About the position

The successful candidate will be a finance professional with experience of working in an international setting. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, flexibility and tenacity are essential requirements of the post-holder as these will enable the successful candidate to communicate with both with finance and non-finance staff around the world as well as helping the finance and operations team to maintain robust financial systems and processes. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a growing, highly regarded organisation doing incredible work around the world.

The Finance Officer will support the Program Finance Manager who is responsible for the financial management of partner grants awarded by The Freedom Fund. The Finance Officer will help ensure the completeness and accuracy of partner grant information held within The Freedom Fund systems (the grant management system and the accounting system) and associated reports. Whilst the main focus of the role will be program finance, the post holder will also provide support to the Financial Accountant through balance sheets reconciliations and other financial accounts tasks at month-end and year-end, as required.

Responsibilities
Partner grant reporting

• Review quarterly partner finance reports to ensure these are completed accurately and are compliant with FF reporting requirements.

• Create finance report templates for new implementing partners in accordance with grant agreement and budget.

• Maintain the partner finance report templates that cater for the differences in reporting relevant to each country/hotspot/program.

• Lead partners training on the format and completion procedure of quarterly financial reports.

• Prepare and post the journal for partner expenditure into FF finance system (Microsoft Business Central).

• Perform the quarterly reconciliation of the partner expenditure balance sheet account, preparing associated journals where necessary so that the account balance is consistent with the latest partner grant finance reports.

• Maintain program finance information relating to partners in the grant management system (currently held in Access, transitioning soon to Salesforce). Ensure that the data is complete and consistent with partner finance reports and other sources.

• Support the Program Finance Manager in providing capacity building training for implementing partners.

• Assist the Program Finance Manager in reviewing partners budgets

• Help design and implement ad-hoc internal reports as required by the Program Finance Manager.

• Participate in meetings between Finance and Programs teams in support of the Program Finance Manager. Lead on partner finance reporting performance queries and complete actions related to these.

• Support the Program Finance Manager in the assessment of partner financial risk. Maintain the partner risk summary table and dashboard.

• Support the Program Finance Manager with monitoring the completion of actions resulting from due diligence assessments of new partners.

Financial Accounts

• Assist the Financial Accountant with month-end balance sheets reconciliations and other related month end tasks

• Perform monthly reconciliation of between the grant management system (Salesforce) and the accounting system (Microsoft Business Central)

• Help ensure a strong financial control environment, ensuring accounting records are complete and accurate

• Assisting on process and systems improvements which lead to more effective financial control

• Assist the Financial Accountant with year-end audit tasks as required

• Any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Program Finance Manager, the Financial Accountant, the Head of Finance and the Managing Director, Finance and Administration

Qualifications and experience
Essential
• Accounting / book-keeping qualification.

• Experience of preparing and/or reviewing financial reports for grants awarded to international organisations.

• Advanced Excel skills and strong general IT skills.

• Experience of providing training to small groups, especially through video calls and to participants who do not have English as a first language.

• Excellent verbal and written communication in English.

• Experience in the Finance department of an International NGO or local NGO funded by international grants.

• Experience working with multiple currencies.

Personal attributes
Essential
• Thoroughness and strong attention to detail, especially when reviewing complex financial reports.

• Proven ability to produce work with a high degree of accuracy.

• Flexible, “can-do” attitude.

• Demonstrates confidence and tenacity in interactions with people in other teams and/or organisations.

• Willing to suggest improvements in current processes that will increase efficiency and/or effectiveness.

• Ability to work independently, displaying strong initiative and tenacity in solving day-to-day problems with limited direction.

• Strong organisational skills and efficient time management, ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.

• Team player committed to the Freedom Fund’s values.

• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds

Compensation
• £42,052– £43,159 per annum pro rata, plus 10% non-contributory pension scheme.

• 25 days holiday pro rata, plus public holidays.

Application procedure
Applications should be submitted in English and include a CV, cover letter (maximum one page), and contact details of two professional referees, one of which must be the applicant’s current / most recent line manager or current / most recent Head of HR. If professional referees are not applicable, personal references are welcomed, providing they are able to speak to the strengths listed in the above description.

Please send applications by email in PDF format to jobs@freedomfund.org, including ‘Program Finance Officer’ in the subject line, before 5.00PM (BST) on 27th August 2024.

Please note that only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please. No agencies please.