Forest Trends Association Hiring for Finance and Grants Manager (Specialist) Job at Washington, DC Full Time

FOREST TRENDS

Job Description

Title: Finance and Grants Manager (Specialist), FPTF

Reports to: Senior Director, FPTF

Location: Forest Trends, Washington DC office. Remote candidates may be considered depending on location and must be able to be online during working hours EST.

Salary range: $65,000 – $80,000, commensurate with skills and experience. Excellent benefits package includes 401(k) employer match and generous contribution to health insurance.

Summary:

Forest Trends seeks a Finance and Grants Manager (Specialist) to support its Forest Policy, Trade and Finance
Program. This is an exciting role which will be primarily responsible for developing and maintaining internal program systems to facilitate effective grant management, leading on the development of consultant and vendor contracts in accordance with institutional and donor procurement protocols, and managing a complex budget of $3-4 million per year across multiple funding sources. Reporting to the Senior Director and supported by the Associate Directors, but with regular engagement with broad Forest Policy, Trade & Finance Program (FPTF) staff, consultants and partners around the world as well as DC-based central finance staff, the successful candidate will conceptualize new and innovative approaches to budget and expenditure tracking in the context of a large, multi-donor program.

This position is ideal for a self-starter who can prioritize competing demands, demonstrate initiative and responsibility, take ownership of a variety of tasks, and quickly become an integral member of our small team.
Successful candidates will have a background in international NGO program finance management and, ideally, experience working with bilateral donors, and be able to serve as a critical liaison between FPTF and central Finance staff, resolving issues as they arise. They must have the flexibility to work independently with minimal oversight and ensure work is completed accurately and within established deadlines. Impeccable attention to detail, time management skills, proactivity, and a collegial and cheerful demeanor are essential. We are seeking a big-picture thinker who can absorb new information, adapt, and problem-solve to keep the program running smoothly.

This is a full-time position (40 hours/week), based in Forest Trends’ Washington, DC office. The job posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Please note that prior authorization to work in the U.S. is required for this role.

About Forest Trends

Forest Trends pioneers innovative finance for conservation – promoting healthy forests, sustainable agriculture, clean water, robust climate action, protected biodiversity, and strong communities. We publish timely research, bring together diverse actors, and apply these approaches to make a difference on the ground, often blazing trails for bold and far-reaching policies in the process to prevent the destruction that comes from badly planned, unsustainable resource allocation and development.

Our Forest Policy Trade & Finance Initiative works across multiple sectors to create markets for legal forest products, and incentives to conserve and restore ecosystems. In doing so, we aim to enhance the livelihoods of local and indigenous forest-dependent communities and shift the economic paradigm to incentivize legal and sustainable forest management and transparent systems of governance. Our work sits at the intersection of natural resource governance, markets and trade, legal reforms, and indigenous rights. Since its creation in the early 2000s, FTPF has gained the trust of high-level government decision-makers and donors in key resource-producer and -consumer countries by producing timely data analysis with key insights on relevance for livelihoods, markets, and policy impact.

Key responsibilities.

• Budgets and Expenditure Tracking: o In close collaboration with FPTF management, maintain overall ($3-4 million/year) program budget across multiple grants, creating budget scenarios quickly, adjusting forecasts as needed and in keeping with the flexible nature of the program. At Manager level, the ideal candidate will be confident in running different budget scenarios based on confirmed / likely grants and working with programmatic needs to ensure that these budget scenarios will also be able to cover the needed deliverables. o On a monthly basis, review accounts system transaction listings against invoices and internal records, checking for accuracy and filing reclassifications as needed. o Answers inquiries and provides information to program staff and central finance team members on program finances, budget, and cash flow projections.
• Contracts and Procurement: o Draft contracts in coordination with programmatic leads and administer consultant contracts. Track hours billed against budgets, follow up with consultants and vendors to ensure timely and accurate delivery and invoicing; draft contract modifications and update procurement documents as needed. o Coordinate procurement processes for consultants and vendors. With input from FPTF programmatic leads, draft procurement forms, document competitive bidding processes, craft compelling narrative justifications, and ensure all procurement-related documentation meets institutional requirements and donor protocol and has all the required approval.
• Invoicing and Payments: o Track and prioritize FPTF accounts payable, ensuring that all consultant and vendor payments are transferred on a timely basis and in accordance with institutional, donor, and program needs. Liaise with consultants to communicate when payments are sent and resolve any issues. o On a monthly basis, review consultant/vendor invoices against stated deliverables and program budgets and submit all invoices for processing. o Assign staff timesheet allocations based on budget and track spending on staff time against budgets. o On a monthly basis, complete credit card reconciliation forms for FPTF senior team members. o Troubleshoot issues arising with consultant and vendor invoices and conduct ad-hoc trainings on proper invoicing procedures as needed with new partner organizations or individuals.
• New Business Development and Reporting: o On an annual and quarterly basis, draft program budget projections, budget-to-actual reports, and other documentation that tracks programmatic spending against targets. o Coordinate team efforts to complete and submit timely quarterly financial report/documents, proposal budgets, budget allocation reports, and transaction listings. o Produce documentation and other evidence as requested for auditing purposes. o Facilitate efforts and track donor payments to ensure these are timely. o Review and verifies program financial documents; maintains program financial business records.
• Review and verifies program financial documents; maintains well-organized records/filing systems
• Serve as an institutional expert on FPTF and donor policies and procedures and inform consultants and partners on institutional financial and procurement standards.

• Actively contribute to a culture of continual learning and adapting across FPTF and the whole organization
• Create processes and systems to track active contracts so programmatic leads can track deliverables to allocated budget, cash advances, and other related data.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in working with consultants and partners (including civil society organizations in remote areas of developing countries).
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications.

• Education in a relevant field (finance, business administration, economics, political science, environmental studies, international development).
• Demonstrated professional experience in financial management, ideally with an NGO/non-profit organization (for Specialist-level).
• Demonstrated expertise managing large and complex budgets, manipulating budget scenarios quickly, formulating expense projections, and drafting budget-to-actuals reports.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables) to create budget scenarios quickly. At Manager level, experience using Excel or other software to create systems for budgeting and monitoring expenditures in complex multi-grant scenarios.
• Initiative and ability for self-directed, independent work.
• Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and perform well under pressure.
• At least 5 years demonstrated professional experience in financial management, ideally with an NGO/non- profit organization (Manager level), and a track record of driving successful improvements to grant/finance management systems.
• Experience working on grant management with a non-profit, foundation, or government agency, particularly with large bilateral donors, e.g. UK FCDO (DFID), Norad, USAID. Knowledge of USG-specific spending and reporting requirements.
• Excellent communications skills in English including the ability to write clear, concise, persuasive, and grammatically correct content and ability to edit and summarize text written by others, to make complex text more accessible without compromising message and content.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and sense of humor; track record of working effectively with diverse array of collaborators from across the globe (including government officials and local communities). Ability to sense and convey contextually appropriate tone and style for formal and informal communication to individuals from various cultural backgrounds.
• Committed to the mission of Forest Trends.

Desired Qualifications.

• At least 5 years demonstrated professional experience in financial management, ideally with an NGO/non- profit organization (for Manager-level), and a track record of driving successful improvements to grant/finance management systems.

• Experience working on grant management with a non-profit, foundation, or government agency, particularly with large bilateral donors, e.g. UK FCDO (DFID), Norad, USAID. Knowledge of USG-specific spending and reporting requirements
• Demonstrated interest in forest governance, timber and commodity trade, or any core FPTF issue
• Experience living and working abroad
• A sophisticated understanding of the financial realities facing the NGO sector, particularly in spending and reporting against Official Development Assistance (ODA).

If you meet some but not all of the criteria for this position, but are keen on the role, please get in touch. We value and recognize experience that has been unpaid, such as grassroots or lived experience, and emphasize
“soft skills,” adaptability, and commitment.

To apply.

Please send your CV/resume and a brief cover letter to cv(at)forest-trends.org. Writing samples or other work showcasing your financial skills are also welcome as part of your application package, but not required. Subject line must read “Project and Grants Specialist, FPTF”. Position open until filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations:
Forest Trends follows the evolving CDC best practice measures to ensure a safe work environment.

Work Location: One location