Grants Financial Specialist II

This intermediate specialist performs moderately complex financial management and compliance activities for donor-funded awards throughout the full grant lifecycle - from proposal development to grant closeout and audit preparation. This role supports project teams in developing budgets, monitoring expenditures, preparing donor-compliant financial reports, and strengthening financial controls. The incumbent conducts financial analyses to identify variances and potential risks, provides guidance to project staff on routine donor regulations, and collaborates with partners to ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial data. At this level, the incumbent demonstrates solid working knowledge of grant financial management principles and contributes to improving financial processes and donor compliance. He or she may also coach other specialists concerning technical financial matters.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintains a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Compassion, and faithfully upholds Compassion’s ministry in prayer.
• Acts as an advocate to raise awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect children. Commits to and prioritizes child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abides by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Reports any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately supports responses to incidents if they occur.

·       Contribute to program and project design by providing financial insights, ensuring proposed activities are cost-effective, financially feasible, and aligned with donor regulations and organizational policies.

·       Lead the development of proposal budgets and budget narratives, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness, compliance with donor guidelines, proper cost allocation, and alignment with the technical narrative and implementation plan.

·       Conduct comprehensive financial reviews of proposal packages prior to submission to verify budget accuracy, compliance with donor requirements, cost share commitments, indirect cost calculations, supporting documentation, and consistency across all proposal components.

·       Provide technical financial support in responding to donor inquiries, clarifications, and issues letters, including budget revisions, cost justifications, compliance explanations, and other financial information requested during the proposal review and award negotiation process.

·       Support and participate in award negotiations, including the review and negotiation of budgets, financial provisions, reporting requirements, payment terms, cost share commitments, and award terms and conditions to ensure compliance and protect organizational interests.

• Support and oversee grant budget management activities at project level in coordination with the project finance team, including budget monitoring, forecasting, variance analysis, and budget revisions, while ensuring expenditures remain aligned with approved budgets, project objectives, and donor requirements.

• Works closely with the finance, global program, legal specialists to ensure effective financial management of government and institutional funded projects.

• Support project start-up workshops to ensure all stakeholders have a clear understanding of project objectives, implementation plans, financial management requirements, compliance obligations, reporting expectations, and donor regulations.

• May assist with coordinating with external auditors during donor audits and assist in the preparation of audit schedules and documentation. Serves as a point of contact for financial aspects of audits, including third-party audits such as Single Audit.  

• Provide ongoing compliance oversight to ensure adherence to donor regulations, award terms and conditions, organizational policies, financial controls, and applicable laws and regulations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Serve as a key liaison with donors on financial and compliance matters, responding to inquiries, providing financial updates, supporting reporting requirements, and facilitating constructive donor relationships. Provide regular updates on donor regulations, organizational policies, compliance requirements, and industry best practices to ensure staff have current, accurate, and reliable information.
• Support project closeout activities, including final financial reconciliations, final reporting, resolution of outstanding financial matters, asset disposition, documentation retention, and compliance with donor closeout requirements to ensure a successful and audit-ready project completion.

• Supports the implementation of various tools and resources to enhance the capacity of the finance team, ensuring compliance and efficiency in managing donor-funded projects.
• May coach less experienced financial specialists concerning technical finance issues.  

Faith

• Has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Culture

• Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion's core "Cultural Behaviors" in all internal and external communication and relationships.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.

Experience

• Relevant experience working in this or a related field.

Licenses and Certifications

• Certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization in a related field.

*Equivalent education, training and/or certification may be substituted for experience and education shown above

Working Environment

Office – Standard Office Environment

Physical Demands

Sitting, standing, and/or walking for up to 8 hours per day

Travel Requirements

May be required to travel up to 10% of normal schedule