Emergency Response Roster - Grant Finance Manager

Children’s lives can change in an instant in the wake of war, disasters and humanitarian emergencies. We see how vulnerable they are and how much they need our protection. Joining our Emergency Response Roster means you can be a part of our response, providing immediate support when disaster strikes. Applying to our roster is not for immediate employment. Acceptance to our Emergency Response Roster pre-qualifies you to work or deploy with us in future responses.

Job Purpose

As a Grant Finance Manager in a response, you will ensure grant budgets are appropriate, that grant financial reports are accurate and timely and that Response complies with donor requirements; assist with overall program budgeting and ensure operational plan is funded.

Key Responsibilities

• Grants / Projects Financial Management and Reporting: Ensure that all grants/projects reports are discussed with the project team and passed to donors and support offices within the required time schedules. Respond to respective queries in relation to these reports from donors, support offices and internal Response management. Co-ordinate and review grants/project budget development (proposal, grant and match). Review and analyse grant expenses and variances to advise the stakeholders on expenditure trends and potential issues. Explore ways to reduce overhead costs on grants to ensure WV’s competitiveness without compromising ministry quality. Correspond with WV SOs, donors and the Response management regarding project income, expenditure and reporting. Ensure that project income is sufficiently committed on PBAS at all times including the approval of carry forwards. Be a key player in the issues of grants/projects accounting and management to ensure accurate coding of expenses and full compliance with WVI internal and donor requirements. Occasionally visit project field sites to ensure financial controls and procedures are in place. Ensure that various donor regulations are complied with in all grant transactions and processes; keep the Finance Director informed on all major compliance issues/challenges while taking the necessary corrective steps. Play an active role in training and mentoring grant finance staff on matters related to grant management. Develop and maintain good networks with the SO IPGs, Global Grants Unit and Regional GAM. Participate in grants start up workshop in collaboration with the GAM team. Create an environment of experience sharing and promote best practices within the response office.
• Risk Management: Office in compliance with WVI policies, donors’ regulations and reduced grants risk exposure. Make sure to do a refresher to all the finance team on the finance manuals main policies and donors rules and regulations. Coordinate with Program Managers to assure follow up actions and implementation of audit recommendations and addressing common audit findings. Participate in grants audit preparation to provide required information and address disallowed costs. Ensure the review of the risk assessment as part of grants approval protocol in light of mitigating risk. Provide advice on interpretation of award terms and ensure that grants implementations are within the requirements and ensure donor financial compliance. Assist Finance Director 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. Ensure proper implementation of the LDRs database system and Costs Allocation Policy. Assist in the preparation to grants closeouts plan to ensure compliance with award requirements. Ensure NO Cost recovery threshold is attained in all Grants submissions and engage in negotiations accordingly. Ensure being 100% BPS compliant.
• Team Management: Provide leadership in maintaining positive, constructive and supportive communication with team members. Lead and participate in the recruitment, selection and development of grants finance staff. Effectively manage the performance of direct reports, ensuring performance agreements, regular performance reviews, and annual appraisal are done. Ensure optimization of subordinates’ potentials through coaching, on-the-job training, and capacity building. Address performance or behavioral issues when they arise. Create an environment of experience sharing and promote best practices within the region.
• Safety and Security responsibilities: Be aware of the emergency procedures in a response and ensure that necessary preparedness measures have been implemented. Responsible for own and staff security and actively contribute to a positive security culture. Abide by the security policies and procedures and report any incidents or breaches to line manager and/or risk manager.
• Perform other duties: Report any child and adult safeguarding incident as well as any fraudulent act as per the established procedures. Attend and participate in capacity building events locally and internationally as required. Attend and participate in the response spiritual nurture events and other organizational events. Perform other relevant tasks as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience with a mix of home country and international experience in humanitarian responses within complex, fragile and conflict related contexts.
• Two years of international experience outside of your home country/local assignment.
• Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian principles, standards and best practices.
• Experience working in high pressure, rapid response environments with multiple risk factors.
• Strong communication skills in English (oral and written) with ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and persuasively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Emotional intelligence (self-awareness, managing emotions and those of others, remaining calm/composed, dealing with ambiguity and change).
• Ability to work with a reasonable level of comfort in high tension and high security risk situations.

Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification:

• Must have at least a Bachelor or Master’s degree in relevant field.

Required Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years of practical experience in humanitarian related work.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, people management, coaching, mentoring, and team building skills.
• Strong problem identification, analytical and solving skills.
• Strong competency in proposal & report writing, monitoring and budgeting skills.
• Experience working with communities and local governments, INGOs, donors and other key internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to meet strict deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members in a cross-cultural environment.
• Demonstrates cross-cultural sensitivity, flexible worldview, emotional maturity and physical stamina.
• Ability to exhibit exemplary lifestyle as interpreted in specific local cultural context.
• Ability to live and work in difficult remote areas and travel extensively.
• Ability to maintain performance despite intense workload and work pace.
• Committed to World Vision Core Values and Mission Statement.
• Knowledge of and adherence to the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications:

• Financial and program management skills.
• Computer skills.
• Working knowledge of programs/projects cycle management.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with all staff and other key partners.
• Good planning and organizational skills.
• Human Resource skills.
• Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) or equivalent security training certificate.

Required travel and/or work environment accommodations:

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Work hours are often in excess of 12 hours per day during difficult periods of the response.
• Responses are often mounted in insecure or natural disaster-prone contexts, which may disrupt normal work patterns and generate staff safety issues.
• Work and housing environments may at times be well below normal standards in terms of facilities, equipment, food availability and hygiene.
• Effective written and verbal communication in English.
• Other UN languages such as French, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese, are preferred.