Director of Grants Financial Management and Reporting

Overview

This role owns financial management of the organization’s grant portfolio across the full grant lifecycle—from award setup and budgeting through compliance, donor reporting, and closeout. The Director of Grants Financial Management & Reporting ensures donor funds are accurately accounted for, reported on time, and managed in full compliance with donor requirements, and leads financial monitoring of sub-awards.

Responsibilities

Grant financial management

• Oversee financial setup of new awards, including budgets, funding structures, and reporting calendars.
• Monitor grant spending against budgets throughout the award period, analyze variances, and alert program teams to risks of over- or under-spending.
• Manage grant budget modifications, no-cost extensions, and closeout processes in coordination with donors.

Grant accounting and donor compliance

• Ensure grant expenses are allowable and apply correct revenue recognition, restricted-fund accounting, and indirect cost entries.
• Apply the organization’s approved indirect cost rate and methodology to awards, as defined by the Director of Financial Planning and Budget.
• Coordinate timely recording of grant-related transactions, including invoicing, cash reporting, and revenue releases.
• Maintain compliance with donor regulations across institutional donors (e.g., FCDO and foundations) by reviewing award terms and translating them into clear financial requirements for program teams.
• Coordinate with the Senior Director of Compliance on compliance policy; own financial execution and reporting.

Donor financial reporting

• Develop and manage systems that accurately track actual expenses by award and produce funder-ready financial reports.
• Ensure all required donor financial reports are prepared and submitted on time and in compliance with donor formats and standards.
• Respond to donor finance queries and support donor audits and verification exercises.

Sub-award financial monitoring

• Lead financial due diligence on sub-recipients and the setup of sub-award agreements with appropriate financial controls.
• Monitor sub-recipient spending, review financial reports, and follow up on questioned costs.
• Build the financial management capacity of sub-recipients through guidance and training.

Funder audits

• Serve as the finance point of contact for grant-specific external audits.
• Coordinate audit preparation across finance and program teams and drive resolution of audit findings.

Training, systems, and continuous improvement

• Train program, grants, and country finance staff on donor financial requirements and grant management processes.
• Strengthen grant tracking tools, reconciliations, and month-end disciplines related to awards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in grant financial management or grant compliance.
• Deep working knowledge of grant rules and regulations; familiarity with FCDO, UN, and major foundation requirements strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with sub-award management, including due diligence, monitoring, and closeout.
• Strong grant accounting skills: revenue recognition, restricted funds, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with Sage Intacct or comparable ERP systems preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to explain complex donor requirements to non-finance colleagues.
• Experience working across cultures and time zones; French or Portuguese a plus.
• Detail-oriented, solutions-focused, and able to manage multiple awards and deadlines simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with FCDO, UN, and major foundation requirements.
• Experience with Sage Intacct or comparable ERP systems.
• French or Portuguese language skills.

Compensation & Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements.
• Comprehensive mental and physical wellness support.
• Annual salary reviews aligned with the organization’s compensation policy.
• Professional growth opportunities with targeted development programs to support individuals in shaping their own career paths.

Location & Working Conditions

• Remote work, with a preference for Nairobi, Kenya.
• Regular collaboration across time zones with colleagues in Africa, Europe, and the United States.
• International travel to country offices approximately 15–20% of the time.
• Office-based role; not physically demanding.

Direct Reports

• Grants finance team members, such as Senior Grants Finance Officer(s) and Grants Finance Analyst(s) (positions to be recruited).

Application Guidelines

• CV length: maximum 2 pages.
• Include relevant diplomas, degrees, and recognized certifications.
• Exclude personal information (photos, gender, religion, marital status, number of dependents) and non-certified training.

Data Protection

By submitting an application, applicants consent to the organization collecting, storing, and processing personal data for evaluating qualifications and managing the recruitment process. The organization may retain application materials and contact details for up to 3 years to consider candidates for similar opportunities that match qualifications and interests. Applicants have the right to access, rectify, or delete personal information at any time.