The Position
The Senior Finance Officer – Grants Reporting and Compliance will deliver assurance to the Chief Financial Officer regarding the thoroughness, precision, compliance, and audit readiness of grantee expenditures prior to their recognition in the enterprise resource planning system. This position will also represent the Chief Financial Officer in Grant Committee discussions and validate that grantee expenditures are legitimate, properly incurred, adequately documented, accurately categorized, and recorded in the correct fiscal period under accrual accounting principles. The successful candidate will elevate financial reporting standards at both the grantee and country office levels by reinforcing documentation protocols and proactively addressing discrepancies at their origin. Furthermore, the role will guarantee complete traceability of financial data from grantee submissions to the Global Management System (GMS) ERP.
The successful candidate will oversee and evaluate grantee receivable accounts, focusing on outstanding advances, aging analysis, liquidation status, recoverability assessments, and timely collection follow-ups. This role will proactively identify systemic control deficiencies and assist in implementing corrective measures to minimize audit findings, downstream adjustments, and inaccuracies in financial reporting. Additionally, the position will deliver consistent reporting and validation to management regarding grantee expenditure integrity, receivable balances, audit preparedness, and potential financial reporting risks.
Oversee and execute a range of critical duties and responsibilities, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and operational standards. Facilitate the management of key projects, processes, and initiatives, while maintaining adherence to established guidelines and best practices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve targeted outcomes, address challenges, and optimize performance. Monitor progress through regular evaluations, providing insights and recommendations to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall effectiveness. Serve as a pivotal point of contact for stakeholders, fostering clear communication and facilitating the resolution of issues to drive consistent results.
Transform the grants financial management function into a robust, audit-ready assurance framework with a strong emphasis on control and compliance.
Maintain strict financial accuracy and compliance throughout the grant’s entire lifecycle, ensuring every expenditure is validated, fully documented, properly justified, and fully aligned with donor specifications.
Enhancing AGRA’s secondary oversight framework by implementing structured verification, reconciliation, and compliance review mechanisms.
Enhance and unify donor financial reporting upholding excellence, uniformity, promptness, and reliability.
Spearhead ongoing enhancements to grants financial governance, systems, and reporting strengthening transparency, accountability, and decision-supporting insights. As the primary institutional authority on grants financial compliance, reporting, and audit preparedness, collaborate with the Head of Grants to align operational execution with strategic objectives.
Collaborate closely with Finance, Grants, Programs, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and IT teams to establish and maintain robust financial discipline and reporting protocols across the organization.
Serve as the key liaison between the organization and external auditors and donors regarding financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and audit-related issues.
Ensure grant agreements incorporate necessary financial reporting, compliance, and audit provisions through close collaboration with the Legal team.
Deliver objective assurance insights to senior leadership regarding compliance risks, financial exposures, and portfolio performance.
Prepare comprehensive, data-driven reports for senior leadership and executive committees, focusing on governance, risk management, and financial performance to ensure informed decision-making.
Through mentorship, educational initiatives, and escalation processes, you will guide and support country and program teams in maintaining strict compliance with established policies, even in the absence of direct supervisory authority.
Develop organizational capacity by delivering training sessions to staff and grantees on reporting standards, documentation protocols, and compliance requirements.
Perform independent verification of sample grant expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets, donor stipulations, and accompanying documentation.
Develop and deploy risk-based compliance review frameworks to oversee the grant portfolio comprehensively.
Your role involves detecting, escalating, and monitoring instances of non-compliance, unauthorized expenditures, and deficiencies in internal controls. You will be responsible for promptly identifying these issues and ensuring they are addressed through appropriate channels. Additionally, you will maintain detailed records of such occurrences to track their resolution and prevent future recurrences.
Oversee and track the financial risk register for grants, with a focus on identifying high-risk grants and implementing mitigation strategies.
Embed and maintain robust internal control frameworks, such as those aligned with COST, throughout the entire lifecycle of the grant to ensure compliance and operational integrity.
Prepare and review donor financial reports with meticulous attention to accuracy, completeness, and adherence to contractual grantee reporting requirements.
Standardize grantee reporting templates, timelines, and processes to ensure consistency and efficiency across all reporting initiatives.
Ensure seamless incorporation of grantee financial data into all organizational reporting deliverables, including donor reports, Board papers, and annual reports.
Deliver comprehensive financial analysis and strategic insights for grantees, focusing on budget performance comparisons, expenditure tracking, and risk assessment related to financial sustainability.
Serve as the focal point for YEFFA grant-related audits, ensuring documentation is complete, organized, and audit-ready.
Ensure prompt and thorough management of audit responses, maintaining accountability for the timely completion and implementation of corrective actions.
Conduct pre-audit assessments and establish robust documentation protocols to enhance audit readiness.
Assist with regulatory filings and disclosure obligations pertaining to grants, including statutory submissions.
Ensure accurate alignment between the grants’ management system (AMIS) and the General Ledger by systematically identifying and resolving any discrepancies that arise.
Enhance the reliability, accuracy, and uniformity of data within financial and grant management systems.
Partner with Grants, IT, and Finance to improve system integration, reporting functionality, and user adoption.
Oversee financial data flows across systems, ensuring alignment across reporting platforms.
Deliver high-level financial analysis of grantee portfolios, focusing on grant performance, fund utilization, forward-looking projections, and potential risk exposures.
Craft and oversee dynamic dashboards and key performance indicators to facilitate informed strategic decisions by senior leadership.
Translate financial data into meaningful, decision-ready insights for senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
Design and implement comprehensive training initiatives aimed at enhancing staff and grantee proficiency in financial reporting, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Spearhead efforts aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, elevating the quality of reporting, and reinforcing control effectiveness.
Foster an organizational culture characterized by accountability, precision, and preparedness for audits.
Qualifications and Experience Required:
Candidates must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as business administration, finance, or accounting. Additionally, applicants should have at least three years of professional experience in a similar role, preferably within a corporate or financial services environment. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in financial modeling are essential, as is the ability to interpret complex data sets. Familiarity with industry-standard software, including Excel, QuickBooks, or ERP systems, is also required. Excellent communication and teamwork abilities are necessary to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
A bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or a comparable level of professional experience, is required.
A master’s degree in a pertinent discipline significantly enhances candidacy.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is a prestigious credential that signifies expertise in accounting principles, tax regulations, and financial reporting standards. To obtain this designation, candidates must meet rigorous educational requirements, typically including a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, along with a specified number of credit hours in accounting and business courses. Additionally, candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, which assesses knowledge across various accounting disciplines, and fulfill professional experience criteria, often involving one to two years of supervised work in public accounting. Maintaining the CPA license requires ongoing continuing professional education to stay current with evolving industry regulations and best practices.
A minimum of three years of hands-on experience in accounting, finance, or financial oversight roles is required.
Proficiency in international and country-specific accounting standards and regulations is required.
Proven expertise in compiling and evaluating financial reports for senior leadership teams is demonstrated.
Proficient in auditing methodologies, financial risk mitigation strategies, and adherence to regulatory financial standards.
Demonstrates advanced proficiency with various computer applications, encompassing spreadsheet management, presentation development, report generation, and accounting software operation.
If you meet the qualifications for this role, kindly forward your application, accompanied by a comprehensive CV that includes your email address and telephone number, to recruit@agra.org. Be sure to include the job reference number SFO/GRC/05/2026 in the subject line of your email. Submissions must be received no later than 5th June 2026. Given the anticipated high volume of applications, only candidates selected for further consideration will be notified.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA , Professional Certificate
