Regional Grants Finance Manager, East Africa

To provide support to the Regional Finance Director and the Director of Global Grants & Programme Finance (GGPF) in ensuring standards of excellence through effective and efficient grants financial management, accountability and integrity within the region assigned.

• Minimum Qualification: Bachelor
• Experience Level: Senior level
• Experience Length: 10 years

Job Description

*Position location to be determined by home country of successful candidate in the East Africa Region. Home based.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To provide support to the Regional Finance Director and the Director of Global Grants & Programme Finance (GGPF) in ensuring standards of excellence through effective and efficient grants financial management, accountability and integrity within the region assigned.

To provide expertise and support in the grant financial management across all National Offices in the region assigned through a Service Level Agreement with the Regional Grant Acquisition and Management Director.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grants Financial Management:

· Conduct Quarterly review and analyses of grants financial reporting to ensure timely submission and compliance with WV policies and award requirements.

· Provide feedback and analysis to National Offices (NOs) on areas with significant over- or under spending and/or any other risk areas.

· Ensure appropriate grant financial monitoring frameworks are in place, and operating satisfactorily, in each National Office to support ministry objectives.

· Explore ways to reduce overhead costs on grants to ensure WV's competitiveness without comprising ministry quality.

· Liaise with NOs to ensure timely reimbursement of funds used to pre finance multilateral funded programs implementation.

· Participate in planning, budgeting and year End Closing process.

· Provide expert consultation regarding the implementation of cost allocation policy at project/grant level.

· Provide Quarterly update on the region grants portfolio to key stakeholders in collaboration with GGPF - Manila ,National Offices and GAM Director.

· Proactively identify and escalate grant financial and/or operational management issues as necessary in coordination with regional GAM Director.

· Liaise monthly with Regional GAM Director to review grant portfolio, strategic grants under acquisition and grant issues being resolved.

Strategic Financial Planning and Management:

· Support the region's financial planning and budgeting

· Support the NO in developing grant financial management strategies, priorities and plans in alignment with the regional, global strategies and priorities as well as emerging trends.

· Liaise with Support Office (SO) Finance regarding their trips to the region in collaboration with the NO Finance/Grant Teams.

· Develop and maintain good professional networks with the NO Grant Managers, SO IPGs, NO Finance Directors and Regional GAM Directors.

· Represent the regional finance in the grants community forum (internal and external to WV) and participate in at least one Grants Community Working group.

Grants Budget & Acquisition:

· Work with SOs in large scale (budget over $5m) proposal design workshops and review proposal budget to ensure grant proposals are competitive.

· Work with NOs and SOs to prepare and/or review proposal Budget amendments, and extensions of the life of an award any other award budget modification.

· Work with the grant acquisition and management team to promote effective relations and support to National Offices prioritized to grow grants or balance their funding portfolio.

Grant Capacity Building:

· Co-planning and Facilitate capacity building initiatives with Regional GAM Director at National/Regional Office especially as it relates to grants financial management and grants compliance.

· Ensure succession planning for NO Grant Finance Managers are in place.

· Participate in and/or co facilitates large scale grants start up workshop in collaboration with the NOs and respective SOs.

· Develop a pool of grant finance experts, create an environment of experience sharing and promote best practices within the region.

· Support Regional GAM Director in planning and delivering regional GAM meetings and workshops aimed at strengthening NO grant capacity.

Risk Management:

Audit Recommendations Implementation :

· Coordinate with NO to assure follow up actions and implementation of audit recommendations and addressing common audit findings.

· Participate in large scale grants audit preparation with national/program offices and support the National /program offices to provide required information and address disallowed costs.

Risk assessment For Grants approval:

· Review risk assessment for grants approval received from national offices in light of risk mitigation.

Award Terms Interpretation:

· Provide in collaboration with the SOs core team, expert advice on interpretation of award terms and ensure that grants implementations are within the requirements.

Internal Control Systems:

· Assist in the development of financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, WVI finance policies, and Government and other donor regulations.

LDRs,Screening and Cost Allocation implementation monitoring:

· Work in collaboration with the national offices in the region to ensure proper implementation of the LDRs database system, screening and Costs Allocation Policy.

· Work with FRSC staff to address any issues pertaining to LDRs database implementation.

Large Scale grants close-out:

· Assist NOs in the preparation of large scale grants (>US$5 Million) closeouts plan.

· Ensure proper implementation of the large scale close out plan to ensure compliance with award requirements.

Regional Representation at various Grants Community Forum:

· Represent the region in the grants community forums (internal and external to WV).

· Participate into Global Grants Community working groups.

Others:

· Carry out additional responsibilities as assigned by the RFD and the Director, GGPF.

· Attend and participate in devotional meetings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

· Bachelor Degree in Finance, Business Admin, or Accounting. MBA or equivalent preferred.

· High level computer literacy and knowledge of spreadsheet applications.

· Solid knowledge of accounting principles, financial systems, budget/cash-flow monitoring and internal accounting controls.

· 10 years experience with government grant regulations and financial reporting requirements. Strong experience in establishing and enforcing common protocols and standards throughout a large organization.

· Senior leadership experience in strategic financial management.

· Track record of successfully training, developing/mentoring and supervising finance and grant staff.

· Working knowledge of the WV Partnership preferred and ability to interface sensitively with people from various departments in both field and support offices.

· Strong understanding of systems design and implementation protocols.

· Strong inter-personal skills, and proven team-player.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills.

· Proven ability to manage competing priorities.

· Able to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment.

· Able to work in a cross-cultural environment with a multi-national staff.

· Must be a committed Christian, able to stand above denominational diversities.

· Attend and able to lead in devotions and Chapel services.

· Perform other duties as required.

Working Environment/Travel:

· Work environment: Office-based with frequent travel to National offices.

· Travel: minimum of 25% International travel is required.