Grants Finance Manager at Village Enterprise

Position Overview 

Under the supervision of the Senior Director of Finance, the Grant Finance Manager will oversee the financial management, compliance, and reporting for grants and donor-funded projects across the organization. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate financial tracking, reporting, budgeting, and compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies. The Grant Finance Manager will work closely with the program, fund development and the finance and administration teams at all levels, and external donors to ensure grant funds are managed efficiently and effectively.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Grant Financial Management

• Oversee financial management for all grant-related activities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies.
• Monitor grant expenditure against approved budgets and forecasts, identify variances, and provide timely financial analysis and advice to program teams and management.
• Prepare grant financial reports in accordance with donor guidelines and submission deadlines.
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing and cash-flow management for grants, monitoring fund receipts and disbursements.
• Participate actively in VE’s cross-departmental grant management function, contributing to monthly and quarterly grant management meetings, and ensuring proper follow-up on identified issues.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead the development of proposal budgets in collaboration with development and program teams, ensuring accuracy and alignment with donor guidelines and organizational objectives.
• Work with program and development teams to align narrative and financial reports for donor submission.
• Monitor and support ongoing budget execution, variance analyses and provide forecasts of financial performance to identify potential issues or budget shortfalls.
• Support the preparation of quarterly and annual financial forecasts and budgets for grant-funded programs.

Grant Compliance and Risk Management

• Coordinate with the Risk and Compliance team to ensure all financial activities related to grants comply with donor regulations, organizational policies, and legal requirements.
• Conduct regular reviews of grant expenditures to ensure compliance and accurate allocation of costs.
• Support grant audits, coordinating with internal and external auditors to provide necessary documentation and responses.
• Proactively manage financial risks related to grants, identifying areas for process improvement and mitigating potential issues.

Donor & Partner Relations and Reporting

• Lead the financial reporting process, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, subgrantee (partner) agreements, and internal timelines.
• Maintain positive relationships with donors and partners, addressing financial queries and ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Ensure all financial documents of grants and subgrants are kept in the shared filing systems for complete, accurate and accessible documentation.

Capacity Building and Support

• Serve as a point of contact for finance-related grant queries, offering support and solutions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance and training to field program and finance staff on grant financial management, budgeting, and reporting.
• Create and share financial management tools, templates, and SOPs to support effective grant management.
• Offer one-on-one coaching to staff needing additional support in managing grant finances.

Education, Qualifications, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required. 
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in grant financial management required, including proposal budget development, preferably within the international development sector.
• Strong knowledge of donor regulations, including USAID, UN agencies, FCDO, etc., and private foundations.
• Proficiency in accounting software and financial management systems (e.g, NetSuite); familiarity with grants management systems (e.g., Salesforce or similar).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, particularly Excel.
• Excellent financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting skills.
• Proactive problem-solver with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively across departments and with donors.