a new joiner at Laterite?
Laterite is a home away from home. If you let it, Laterite will help you unlock capabilities that you never even thought you had. The team is patient and gives you the room to learn, improve, and make lifelong friends. Once a Laterista, always a Laterista!
