Back Grants and Finance Specialist

This position will be hybrid requiring a few days per week in the WRI Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission; WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

WRI is spearheading the African Cities Climate Resilience (ACCR) Project Accelerator to build resilience in African cities by promoting the use of community-led nature-based solutions (NbS) and integrated green-gray infrastructure. Using these strategies, cities can achieve resilience and conservation outcomes, for example: restore wetlands to reduce flood risk; clear invasive species to secure water supply; and, expand urban canopy and green space to combat extreme heat. Throughout our work, we ensure that NbS are designed to enhance community well-being and social equity. ACCR partners with cities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, DRC, ROC, Burundi, and Ghana. WRI supports the partner cities in four main work streams: (a) identify and analyze climate risks and opportunities to integrate green and gray infrastructure, (b) design and implement socially inclusive and multisector project plans, (c) develop business cases and access financial resources, and (d) institutionalize NbS in city planning and policy. Taken together, these work streams help cities move ideas into plans, and from plans into funded and implemented initiatives. The ACCR builds on the ongoing work of WRI’s Urban Water Resilience Initiative and Cities4Forests Initiative.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Grants and Finance Manager, you will work with the Cities4Forests (C4F) and Urban Water Resilience (UWR) initiatives at the Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities to provide project management, budgeting, financial management, internal communications, event organizing and other administrative support.

What will you do:

Financial Management(30%):

• Conduct regular reviews, updates, and monitor all transactions, commitments, and revenue prospects across all projects within the team
• Update and maintain project budgets utilizing WRI’s budgeting and forecasting software (TM1)
• Update and maintain project funding and allocations in coordination with workstream/initiative director and project managers
• Coordinate and advise team on budget management and supply financial review template(s) for monthly review meetings with workstream director and operations staff
• Develop fiscal year budget forecasts on a yearly basis in coordination with operations manager and workstream director
• Follow WRI’s internal processes and deadlines related to funding, including quarterly reviews, monthly & annual closeouts, and future fiscal year annual budget submission
• Prepare financial reports for donors under the supervision of the finance manager ensuring accuracy and compliance with donor requirements

  📚 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!

  Project and Subagreement Management(50%):

  • Support in monitoring of program/project performance ensuring alignment with grant requirements and/or contract deliverables
  • Draft grant proposal budgets and contributes to the collection and submission of formal proposals for team fundraising efforts
  • Support operations and central team by keeping database software (Salesforce) up-to-date
  • Review and process documentation for project commitments (i.e. agreements, contracts, amendments, and purchase orders)
  • Provide guidance to partner organizations and consultants to ensure their compliance with funder policies, while maintaining proactive and professional communication throughout the project implementation
  • Review and process invoices and request for payments from implementing partners, ensuring accuracy and compliance with established internal protocols

    Administration (20%):

    • Facilitate team meetings and support in the development of agendas and content for project presentations; take notes for the finance manager, and provide follow-up support
    • Update and maintain new hire staffing information with operations and provide timesheet guidance to team members on a bi-weekly basis
    • Manage multiple program, department, and organizational trackers
    • Support teams with event logistics as needed with project manager(s), including participant travel. Financial management includes processing invoices and event contracts through ECM system

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have completed a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, public policy, non-profit management or a related field is required
      • Experience: You have minimum of 3 years of relevant, full-time work experience, preferably in financial management, budgeting, administration, or nonprofit operations, is required
      • Keen interest in the mission and work of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
      • Ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities and can manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
      • Strong process orientation with sensitivity to quality, adherence to timelines, and organizational systems
      • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and demonstrate strong work ethic
      • Excellent written and oral communication skills
      • Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook). Experience with budgeting and project management tools, especially MS Excel, Sharepoint, Salesforce and Asana, is highly desirable
      • Ability to work well and effectively with colleagues from diverse national and cultural backgrounds
      • Languages: Proficient in spoken and written English
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: Salary range is between 69,000 and 73,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive renumeration and benefits package.

        How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of 14 March 2024. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

        What we offer:

        • 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