The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Job Description

Dimensions of Role:

Financial measures or statistics relevant to post such as budget; list of direct and indirect reports

The Finance and Compliance Sub-Grant Specialist’s role within this team will be to monitor and provide grantee support on financial management and contractual compliance to local women’s rights organizations. The Finance and Compliance Sub-Grant Specialist will focus on financial management and compliance capacity development to multiple women’s rights organizations and sub-grant recipients.

The position is based in Accra, within a Plan International Office and in addition requires extended travel to Plan field offices (up to 50%).

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

“What” is done and “why”, but not “how”; include indicators for success

Grants Planning, Delivery, and Control: Responsible for coordinating and overseeing all financial and compliance aspects of grant funding, disbursement, management and reporting for women’s organizations.

Expected Outcomes:

• In collaboration with women’s organizations, contribute to the design of the grant mechanisms and processes from a financial and compliance perspective.
• Support the development of grant agreement templates and review agreements with women’s organizations to ensure alignment with compliance requirements.
• Support the development of financial aspects for grant application forms, instructions, and guidelines in a participatory approach with women’s organizations.
• Support in the planning, design and presentation of financial and compliance information sessions for women’s rights organizations to encourage applications, guide them through the application process, and address any queries, etc.
• Participate in the review of grant applications with a focus on budgets and financial management and compliance capacities of grant recipients.
• Coordinate preparation of budget templates, reporting requirements, and monitoring of grant periods and close out of the grant awards.

Financial Management, Analysis, and Compliance: Direct support provided to women’s organizations to manage funds effectively in line with granting and compliance requirements.

Expected Outcomes:

• Support women’s organizations with financial management, grants and compliance tools, templates, and best practices to effectively execute their grants.
• Perform thorough reviews of women’s rights organizations financial reports and related supporting documentation to demonstrate accountable use of funds.
• Carry out compliance reviews and project audit processes of women’s organizations to ensure donor compliance and grants are well positioned for audits.
• Identify areas of risk by providing regular analysis of financial health of the grant portfolio against standard key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize financial risk.
• Maintain an up-to-date tracker for women’s rights organizations expenditures and advances.
• Ensure grant budgets and forecast are developed, implemented and monitored.

Capacity Development and Working Relationships: Provide continuous capacity building to women’s organizations in financial management and compliance. Foster and maintain productive and professional relationships with and between all project stakeholders, particularly with local women’s organizations, to ensure efficient and effective financial management and compliance.

Expected Outcomes:

• Provide direct support to successful grant recipients to transform proposals into project implementation plans and budgets to effectively execute their grants.
• Based on organizational self-assessments and capacity building plans, support women’s organizations with project and financial management tools, processes and ongoing capacity development to strengthen their financial management and operations.
• Routinely visit and connect with women’s organizations to provide grant management, monitoring and compliance support as they execute their grants.
• Foster strong coordination and collaboration with women’s organizations through open and transparent communication, participation and joint decision-making, and respect for their agency and technical expertise.
• Work collaboratively with the project team to ensure effective and efficient processing of grants and data collection, monitoring, and reporting is comprehensive.

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them

• Experience with in depth analysis of current issues and providing innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated skills in dealing with the complexity of working with international and local NGO partners.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with comprehensive and demanding requirements of the donor.
• Effective decision-making regarding the most appropriate, effective and efficient approaches to ensure quality financial management, ensuring maximum alignment with donor requirements.
• Ability to develop and implement strategies to minimize project risks.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

Internal:

• Country Office (COs) and project Areas: The position will collaborate with Programmes and Business Development and project staff including the Program Manager, technical experts, M&E and finance staff at CO . (high level)

External:

• Plan International Canada – Women’s Voice and Leadership Project Management team (high level)
• Women’s Rights Organizations Finance teams/Auditors (high level)

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Gained through education, training, & experience

Knowledge and skills

• MBA in Finance and related field
• Fluent in oral and written English.
• Progressive experience in financial reporting and analysis.
• Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Office, Internet and databases.
• Coaching & mentoring skills for building project the capacity of women’s rights organizations on quality financial management and compliance.
• Superior skills in building productive working relationships with team colleagues, field offices, donors and partners.
• Understanding of project management cycle.
• Flexible approach to deal with ambiguity.
• Understanding of feminist principles, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.
• Ability to establish priorities in a time-sensitive environment, track project performance, meet deadlines, and ensure high-quality deliverables.

Experiences

• Minimum of 5years’ experience in finance, accounting, grants analysis
• Progressive experience in financial reporting and analysis, risk assessment and mitigation.
• Proven experience in developing financial and program management tools and processes, including financial reporting budget guidance, work plans and monitoring templates.
• Solid understanding of compliance requirements of donor government agencies such as Global Affairs Canada; multilateral agencies (UNICEF, AfDB, etc.) and/or charitable organizations / Foundations preferred.
• Experience leading or participating in financial audits.
• Hands on experience reviewing complex contracts and agreements.

Behaviours

• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations.
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
• A process-oriented working style, with the ability to be flexible and adaptable
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership qualities.

Physical Environment and Demands:

May be “typical office environment”; note if heavy lifting, climbing, excess travel, etc.

• Ability to travel up to 50% time.

Level of Contact with Children:

Low contact - the job responsibilities of this position does not require the post holder to have frequent contact or interaction with children. There would be occasional contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Location: Accra

Type of Role: Finance

Reports to: Project Manager

Grade: D1

Closing Date: 31st January, 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.