The effect of working capital management on profitability performance of manufacturing firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange:Kenya

The study analyzed the effect of working capital management and profitability performance of manufacturing firms listed at NSE for a period of 2010-2015. Working capital management components were inventory conversion period, accounts receivable collection period, accounts payable period and cash conversion cycle while profitability performance was limited to return on assets. The study used secondary data from manufacturing company's financial statements and Nairobi Security Exchange handbook produced annually due to the easy access and reliability of the data. The researcher conducted descriptive, correlation and regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between dependent and independent variables to achieve the objectives of the study. The study found accounts receivable collection period and the accounts payable period had a positive association with return on assets while cash conversion cycle had a negative relationship at 5% significant level. However, study concluded that the managers of manufacturing firms can increase the profitability performance of their business while reducing cash conversion cycle at the minimal levels and prolonging the accounts payment period. Keywords: Working Capital Management, Average Collection Period, Average Inventory Period, Average Payment Period, Cash Conversion Cycle, and Return on Assets.