Regional Finance and Grants Specialist

The Regional Finance and Grants Specialist is responsible for financial monitoring, donor compliance, grants and contract management, and support to operations and program staff to ensure organizational fiscal health. Provides expert analysis, budget management, reporting, and capacity building for projects and subawardees

Possible Locations – Nairobi Kenya/ Addis Ababa Ethiopia/Kampala-Uganda/ Lilongwe-Malawi/ Lusaka-Zambia/ Maseru-Lesotho/Johannesburg-South Africa/ Dar-es Salaam-Tanzania/ Abidjan-CDI

Key Duties And Responsibilities

Financial Management & Compliance -25%
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to ensure fiscal health.
• Monitor spending against budgets, flagging variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal controls, HFHI policies, and donor rules.
• Develop and implement project risk management and mitigation strategies
• Review and approve invoices, travel claims, and procurement requests for accuracy and compliance.
• Support audits through timely preparation, documentation, and follow-up on findings.

Grants & Contract Administration -25%
• Support proposal development teams with compliance input and cost/price reviews.
• Negotiate, review, and manage donor agreements, amendments, and budget realignments.
• Oversee full subaward lifecycle: pre-award assessments, drafting, monitoring, modifications, and close-out.
• Ensure timely donor reporting and manage approvals for budget revisions, extensions, and waivers
• Maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready grant and contract files

Capacity Building & Partner Support -25%
• Train and orient subrecipients on donor requirements, HFHI policies, and reporting standards
• Build internal staff capacity in grants and compliance management.
• Standardize award and subaward procedures and disseminate best practices.
• Mentor staff to strengthen budget monitoring, ownership, and accountability

Strategic Financial Advisory & Analysis -15%
• Conduct financial modeling, scenario analysis, and business case reviews.
• Recommend policies and process improvements to enhance compliance and efficiency.
• Analyze financial trends and performance data to advise on risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to strategic planning by aligning financial management with program goals.
• Represent finance in cross-functional meetings to ensure programmatic and financial objectives are integrated.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management -10%
• Serve as liaison between HFHI, donors, subrecipients, and internal teams on financial/grants matters.
• Communicate grant expectations, compliance updates, and policy changes clearly to stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with donors, auditors, partners, and internal staff.
• Foster collaboration across finance, program, and operations teams to achieve grant and project objectives.
• Promote accountability, transparency, and trust through timely communication and reliable support.

Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor’s in finance/accounting (or equivalent), related degree or equivalent work experience at appropriate level
• 8+ years in finance, grants, or operational management, preferably in donor-funded programs
• Proficient knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Internal Control Fundamental
• Creativity and innovativeness in work practices and process to enhance and improve efficiency
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Advanced analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and influence strategic objectives
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience with ERP systems (WORKDAY preferred).
• Experience managing UN-Habitat grants
• Knowledge of Adaptation Fund policies, procedures, and reporting requirements

Active support of HFHI Values:
• Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
• Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
• Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission
• Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.