Grants and Budget Specialist at Lwala Community Alliance (LCA)

Job Summary

Lwala Community Alliance is seeking a skilled and strategic Grants and Budget Specialist to oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and the management of incoming and outgoing grants. The role requires a seasoned professional with a proven track record in developing finance systems within an international NGO context. The ideal candidate will provide leadership in ensuring financial accountability, alignment with organizational goals, and compliance with donor requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and budgeting

• Support the strategic plan and annual workplan & budgeting process.
• Ensure that outgoing donor budgets are complete and in alignment with organizational policies & donor regulations.
• Coordinate with program managers & sub grantees in preparing and submitting proposals in line with the specific funding strategies.
• Assists with the preparation of outgoing contracts and monitor compliance with contractual terms.
• Coordinates project inception meetings and ensures that all financial donor requirements are adequately communicated to relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Participates in project review meetings to highlight finance related matters and provides advice on financial matters.

Reporting

• Lead in financial accountability and reporting to donors on a timely manner and in compliance with internal policies and donor regulations.
• Ensure the reports are accurate, established as per donor requirements, reconciled with the accounts.
• Coordinates with Project Managers and the Accounting team to ensure financial information allow proper internal monitoring that can be linked to financial reporting as per donor requirements.
• Prepares a monthly consolidated organization-wide budget vs actual report for the CFO and the Senior Management team and raises any issue to the CFO in a timely manner.
• Coordinates the timely submission of financial reports to donors and Project Managers.

Partner management

• Undertake capacity assessments of Implementing partners (IP) as required.
• Coordinate the provision of technical capacity to IPs as needed.
• Prepare budgets for and with Implementing partners.
• Effectively monitor the budget implementation by IPs.
• Monitor the liquidity position of partner organizations for effective implementation.
• Prepare partner budget vs actual reports on a quarterly basis.
• Maintain a schedule of payment to IPs to ensure timely transfers to partners and maintains partners accounts reconciliation.
• Review partners report, supports partners linked to ensure compliance with donor regulations and timely reporting.

Compliance

• Ensure effective budget monitoring for un-interrupted implementation.
• Prepare timely donor reports ensuring that the financial and technical reports are consistent.
• Monitors compliance with specific donor requirement if any.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls and donor compliance requirements.
• Ensure complete reconciliation and close out of donor funded projects

Education and Experience Profile

• A university degree in Commerce, Accounting, Business Administration or related field;
• Full accounting qualification i.e., ACCA or equivalent;
• At least 6 years of working with financial/accounting experience in a major international organization/NGO;
• Management experience would be an advantage;
• Demonstrable skills in the development of finance and systems in the context of an international NGO;
• Good knowledge of fund accounting including reporting requirements;
• Hands-on knowledge of the major Microsoft Dynamics Business Central would be a distinct advantage.

Other Requirements

• Excellent planning and organizational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels within WWF and with donors and, as required, with other external stakeholders;
• Ability to work within a multicultural environment;
• Dynamic, responsive disposition;
• Open, adaptable, team spirit;
• Ability to work under pressure.