Finance & Contracts Manager

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Gaborone, Botswana

The “Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands” Project funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF) aims to utilize collective management of livestock and ecosystems to restore Botswana’s communal rangelands, increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable populations and reducing GHG emissions. Over 8 years, the project will undertake activities in 104 villages in the Project Areas: Ngamiland, Kgalagadi, and Bobirwa geographic areas of Botswana to improve management of 4.6 million hectares of rangelands.

The Finance and Contracts Manager is responsible for delivering financial management and grants and contracts activities for the GCF funded Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands project. This position is responsible for financial management and grants & contracts administration, thereby ensuring effective project delivery, finance, grants and contracts compliance, and adherence to donor guidelines. The Finance and Contracts Manager ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial, grants, and contracts-related data, reporting, and compliance requirements.

The Finance and Contracts Manager works to minimize risk to CI and reviews grants and contracts-related activities for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with CI and donor policies and procedures. The position acts as the primary point of contact for cost center managers, partners, and donors regarding financial and contractual processes, reporting to the Head of Finance and Administration in close coordination with CI's Botswana Head of Operations / Senior Manager Operations to ensure adherence to CI rules and regulations.

This role manages staff and works under general supervision.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Reporting & Analysis:

• Prepare and generate monthly, quarterly, and periodic financial reports to the Country Office, to the AE, and to GCF. Review results with senior project management.
• Review financial data and transactions to ensure the accuracy of financial reports and initiate corrections as needed. Ensure compliance with CI and donor financial reporting standards.
• Post and supervise financial transactions to ensure the accuracy of financial reports.
• Prepare donor statements and reports for project management review.
• Respond to ad-hoc financial and grants-related analysis requests.

Budget Management:

• Coordinate the annual budget process, including cross-referencing and collaboratively aligning the annual work plan and budget with the project lead, and provide training and hands-on guidance as needed.
• Generate budget vs. actual comparisons, provide trend analysis, and update projections.
• Approve procurement and budget expenditure requests within authorized limits.
• Oversee internal revenue allocation to ensure accuracy in financial systems.
• Facilitate timely and complete inputs from cost center managers to ensure the ongoing accuracy of the project budget and its effect on the division’s budget.
• Review, provide analysis for, and request approval as applicable for any changes to the project budget as a result of adaptive management of project needs.
• Liaising with co-financing partners to compile necessary information on co-financing expenditure; and integrate into financial reporting.

Grants & Contract Management:

• Develop materials and manage the announcement of sub-grants & contract opportunities.
• Review grant applications, proposals, and agreements to ensure accuracy and compliance with CI and donor requirements.
• Conduct due diligence of subgrantees in compliance with CI and donor requirements, including relatively complex assessments for large awards; implement identified risk-mitigation measures.
• Provide subgrant oversight in line with the results of pre-award due diligence; provide guidance, support, and capacity building as needed to support subgrantees to meet CI and donor compliance requirements.
• For in-kind grants, in coordination with the procurement manager and delivery team, ensure proper inventory management, distribution, and use of goods procured by CI and provided to partners and/or beneficiaries.
• Develop and revise annual grant plans to AE, and plan grant needs throughout the year to ensure that grants are awarded in accordance with project needs.
• Drafts and manages service agreements with consultants and service providers in coordination with the project's procurement manager.
• Monitor sub-grants and contracts, including reviewing financial and technical reports, coordinating site visits, and ensuring compliance with agreements.
• Assist grantees and consultants with routine financial and compliance questions, providing training and capacity-building support where necessary.
• Coordinate with legal and relevant CI staff for contract reviews, amendments, and approvals.
• Assist contractors with routine financial and compliance questions, providing training and support when necessary.
• Oversee the management of grants & contract-related data in the system, ensuring accuracy and timely reporting.
• Manage the close-out of grants & contracts, ensuring proper documentation and compliance.

Financial Oversight:

• Oversee assigned finance functions and ensure compliance with internal and external standards.
• Support the integration and updating of financial and grants management systems, providing training for staff on system use.
• Coordinate with CI Botswana’s GCF Project Head of Finance and Administration on issues related to finance and grants reporting.
• Ensure that donor agreements and related financial data are properly recorded and maintained.
• Liaising with co-financing partners to compile necessary information on co-financing expenditure; and integrate into financial reporting.
• Monitoring project cash balances and donor disbursements.

Audit & Compliance:

• Assist with audit processes, responding to internal and external audit questions.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external requirements and standards, including compliance with CI anti-fraud policies and GCF Policy on Prohibited Practices Conduct regular reviews to ensure financial and contract data are accurate and complete.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

People & Resource Management

• Supervise a small team (up to four employees), managing performance and development.
• Led cross-functional project teams to ensure the successful delivery of finance and contract objectives.
• Responsible for overseeing project funds, reviewing for compliance with donor agreements, and recommending relevant actions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in a typical office environment.
• Flexibility to work outside normal work hours to meet deadlines as needed.
• Occasional travel (up to 25%) for site visits and training sessions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting & finance, Financial Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 4 to 6 years of experience in financial and contract management, ideally within a non-profit or project-based environment with co-financing arrangements.
• Up to 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Recognized professional accounting qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, BICA is preferred.
• A member of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA).
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and sub-grants / sub-contracting management systems.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and financial analysis software.
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects, financial reporting, and audit processes.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse stakeholders (project managers, donors, grantees etc.).
• Team player and ability to work cooperatively with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.

Preferred

• Ability to analyze complex situations, identify solutions, and make sound judgments.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to respect and work well with people from different backgrounds and disciplines.
• Team player able to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: November 10, 2024 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.