Back Finance and Operations Specialist

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You will be based in our office in WRI Africa office in Nairobi. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

The WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities helps to transform cities into compact, connected and resilient spaces that provide healthy, accessible and prosperous living environments for their residents. We provide technical and practical expertise through eight integrated solution areas: Integrated Transport Systems, Vision Zero, Zero Carbon Buildings, Livable Neighborhoods, E-Mobility, Water/Heat Resilience, Air Quality, and Inclusive Climate & Energy Action Planning. Data and Urban Finance are cross-cutting themes that inform all our solution offerings. Our research and projects in cities and in national policies connect environmental sustainability, health, safety, equity, and quality of life. The Urban Mobility program, which includes the solution areas of Integrated Transport, Health and Road Safety, and Electric Mobility helps cities shift to more efficient, safer, and cleaner transport modes.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Kenya Country Representative, you will work with our Grants and Finance team at the Ross Center for Sustainable Cities to provide grants and finance management, and program administration support. You will work on complex, multi-year, multi-faceted international grants - developing and updating budgets, tracking, and monitoring expenditures, preparing financial reports, and working with project managers, partner organizations, and international offices to maintain a healthy financial system. You will integrate equity into your work.

What will you do:

Financial Management (60%):

• Update and maintain project budget utilizing WRI’s budgeting and forecasting software (TM1) or other available tools
• Develop and revise proposal budgets and coordinate the collection and submission of formal proposals for team fundraising efforts
• Support and advises project teams in preparations for and guides the implementation of the annual Cost-Planning process
• Responsible for multiple funding sources and a complicated donor; possible hedging and cap gaps. Prepares and coordinates on financial reports to donors independently
• Regularly reviews, updates, monitors, and supervises all transactions, commitments, and revenue prospects for designated team projects including monthly-close, revenue allocations, partner/grant invoices, subgrant reporting and request for payments. Tracks multiple revenue commitments independently
• Coordinate and advise teams monthly on budget management and supplies financial review template(s) for review with workstream director(s) and operations staff, independently
• Follow WRI’s internal processes and deadlines related to funding and expenses, including preparations for quarterly reviews, monthly & annual closeouts, and fiscal year forecasting

  Grant Management (30%):

  • Coordinate and processes documentation for project commitments (agreements, contracts, work authorizations, and purchase orders), independently
  • Coordinate with the project management team on guidance for partner organizations and consultants to advise them on how to comply with subgrant and contract requirements in accordance with funder policies for progress and financial reports
  • Support donor and grants management by keeping database software (Salesforce) and SharePoint folders up to date, including proposal fundraising opportunities
  • Support project managers to understand deliverables and reporting requirements required by donors

    Operations (10%):

    📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

    ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

    • Update and maintain new hire staffing information with operations
    • Provide timesheet guidance to team members on a bi-weekly basis
    • Support teams with financial management for conference and event logistics as needed with project managers, including participant travel. Financial management includes processing invoices and event contracts through ECM system
    • Coordinate recruitment and support onboarding of new financial staff members
    • Develop and complete various program, department, and organizational trackers to provide monthly updates for review with Program Directors and operations staff
    • Assist project teams in project closeout process including turnover documentation and financial reconciliation.

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration,

        finance, accounting, management, or a related field. You have a completed ACCA or CPA qualification

        • Experience: You have 3+ years of relevant, full-time work experience, including in financial management, budgeting, administration, or nonprofit operations
        • Experience in program management, financial management, grant management, budgeting, and writing
        • Experience working within an international team
        • Demonstrable interest in the mission and work of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
        • Demonstrable interest in electric mobility, transportation planning, and sustainable energy systems
        • Demonstrable writing, database management, and proofreading skills
        • Experience with international donors is desirable. Previous work with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) is a plus
        • Experience working with Excel, experience with statistical analysis and budgeting software is desirable
        • Languages: You are proficient in spoken and written English. Additional language skills are a plus, especially in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and/or Hindi
        • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

          Potential Salary:

          Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

          How to Apply:

          Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 23 January 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

          You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

          What we offer:

          • A competitive salary
          • Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
          • The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.