Finance and Grants Manager at Centre for Newborn Health Research and Innovation (CeNHRI)

Purpose of the Role

• The Finance and Grants Manager will support the effective financial and grants management of CeNHRI’s programmes and organisational operations. The role will manage day-to-day financial processes, support budgeting and expenditure monitoring, maintain grant financial records, and contribute to timely financial reporting and compliance.
• The Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and relevant programme and operational teams to ensure that CeNHRI’s financial resources are properly managed and that grant requirements are met.

Scope of the Role

The role covers:

• Financial administration and accounting support.
• Budget and expenditure monitoring.
• Grant financial administration and compliance.
• Financial reporting, reconciliation and audit support.
• Financial inputs to programme planning and management.

Authority

The Finance and Grants Manager will:

• Review financial documents for completeness before processing.
• Track expenditure against approved budgets.
• Maintain financial and grant records.
• Flag financial discrepancies, budget variances and compliance concerns.
• Follow up on outstanding financial requirements.
• Escalate significant financial or grant-related issues to the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Administration

• Maintain accurate records of day-to-day financial transactions.
• Process payment requests and supporting documentation in line with approved procedures.
• Conduct routine bank, cash and other financial reconciliations.
• Maintain the financial filing system and ensure records are readily accessible.
• Support cash-flow monitoring and provide information required for routine financial management.
• Identify and resolve routine discrepancies in financial records.

Deliverables

• Accurate financial records.
• Completed reconciliations.
• Properly processed payment documentation.
• Up-to-date financial files and transaction records.

Budget and Expenditure Management

• Support the preparation of organisational and programme budgets.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets.
• Prepare budget utilisation and variance summaries for management review.
• Flag potential underspend, overspend and other budget pressures.
• Support financial forecasting and expenditure projections.
• Maintain records of approved budget revisions and reallocations.

Deliverables

• Budget monitoring reports.
• Expenditure and variance summaries.
• Forecasting inputs.
• Updated budget revision records.

Grants Financial Management

• Maintain financial information for CeNHRI’s grants and funded programmes.
• Track grant budgets, expenditure, reporting deadlines and financial obligations.
• Support the preparation of donor financial reports and supporting schedules.
• Review grant expenditure against approved budgets and applicable grant requirements.
• Coordinate the collection of financial information required from programme teams and partners.
• Support grant amendments, budget revisions and other financial requirements associated with grant management.

Deliverables

• Updated grant financial trackers.
• Donor financial reports and supporting schedules.
• Grant expenditure reviews.
• Grant financial documentation.
• Inputs to grant amendments and budget revisions.

Compliance, Audit & Financial Controls

• Support compliance with CeNHRI’s financial policies and applicable grant requirements.
• Maintain appropriate audit trails for financial and grant transactions.
• Prepare financial records and schedules required for internal and external audits.
• Track and respond to routine audit and compliance queries.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of financial controls.
• Identify control gaps or compliance issues and escalate them to the Executive Director.

Deliverables

• Audit schedules and supporting records.
• Compliance documentation.
• Audit and compliance action trackers.
• Financial control monitoring updates.

Programme and Management Support

• Provide financial inputs to programme workplans, proposals and concept notes.
• Support programme teams to understand and meet financial requirements.
• Provide financial information and analysis to support management decisions.
• Participate in programme planning and review meetings where financial input is required.
• Support the Executive Director with financial information for programme and organisational decision-making.
• Contribute to improvements in CeNHRI’s finance and grants management processes.

Deliverables

• Financial inputs to proposals and workplans.
• Management financial summaries and analysis.
• Financial guidance to programme teams.
• Recommendations for improving finance and grants processes.

Reporting Lines

The Finance and Grants Manager will report directly to the Executive Director, CeNHRI and will work closely with programme, research, MEL, operations and other relevant teams.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field.
• Professional accounting qualification or progress toward a recognised qualification such as ICAN, ACCA or equivalent will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in finance, accounting, grants administration or a related field.
• Experience working in an NGO, development organisation, research institution or other mission-driven organisation will be an advantage.
• Experience supporting donor-funded programmes and grant financial reporting.
• Experience in budgeting, expenditure monitoring, reconciliation and financial reporting.
• Experience supporting audits and compliance processes.

Skills & Competencies

• Good understanding of accounting and financial management principles.
• Knowledge of budgeting, expenditure monitoring and grants management.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
• Strong organisational and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of integrity, accountability and confidentiality.
• Ability to work effectively across programme and operational teams