Qualified Grants and Compliance Manager Needed: Catholic Relief Services- Zambia Country Program – March 2018

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identify is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as part of our staff and as partner’s people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and commitment to serving those in need.

Background

CRS is currently seeking applications from qualified Grants and Compliance Manager candidates for a USAID-funded Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) contract in Zambia. The maximum amount and duration of the award is $75 million dollars for seven-years (four years, with two optional eighteen month, at the discretion of the donor). This activity is expected to provide multi-sectoral, layered, high-impact technical assistance coupled with targeted, cost effective, evidence-based direct implementation to reduce stunting in targeted districts. The SUN TA activity will be responsible for need-based technical capacity strengthening for National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) and line ministries, at national, provincial and primarily at the district level. This will include capacity building in the development of annual work planning and costing of nutrition priority activities and interventions, mentoring regarding implementation of the activities by the line ministries, progress reporting, advocacy and governance strengthening, learning, and monitoring and evaluation. It will also include direct implementation to address time-sensitive gaps in programming. This activity will work initially in a minimum of 30 districts in Zambia, with the potential to increase the geographic scope in future years.

Position Summary

The Grants and Compliance Manager will report to Director Operations/Finance and position will be based in Lusaka. S/he support the Director of Operations/Finance to oversee the effective and appropriate use of financial resources, ensures compliance with relevant regulation and laws, generate financial reports and invoices, track expenses, and administer subcontracts. The Grants and Compliance Manager will support the effective implementation of the SUN TA grants under contracts (GUCs) components.

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively monitor and ensure compliance of all capital contracts/grants, including monitoring of subcontracts; attend meetings pertaining to contracts/grants and will keep abreast of contract/grant regulations;
• Ensure sound and accurate financial reporting system for each contract/grant and ensure calendar of reporting requirements is maintained and support programme staff and finance staff, as needed, on preparing and processing financial transactions for assigned project/grant accounts in SunSystems financial accounting package;
• Conduct comparative analysis of past, present and future income trends against targets to inform countries, senior management and thematic teams in funding planning and investment decisions;
• Prepare and submit institutional grants and contracts information required to comply with the USAID donor;
• Ensure all key grant documents are shared in advance with participants; share donor compliance requirements with participants; follow up on agreed action points;
• Ensure all key donor correspondence and approvals are filed, monthly grant trackers are updated on time;
• Anticipate and identify risk issues and challenges and the most appropriate solutions to address them;
• Monitor and provide management information on key risks, contributing to the implementation of improved financial systems and processes to facilitate better donor reporting and compliance;
• Liaise between country program, and regional units for all issues pertaining to contracts, amendments, audit and compliance;
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant project/grant staff of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management and compliance with set deadlines;
• Review, analyse and negotiate commercial agreements; assist to develop standard templates and terms and conditions for sub-awards, subcontracts, commercial agreements;
• Assess, evaluate and monitor sub-recipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partner in financial accounting and transactions;
• Review and implement award/sub-award management associated procedures and assist to ensure data integrity of awards in the financial management system;
• Develop and support donor proposal budgeting, budget revisions, and contract/grant objectives and scope of work;
• Provide information to project/grant staff, sub-recipients, and partners on policies and procedural compliance issues and deliver training and lead in technical capacity building of staff;
• Assist the Director – Operations/Finance to effectively implement the CRS Subrecipient Financial Monitoring Policy (SRFMP); and
• Take the leading role in preparing for project-specific audits, both internal and external.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a Full qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
• Minimum Six (6) years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international NGO, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and related implementing agencies active in Zambia, particularly at the level of field operations
• Experience in working with international donor funded projects and /or international donor agencies in grant management
• Knowledge of budgeting planning and preparations
• Knowledge of USAID donor funding regulations and reporting standards, specifically contracts
• Knowledge of the relevant donor regulations and international donor funded projects and/or international donor agencies such as USAID UN
• Knowledge of government policies and regulations on financial management and Zambian taxation
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and General Accounting Principles
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and other accounting information management systems such as Pastel

Personal Skills

• Communication (oral and written) skills
• Relationship Management skills
• Analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to make sound judgment
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organisational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Travel Required: 20%

Key Working Relationships
Supervisory: None
Internal: Director of Operations / Finance, Project Manager
External: Donors

Agency-wide Competencies: These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Trusting Relationships
• Professional Growth
• Partnership
• Accountability

Disclaimer: This job description is dependent on future funding. The job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Applicant Instructions: Please email a cover letter and current CV (inclusive three contactable referees) in MS Word format to: [email protected]. Please include the position you are applying for in the subject line. Do not at this stage attach copies of your academic qualifications. Please ensure that you mention www.gozambiajobs.com as the source of this job advertisement.

The closing date for receiving applications is 28th March 2018. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

RECRUITMENT FOR THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT ON PROJECT AWARD