At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead post-award financial management and ensure donor compliance for impactful projects.
- Company: Join the GSMA, a leader in mobile development with a global reach.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, and generous holiday allowances.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in global projects while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in grant finance and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59576 - 70000 £ per year.
This role is pivotal to safeguarding donor compliance and enabling the Foundation to scale. As we expand our grant portfolio and establish our European presence, we need a senior post-award leader who can drive consistent, high-quality grant financial management, strengthen controls, and coach our Post-award Financial grant managers.
The Finance & Compliance team provides end-to-end stewardship of the Foundation’s donor-funded portfolio, supporting programmes from award through closeout. Working across the US 501(c)(3) and the new Belgian AISBL, we partner closely with Programmes, Operations, Legal, and People & Culture to ensure robust financial management, strong internal controls, and timely, accurate donor reporting.
The Head of Post-Award leads the financial management, compliance oversight ensuring the Foundation meets donor requirements throughout the grant lifecycle. This role provides leadership to the Post-award (FBP) team, owns the post-award operating model end to end, and acts as the senior point of accountability for the quality and timeliness of donor financial reporting, forecasts, and audit readiness.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership & Oversight
- Lead and manage the Post‑Award Finance function, including Post-award Managers.
- Allocate portfolios based on donor complexity and workload.
- Provide technical leadership on donor rules, allowable costs, and compliance requirements.
- Act as the escalation point for donor-related financial issues.
- Donor Financial Compliance (High‑Risk Donors in Particular)
- Serve as the internal owner of financial rules for FCDO, SIDA, EU, GIZ, US Government, and other high‑risk donors.
- Develop and maintain donor-specific compliance guidance, templates, and checklists.
- Ensure adherence to cost principles, budget categories, procurement requirements, exchange rate rules, and reporting formats.
- Manage High risk grants.
- Post‑Award Financial Management
- Oversee the financial management of all active grants from award to closeout.
- Review and approve donor financial reports before submission to donors or Coalitions.
- Lead quarterly Budget vs Actual reviews with Head of Program and Post-award managers.
- Ensure correct grant set‑up in Workday (worktags, budgets, reporting structures).
- Develop templates (budgets/forecasts/recons/life‑of‑grant) and dashboards; ensures staff cost allocation integrity.
- Coordinate with the Accounting team on general ledger structures, reconciliations, and restricted income recognition.
- Governance, Controls & Audit Readiness
- Define, implement and maintain strong internal controls for grant financial management.
- Oversee document retention standards, audit trails, and financial compliance files.
- Lead preparation for donor audits (FCDO, SIDA, Gates, etc.) and coordinate with auditors.
- Ensure consistent application of GSMA and donors policies across US and Belgium entities.
- Partnership with Subgrant Compliance Team
- Work closely with the Head of Subgrant Compliance to ensure alignment between subgrant monitoring, expenditure verification, fund disbursement schedules, and subrecipient reporting deadlines.
- Ensure subgrant financial data is incorporated accurately into donor reports.
- Support the integration of risk‑based approaches for Innovation Fund partners.
- Capacity‑Building & Continuous Improvement
- Coach and develop Post-award team to reach donor‑compliance expertise.
- Lead training for Programme teams on budgeting, reporting, procurement requirements, and cost eligibility.
- Improve operational efficiency through standard templates, dashboards, and automated workflows.
- Lead optimization/automation of processes and improvements of Workday to enhance grant financial management.
Key Deliverables (First 12 Months):
- Establish a consistent Post‑Award operating model and workflows.
- Publish a complete donor compliance guide for all active donors.
- Implement standardised financial reporting and reconciliation templates.
- Deliver monthly cross‑functional grant review meetings with action logs.
- Zero late or inaccurate donor financial reports.
- Clean audit results across donor and statutory audits.
- Lead automation projects and tooling improvements for the Foundation.
- Improved Workday configuration to support accurate grant tracking.
About You Experience and Skills:
- Significant experience in post-award grant finance within an INGO, foundation, or multi-donor environment.
- Demonstrated expertise with high-compliance donors (e.g., FCDO, SIDA, EU institutions, GIZ, US Government) and complex reporting requirements.
- Proven people management experience, including coaching and developing Post-award partners.
- Strong audit management experience (donor and statutory), including preparation of PBC documentation and issue resolution.
- Strong analytical skills, ability to translate donor requirements into workable controls and processes.
- Systems-oriented; experience with Workday financials and grant/worktag configuration is highly desirable.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across programmes, operations, legal and leadership.
Behaviors:
- Proactive, solutions‑focused mindset.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance.
- Ability to coach and develop team members.
- Collaborative approach with high integrity.
- Comfortable working across time zones and geographies.
What We Offer:
Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.
In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.
We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics.
Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.
Head of Post-Award Grant in London employer: GSM Conference Services
The GSMA is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in London that fosters professional growth and collaboration. As an Executive Assistant to the Chief Strategy Officer, you will enjoy competitive benefits, including generous holiday allowances and opportunities for professional development, all while being part of a dynamic team that values diversity, equity, and inclusivity. With access to industry-changing projects and a commitment to work-life balance, you'll find meaningful and rewarding employment that empowers you to make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Post-Award Grant in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by GSM Conference Services.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like GSM Conference Services.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at GSM Conference Services.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at GSM Conference Services. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Post-Award Grant in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of GSM Conference Services. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Post-Award Grant, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at GSM Conference Services
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of GSM Conference Services. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
