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Position Summary

Oversee the financial management, reporting, compliance, and administration of grant-funded projects. The successful candidate will bring strong expertise in grant accounting and sub-grantee management, ensuring that project funds are used appropriately, financial reports are accurate and timely, and all donor, regulatory, and organisational requirements are met.

This role will work closely with program teams, finance leadership, donors, and implementing partners to ensure accurate financial management, timely reporting, and full compliance with grant agreements, organisational policies, and applicable regulations. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, reviews or to provide financial reporting support to sub-grantees.

Reporting Line:

The Senior Project Accountant will report to the Project Finance Manager and work closely with the Programme and Operations Management Unit, Project Managers, Technical Practice Teams, and Sub-grantee Partners.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Financial Management:

• Manage the financial planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting of a portfolio of grant-funded projects.
• Review approved grant budgets, funding agreements, cost allocations, and financial terms to ensure accurate implementation.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets; identify variances, risks, and potential funding gaps, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for donors, management, and other stakeholders on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis or as otherwise required by donors for review by the Project Director.
• Support budget development, revisions, re-forecasting, and no-cost extension processes.
• Ensure proper coding, supporting documentation, and timely recording of grant-related transactions in the accounting system and for submission to donors.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready grant finance files and documentation.
• Partnership with technical practice teams (such as health, economic impact, or human development) to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for non-financial project leaders.

Sub-Grantee Financial Oversight:

• Review sub-grantee budgets, financial reports, cash requests, supporting documentation, and budget amendments.
• Monitor sub-grantee expenditure, advances, liquidations, and compliance with approved agreements and applicable policies.
• Conduct regular financial monitoring, reviews, and spot checks, as required.
• Identify financial management weaknesses, compliance risks, or ineligible costs and work with sub-grantees to develop and implement corrective-action plans.
• Deliver guidance, training, and ongoing capacity-building support to sub-grantee finance personnel.
• Participate in internal governance meetings and present a clear financial overview of both subgrantee and project health.
• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual sub-grantee financial reports in line with donor requirements.
• Ensure timely disbursement of funds and that such disbursements are based on approved workplans and/or activity plans.
• Support sub-grantee close-out processes, including final financial reporting, reconciliation of advances, and document retention.

Compliance, Controls and Audit:

• Ensure compliance with donor regulations, grant agreements, internal policies, accounting standards, and relevant statutory requirements.
• Assist in strengthening internal controls and promote consistent financial management practices across projects and sub-grantees.
• Support internal and external audits, donor audits, and financial reviews; prepare schedules, documentation, and responses to audit queries.
• Monitor and address audit findings and recommendations within agreed timelines.
• Ensure costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, adequately supported, and charged to the appropriate funding source.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Support:

• Work closely with program, grants, procurement, and finance teams to ensure smooth project implementation.
• Train project staff and sub-grantees on financial policies, donor requirements, and reporting standards.
• Participate in project review meetings and provide financial insights.
• Serve as a key finance contact for assigned grants, donors, and partners.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional accounting qualification or progress toward one, such as CA(SA), ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent, would be an advantage.
• At least 5-8 years of progressive accounting or financial management experience, including substantial experience with grant-funded projects, with strong preference of experience of working with international development donors and foundations such as Gates Foundation, MasterCard Foundation, FCDO, GAVI, etc.
• Demonstrated experience on financial management of sub-grantees, implementing partners, or downstream recipients.
• Strong knowledge of grant compliance, donor reporting, budgeting, cost allocation, and financial monitoring.
• Experience supporting audits and responding to audit findings.
• Proficiency in accounting systems and advanced Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets skills.

Core Competencies:

• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and financial-reporting skills.
• High level of accuracy, organisation, and attention to detail.
• Sound judgement and ability to identify and mitigate financial and compliance risks.
• Ability to interpret grant agreements, budgets, and financial policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict reporting deadlines.
• Integrity, accountability, and commitment to ethical financial management.