Contracts & Grants Officer

Position Summary

The Contracts and Grants Officer will provide critical compliance support to our global program portfolio by ensuring adherence to USG and donor rules and regulations and build the capacity of Headquarters and field based staff in the compliance function. The incumbent will review contractual documents and budgets, provide regulatory guidance and training to program implementers, develop and revise templates to standardize procedures and assist projects with guidance on regulatory issues/challenges from start-up to close-out.  In addition, the incumbent will help contribute to the development of organizational policies and best practices. 

General Responsibilities:

• The Contracts & Grants Officer will be responsible for a wide range of functions, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring contract compliance with USAID and other donors, federal regulations, and CNFA policies and procedures by reviewing and approving subcontracts, grants, consultant agreements, and procurement documents for final approval and signature;
• Serving as a technical resource by responding to compliance related questions and advising on various contractual matters and CNFA policy;
• Researching regulatory issues and stays up-to-date on revisions to relevant regulations;
• Developing and/or revising program templates and ancillary business forms;
• Delivering trainings for HQ and field office staff in a variety of contract, subcontract, grants, and allowance-related topics;
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating sub-awards and amendments;
• Supporting the systematic closeout of programs in the portfolio;
• Reviewing complex proposal budgets and budget narratives; 
• Reviewing solicitations and other donor budget instructions to ensure accuracy of calculations, internal consistency, and that budgeted costs are allowable and in accordance with donor regulations and CNFA policies.  Recommending and negotiating changes as required;
• Assisting in responding to a variety of unique contractual project issues as needed;
• Participating in the development of corporate policies and standards and thinking creatively and critically about ways to streamline operating procedures; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience focused on contracts and grants-related compliance; and
• At least one year of experience working with USG-funded contracts or agreements; preferably with the USG;
• Strong knowledge of USG Assistance and Acquisition Regulations and Framework (FAR, AIDAR, ADS, CFR), experience with USAID preferred;
• Ability to conduct analyses on a wide variety of grant management and budget issues; synthesize information and present findings in a cohesive and understandable format;
• Ability to independently read and interpret contractual documents, and grants, operating instructions, policies, and procedure manuals;
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work with large amounts of data;
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Accuracy, attention to detail and client focused with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team using a solution oriented approach;
• Ability to relate to and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of a second language is a plus;
• Ability to train others on contractual matters;
• Ability to travel for short-trips domestically and internationally as needed.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook required.
• Authorization to work in the United States required.

Position Summary:

Under the direction of the Field Operations Accounts Manager (FOAM), The Project Finance Officer (PFO) will provide support and guidance to CNFA’s programs by working with the HQ Program Team and in-country management team, particularly, the Finance and Operations staff with tasks related to accounting, banking, budgeting, procurement and financial management to ensure full compliance with rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up, and implementation of the effective internal control framework.

The PFO must develop professional relationships with project personnel to ensure responsiveness to local needs and recognition of USAID’s local standard practices, especially with regard to procurements, travel and local employment standards.

The PFO must read and understand CNFA’s Power of Attorney provided and the CNFA’s Delegation of Authorities issued and follow-on delegations as periodically required.

General Responsibilities:

• Ensure updated, clear concise written accounting and procurement procedures manuals;
• Facilitate timely, accurate month-end closing, cash requests and cash reconciliations;
• Support the month-end closing processes to ensure organized, complete, properly approved packages are delivered to CNFA Home Office in accordance with the month-end closing schedule provided by the FOAM and review for completeness and accuracy all month-end accounting information;
• Maintain control over the project filing systems to ensure complete and organized accounting files, especially with regard to original procurement documents and personnel salary files;
• Ensure organized and complete accounting file documentation is maintained by the field office and Headquarters and develop procedures for the systematic transfer of all original documentation to Headquarters;
• Employ financial oversight and control mechanisms and procedures to ensure that all program expenses are in accordance with CNFA financial policies, procedures and rules and regulations;
• Review and provide support for the financial aspects of contract execution of local and international sub-implementing partners;
• Develop and periodically update Project Policies and Procedures guidelines for procurement, accounting and budgeting;
• Ensure the smooth implementation of project accounting activities, including (but not limited to): timely and accurate bank reconciliations, invoicing, monitoring of expenditure levels against budget and funding obligations, financial projections and submission of monthly financial reports to CNFA HQ;
• Provide the field finance teams with information and guidance on program financial performance;
• Regularly prepare and present financial reports, analysis, and recommendations concerning relevant financial issues;
• Review partner spending in relation to budgets, and develop monthly budget pipelines for CNFA and partner expenditures.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Finance or related field.  Master’s Degree preferred.  May substitute work experience to meet education requirement.
• Minimum 3 years of project level accounting or finance experience with USAID funded and other donor funded projects.
• Experience with USAID budgets;
• Understanding of US Government rules and regulations;
• Proficiency in Excel software required;
• Fluency in written and spoken French required;
• A high degree of integrity, accountability, energy and flexibility;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work in fast-paced environment;
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Experience with a computerized accounting system ; Working experience with Costpoint and Quickbooks preferred;
• Strong budgeting and analytical capacity;
• Strong conceptual, verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to initiate and organize work while establishing priorities in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment to meet deadlines with attention to detail;
• Ability to develop strong trusting relationships in order to gain support and achieve results;
• Ability to manage multiple conflicting priorities;
• Ability to work in an environment with international objectives;
• Ability to be flexible and interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with employees at all levels; and
• Highly skilled in coordination and project management.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite.

Please be advised that employment is contingent on your current permanent and legal entitlement to work in the U.S. CNFA does not sponsor work visas.