
Esther Mello
Finance and Operations Director, Multi-Country Grant Compliance & Risk Governance
Finance & Administration Leadership
Directing $25M+ multi-donor portfolios to a 100% clean audit record in Somalia
$0M+
Annual Portfolio Directed
0%
Somalia Clean Audit Record
0
Years of Financial Leadership
0%
Reduction in Audit Query Rates
Trusted by Leading Humanitarian and Donor Organisations
International Medical Corps
USAID
European Union
ECHO
UNICEF
WFP
UNOCHA
FCDO
International Medical Corps
USAID
European Union
ECHO
UNICEF
WFP
UNOCHA
FCDOAbout
Hello, I'm Esther Mello, a Finance and Operations Director with 22 years of progressive leadership across multi-country humanitarian finance, grant compliance and risk governance.
From a Finance Assistant in Nairobi to directing $25M multi-donor portfolios across four countries in under two decades.
Read the Full Leadership ProfileFinancial integrity is not a report you produce at year end, it is a discipline you protect every single day.
Core Competencies
Nine disciplines, three pillars of financial leadership
Compliance & Risk Governance
- Safeguarding Portfolio in High-Risk Environments
- Enterprise Risk Management & Aid Diversion Mitigation
- Statutory Reporting & Audit Readiness
Grant Lifecycle & Treasury Management
- Donor Grant Lifecycle & Compliance Management
- Subaward & Sub-Grantee Compliance Monitoring
- Treasury & Multi-Currency Cash Flow Management
Digital Transformation & Multi-Country Leadership
- Digital Financial Transformation & Process Optimization
- ERP & Financial Systems Modernisation
- Multi-Country Leadership in Fragile & Crisis Contexts
Featured Engagements
Proof under real operating pressure
What Colleagues Say
Trusted by the Finance Teams She Led
I had the privilege of working with Esther for over ten years, during which I came to greatly value her professionalism, commitment, and strong work ethic. Esther consistently demonstrated a high level of dedication to her responsibilities and remained dependable and composed, even when working under significant pressure and in challenging operational environments. She has an exceptional eye for detail, strong analytical and organizational skills, and a demonstrated ability to anticipate challenges and develop practical solutions. Her excellent operational management capabilities, coupled with strong scenario-planning and decision-making skills, consistently contributed to the effective and timely delivery of organizational priorities. Beyond her technical and operational strengths, Esther is an effective people manager who genuinely invests in the growth and development of her colleagues. She creates an environment where staff are encouraged to learn, take ownership, and develop their professional capabilities. Throughout our years of working together, I found her to be a collaborative, supportive, and results-oriented professional who maintains high standards while working constructively with others. Our long-standing professional relationship has been built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to achieving organizational objectives, and I have highly valued the opportunity to work alongside her over the years.
Abdi Diis Ibrahim
Finance Coordinator
International Medical Corps – Somalia Mission
Esther is a very detail-oriented person. She could not rest until an assignment was done well and completed on time. She was also a different kind of finance professional she was solution-driven. If you approached Esther with a budget issue, she would sit with you and help you find a solution rather than simply shutting you down.
I really admired the way she worked with her finance team. She ensured that everyone was seen, had their own space to grow, and felt empowered. She mentored her team members and supported their professional growth, including promoting them when opportunities arose. During audits, the organization always passed with flying colours. Esther worked hard to ensure that the entire organization and every department remained compliant. She was an excellent Finance Director and a truly supportive colleague.
Naomi Mwikali Ndung’u
Former Deputy Nutrition Director
International Medical Corps - Somalia
Advisory Services
Ways to engage
Sustainable Finance & Operations Advisory
I provide strategic financial planning that drives sustainability, supported by robust expenditure tracking and monitoring to ensure accountability. My expertise in internal controls and risk management strengthens organisational resilience, while clear donor reporting and compliance build trust and secure long-term funding.
Read more →Interim Finance & Administration Director
Organisations facing a leadership gap in finance cannot afford a pause in donor compliance or reporting discipline. I step in as an interim Finance and Administration Director, bringing 22 years of multi-country humanitarian finance leadership from day one. Portfolios stay audit-ready and donor relationships stay protected while a permanent hire is secured.
Read more →Crisis and Fragile-Context Finance Setup
Establishing financial control in a fragile or crisis-affected operating environment cannot wait for ideal conditions. I build banking infrastructure, disbursement controls and national finance capacity from the ground up, drawing on direct experience across Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Programme funding stays uninterrupted from the first week of deployment.
Read more →Let's Work Together