Senior Associate – Financial and Grants Management at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Key Responsibilities

Programme Delivery and Project Management

• Support delivery of consulting assignments and donor-funded programmes from inception through implementation and closure.
• Develop workplans, implementation schedules, budgets, and resource plans for client engagements.
• Track project progress, deliverables, risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, technical experts, partners, and client stakeholders across multiple assignments.
• Prepare progress reports, performance updates, and client-facing deliverables.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive management activities to improve programme effectiveness and impact

Fund Management, Financial Oversight and Grant Administration

• Support the design, establishment, and operationalization of development funds, grant facilities and other donor-funded financing instruments.
• Assist clients in developing fund governance structures, operational manuals, grant management frameworks, and fiduciary control systems.
• Support end-to-end grant administration processes including application management, appraisal, due diligence, contracting, disbursement, monitoring, and close-out.
• Review grant budgets, financing proposals, and funding requests to ensure alignment with programme objectives and donor requirements.
• Monitor fund utilization, budget performance, cash flow requirements, and financial forecasting across funded projects and programmes.
• Support implementation of financial controls, segregation of duties, approval processes, and accountability mechanisms to safeguard programme resources.
• Prepare financial reports, expenditure analyses, fund utilization reports, and financial dashboards for clients, funders, and governance bodies.
• Support management of grant disbursement processes and verification of compliance with grant conditions prior to release of funding.
• Assist clients in ensuring compliance with donor regulations, financial agreements, fiduciary standard and procurement requirements.

Financial Management Advisory and Public Financial Management Support

• Support advisory engagements relating to public financial management, financial governance, expenditure management, and institutional financial strengthening.
• Conduct financial assessments and reviews of programme financial management systems, controls, policies, and operating procedures.
• Assist in the design and implementation of budgeting, planning, forecasting, and financial reporting frameworks.
• Undertake financial analysis and performance assessments to support evidence-based decision-making by programme stakeholders.
• Support development of financial management policies, standard operating procedures, reporting templates, and governance frameworks.
• Contribute to financial modelling, scenario analysis, and sustainability assessments for development programmes and financing mechanisms.

Due Diligence, Risk and Compliance Assessments

• Conduct fiduciary risk assessments, financial due diligence reviews, and organisational capacity assessments of grant recipients, implementing partners, financial intermediaries, and service providers.
• Assess governance structures, internal control systems, financial management arrangements, and institutional capacities of prospective grantees and partners.
• Support anti-fraud, anti-corruption, and compliance reviews in line with donor and regulatory requirements.
• Identify key financial, operational, safeguarding, procurement, and reputational risks affecting programme implementation.
• Develop risk mitigation measures, financial control enhancements, and compliance improvement plans.
• Monitor implementation of agreed corrective actions arising from assessments, audits, reviews, and assurance activities.

Technical Assistance and Institutional Strengthening

• Provide technical assistance to governments, development partners, NGOs, foundations, and other institutions to strengthen financial management and fund administration systems.
• Support design and implementation of institutional strengthening programmes aimed at improving governance, accountability, financial sustainability, and operational effectiveness.
• Assist client organisations in developing and enhancing financial management policies, grant management systems, and reporting frameworks.
• Support implementation of financial management information systems, grant management platforms, and digital reporting solutions.
• Provide technical guidance on donor compliance, fiduciary standards, risk management frameworks, and good governance practices.
• Contribute to development of tools, templates, manuals, and knowledge products that support institutional capacity development and sustainability.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

• Conduct organisational capacity assessments to identify strengths, gaps, and development priorities in financial and grant management functions.
• Design and deliver training programmes, workshops, coaching sessions, and learning events for client personnel and programme stakeholders.
• Develop training curricula, operational manuals, guidance notes, and learning materials for financial management and grant administration.
• Support mentoring and on-the-job coaching initiatives to strengthen institutional capabilities and ensure sustainability of programme interventions.
• Facilitate peer learning, knowledge-sharing platforms, communities of practice, and stakeholder learning forums.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of capacity-building interventions and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement and Client Management

• Engage with government agencies, development partners, NGOs, and other stakeholders as part of consulting engagements.
• Support facilitation of workshops, stakeholder consultations, and technical discussions.
• Present analytical findings, recommendations, and progress updates to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with clients and project partners.

Business and Market Development

• Support identification and pursuit of consulting opportunities within the international development sector.
• Contribute to preparation of high-quality technical and financial proposals for development partners and public sector clients.
• Conduct market and client research to inform proposal development and strategic positioning.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across PwC to develop innovative client solutions.
• Conduct research and analysis on emerging development trends and policy priorities.
• Support development of thought leadership pieces, knowledge products, and sector insights that position PwC as a trusted advisor in the development sector.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong financial advisory and accounting skills, with demonstrated experience in fund management, grant administration, and financial oversight of donor-funded programmes.
• In-depth understanding of fund governance structures, fiduciary risk management, and controls required for effective utilisation of development funds.
• Proven ability to manage project cashflows, disbursement processes, budgeting, and financial reporting in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret financial and programme data to inform decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise financial reports and client-ready deliverables.
• Ability to synthesize complex financial, operational, and programme information into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Experience working within multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, particularly across public sector and international development environments.
• High level of integrity and professional judgement, particularly in managing donor funds and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
• Proficiency in financial modelling, different financial management tools/ ERPs, analytics.
• Strong interest in international development, public financial management, and solving complex societal challenges through financial and advisory solutions.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in finance, Public Financial Management, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, International Development or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, ACCA, CFA, or equivalent are highly desirable and will be given strong preference.
• Additional certifications in project management, grant management, or financial management of donor-funded programmes are an asset.

Experience

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in financial advisory, accounting advisory, fund management, or development consulting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing donor-funded programmes, including fund design, governance, financial controls, and reporting.
• Proven track record in managing grant-making processes, fund disbursements, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements and fiduciary standards.
• Experience in financial management of large-scale projects, including budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with governments, multilateral and bilateral development partners, NGOs, foundations, or within professional services firms is highly desirable.
• Prior experience in designing and implementing fund governance structures, financial controls, and risk management frameworks is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience may include but not limited to:
• Financial advisory and accounting advisory engagements
• Fund management and grant administration
• Programme or project financial management
• Development programme implementation
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning (financial aspects)
• Research and policy analysis related to public financial management
• Technical advisory support in public sector finance
• Climate finance and blended finance structures
• Project / investment appraisal and financial modelling
• Business process outsourcing / managed financial services

What We’re Looking For

• A results-driven consulting professional with strong expertise in financial management, fund administration, and development finance. The successful candidate will support governments, development partners, foundations, and NGOs to design and implement robust fund governance frameworks, strengthen financial oversight and risk management practices, manage programme resources effectively, and deliver actionable insights that improve development outcomes and institutional performance.