Grants and Compliance Officer
Christian Aid
Accounting
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Job Type
Full-time
Closing date:
25 March 2022
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About
Christian Aid
Role purpose
Under the overall guidance of the Finance Manager the Grants and Compliance Officer is responsible for management and administration of all aspects of compliance on Contracts & Grants. The Grants and Compliance Officer will analyse, interpret and support the application of donor regulations, award terms and conditions, and adherence to Christian Aid policies. This role ensures a culture of compliance by providing advice and guidance on statutory donor rules and regulations for grants and contracts; enforces administrative policies and promotes adherence to procedures to ensure that all Christian Aid staff, project partners, subcontractors, and sub-awardees are in compliance with statutory government of Sierra Leone, donors and Christian Aid requirements. The Grants and Compliance Officer provides guidance to relevant staff to improve their understanding of the terms and conditions of grants and contracts by providing compliance advice and training so that programs are delivered responsibly with minimized compliance risk. The role also advises Christian Aid Sierra Leone senior leadership team on the overall areas of country program risks and mitigation measures.
Requirements
Role requirements
Relationships
External: Represent Christian Aid in external fora and liaise with donors and partners on program quality assurance and compliance issues
Internal: Build strong relationship with staff in Christian Aid Sierra Leone on compliance issues. Linkage with internal safeguarding communities of practice.
Decision making
You will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Your key role is overseeing all aspects grant management, compliance, risk management in collaboration with other functional units. You will support consortium partners and Local Implementing Partners (LIP) on sub-grant management and compliance. Your role will also comprise setting up compliance monitoring systems; producing compliance reports; capacity building of partner; financial and risk monitoring; ensuring compliance.
Analytical skills
· The post holder will have the ability to apply logical thinking and common sense to gathering and analysing information.
· Tasks involve analysis and choosing between options, where the solution is not always obvious and where considerable initiative and judgement is required.
· They will be working in a conscientious, consistent and thorough manner. Integrate and interpret broad and complex information.
· Analyse the internal review and approval processes for awards
Developing self and others
Number of Direct reports Click here to enter text.
Overall people management responsibility Click here to enter text.
Continuously look for opportunities for self-development. Give and receive honest and open feedback in a timely manner. Will advise others in some technical financial matters
Role related checks
Child protection clearance Standard Counter terrorism screening Required
Person specification
Applied skills/knowledge and expertise
Essential
· Four years’ experience with a minimum degree and/or professional qualification in Grant management, Accounting, Finance, Business Studies, Auditing or related field
· English Language proficiency
· Ability to supervise partner organisations and oversee compliance project function in regard to project agreement /rules and regulations
· Ability to provide clear guidance on donor policies and procedures to other staff
· Experience of setting up and managing donor compliance monitoring systems, developing and implementing relevant tools
· Experience of using computerised financial reporting tools.
· Advanced use of Excel.
Desirable
· Experience of Conducting compliance reviews of grant audit/projects and spot checks or managing external audits.
· Developed understanding of professional business standards required to create a high performing and accountable environment.
· Experience in working on large projects
· Previous experience providing compliance training in a multicultural setting
Digital/IT competencies required
Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Advanced
Web content design & development
Intermediate
Internet based collaboration tools and video calling
Intermediate
Social Media
Intermediate
Data Visualisation
Intermediate
DATE CREATED
17/03/2022
Further details of specific tasks and duties will be agreed with the line manager as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.
This role profile is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key behaviours the role-holder requires to be successful in the role; the key behaviours and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the role-holder.
You will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures within Christian Aid which may be updated from time to time.
You must empathise with the aims, beliefs and values of Christian Aid as it seeks to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication.
How to apply
For more information on application procedures, visit Christian Aid website https://jobs.christianaid.org.uk/vacancy/3648/description and follow the steps to apply online. Please note: Hard copies of application will not be accepted.
Please forward any queries you have regarding this vacancy on email to sierra-leone-info@christian-aid.org
Closing date for application is 25th March 2022.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Successful candidates will be given a provisional offer. Contracting into role will be conditional on Christian Aid SL being awarded the contract.
Owing to the urgency of this recruitment, the process of shortlisting and interviewing will be ongoing during the period of the advert until a successful candidate is appointed.
About the Role
Role purpose
Under the overall guidance of the Finance Manager the Grants and Compliance Officer is responsible for management and administration of all aspects of compliance on Contracts & Grants. The Grants and Compliance Officer will analyse, interpret and support the application of donor regulations, award terms and conditions, and adherence to Christian Aid policies. This role ensures a culture of compliance by providing advice and guidance on statutory donor rules and regulations for grants and contracts; enforces administrative policies and promotes adherence to procedures to ensure that all Christian Aid staff, project partners, subcontractors, and sub-awardees are in compliance with statutory government of Sierra Leone, donors and Christian Aid requirements. The Grants and Compliance Officer provides guidance to relevant staff to improve their understanding of the terms and conditions of grants and contracts by providing compliance advice and training so that programs are delivered responsibly with minimized compliance risk. The role also advises Christian Aid Sierra Leone senior leadership team on the overall areas of country program risks and mitigation measures.
Key outcomes
- Provision of knowledge and guidance to staff on donor regulations and policies by training and supporting project staff on award compliance issues.
- Provision of technical guidance and support in preparing for and managing Christian Aid internal audit and external donor audits; including liaison with auditors and managing the implementation of audit findings where appropriate.
- Programs are assisted in resolution of any contracts management issues, such as delays in agreement signing, delays in payments, audit findings, irregular interpretation of award terms, etc.
- Collaboration with local implementing partners on project compliance; this includes developing and embedding best practices to comply with donor grants rules, expenditure tracking, reporting, monitoring and providing management with information on key project risks
- Facilitation of training and implementation of improved project compliance systems and capacity building of partner/ staff in grants and compliance related issues.
- Keep current on regulations and other pertinent information about the various donors and funding organizations currently and potentially funding Country projects and ensuring the organisation has timely information of the same.
- Serve as the Christian Aid Sierra Leone in-house organizational resource on grants and contracts compliance rules and regulations, staying abreast of all programs, financial, administrative, and contract related business practice developments
Role agility
Expected travel per annum
Up to 75 days
On call/unsocial hours Yes
Surge capacity for emergency responses No
In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time.
Role context
The Grants and Compliance Officer works within the Programmes Unit in the Sierra Leone country programme. The role is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The role supports teams in managing grants and effecting measures for compliance. The role is responsible for internal reviews and support of all CA partners. The post holder will be required to spend up to 75 days per annum in the field supporting partners and programme team.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
· Work with partners to ensure Safeguarding is embedded in their culture through completing partner capacity checklist.
· Check Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct against the quality assurance checklist and support partners where necessary to improve.
· Carry out safeguarding risk assessment for all projects
· Ensure safeguarding is mainstreamed through the project cycle
· Ensure each project has a complaints and feedback mechanism, developed with the community, and that this is communicated to the community
· Ensure for each project expected behaviours of staff and rights to be safe are discussed with the people and communities we are working with.
· Attend the Communities of Practice on the same.