Finance and Administration Specialist, Vital Landscapes Pillar

This position will be based in our office in Nairobi, Kenya.

About the Program:

The World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Vital Landscapes Pillar aims at revitalizing and protecting landscapes for people and planet. We do this through sustainable management of rural landscape, connecting them to cities, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving food security. Because Africa’s population will continue to grow rapidly in the next decades, and climate change will remain an obstacle for development, the Vital Landscapes Pillar aims to build the resilience of our natural ecosystems so that they can provide vital ecosystems services such as food, water, carbon sequestration and climate regulation. Sustainable food production is a key priority for this pillar in Africa as continent that continues to witness rising numbers of food and nutritional insecurity.  The Pillar aims to catalyse comprehensive transformation of African food systems, so that the way we produce, transport, store, process and trade in food is done in such a way that protects the environment and guarantees human health.

**Job Highlight:
**
In this role, you will work closely with colleagues in the Vital Landscapes Pillar team to provide financial and budgetary support of all projects under the food, forests and water program. This will include liaising with individual project managers to develop, manage and monitor grants and contracts, developing budgets for new proposals, tracking expenditures, preparing financial regular reports and discussing them with the respective project managers, processing invoices, managing and monitoring subawards under the pillar, participating in audits, preparing invoices and donor accountability for all financial aspects of the projects. Your other duties may include supporting program administrative tasks, events coordination and other appropriate duties as assigned.

You will work closely with the Vital Landscapes Pillar team, WRI Africa Finance Manager and Global Operations and Finance teams, including the cost and pricing team, grants and contracts team, and accounting teams.

You will report to the Vital Landscapes Pillar Lead and the WRI Africa Finance and Operations Manager.

This position will be based in the WRI Nairobi Office and will be a hybrid model of remote and in-office working.

What you will do:

Financial Management (50%)

• Develop annual program budgets, in coordination with the Project Specialist, the Director of Vital Landscapes and the WRI Africa Finance and Operations Manager
• Develop project budgets, notes and narratives for funding proposals on a need-by-need basis following different donor requirements while adhering to WRI cost and pricing rules and regulations
• Regularly review, update, and monitor all transactions, commitments, and revenue flows for the pillar and projects to support healthy financial management
• Prepare quarterly projections and reviews to be discussed with the respective project managers while advising on any risks and provide risk mitigation strategies, or course correction
• Update and maintain project budgets utilizing WRI’s budgeting and forecasting software (TM1)
• Lead all grant finance aspects of the projects for grant close-outs
• Lead on all financial reporting to donors for all projects under the pillar
• Create and implement financial best practices for the projects, in line with WRI and donor policies for effective operational efficiency
• Lead all audit processes for the project providing detailed feedback to audit queries on financial matters of the grants
• Monitor all subgrants including budgets, financial reports and provide relevant advice for effective operational and financial efficiency
• Perform periodic financial analysis on all projects to detect and resolve problems.

Grants and Contracts Management (30%)

• Review draft contracts and provide advice on financial compliance
• Monitor program/project performance against grant and contract requirements and deliverables and ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of grants and contracts
• Ensure financial contract requirements are fully understood and met by all partners/subgrantees
• Provide training and support as needed to project partners on grant compliance and financial reporting.

Administration (20%)

• Process documentation for project commitments (i.e., agreements, contracts, payment requests and invoices)
• Liaise with the Project Specialist to advise the team on budget management and all grant and contract related deadlines, raise and address any financial issues in coordination with the Vital Landscapes Director and Project managers
• Support the team on Program administrative tasks, events coordination and other appropriate duties as assigned.

**
What you will need:**

• Education: You have a completed bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, business or a related field. You have qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Kenya or with other accredited institutions

• Experience: You have 6+ years full-time relevant work experience in financial management, grant administration and project operations in a non-profit setting

• You have proven experience organizing and managing detailed and complex budgeting structures, donor reporting and/or grant or financial management

• You have experience working with international teams or on projects involving international donors or partners,

• You have experience preparing financial proposal and reports for donors

• You have budgeting experience with Excel and complex spreadsheets, or other budgeting software

• You have experience working on multiple projects

• Languages: You will have written and spoken proficiency in English. Ability to understand and communicate in French is desirable.

Opportunity summary:

Location: Nairobi, Kenya Office

Start date: Upon mutual agreement with qualified candidate

Type of Contract: Limited-term, renewable

Length of Contract: 1 year, subject to extension based on availability of funds.

Potential Salary:

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 27 December 2022. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• 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.
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
• Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.