Director of Finance, Grants and Contracts (FGC)

Job Description

The Director of FGC serves as a liaison between finance, compliance, and program staff, ensuring accurate and timely information is provided, as needed, to assist in the day to day management of the business and to drive management/business, strategic and budgetary decisions. This position is the main lead in the PP budgeting process of revenues and expenses, periodic re-forecasting, performing any required financial analytics on P&P programs and primary point of contact on all PP finance matters including field finances on specific projects. The position works regularly with the Compliance, Operations & Awards (COA) team as it relates to compliance, information sharing, and internal processes which cut across PP, Finance, and COA.

Main Responsibilities

Financial Reporting, Monitoring and Analysis

• Work with program managers to ensure that best practices are sought and that each program/project is provided the necessary financial metrics (such as burn rate against award and obligation, cost share raised and spent, USNO and field budget versus actual, etc.) to make informed decisions; establish and maintain a recurring monthly meeting schedule with appropriate managers to review and analyze the data related to programs/projects.
• Review and/or enhance monitoring tools on the use of unrestricted funds to cover non-billable project costs and work with the program managers to minimize non-billable expenses;
• Develop and/or enhance project level and portfolio-wide and P&P-wide management financial reports; perform financial and trend analysis for the SVP of PP and establish and maintain a monthly schedule to review the analysis of the financial position of the P&P programs/projects.
• Communicate monthly financial results and discuss action items at the senior IP staff meetings or other appropriate venue as determined by the SVP of PP;
• Work with the Director of COA to develop or refine processes and procedures which help ensure efficiency and information sharing;
• Oversee the preparation of the donor financial reports by the Grants & Contracts Finance Officers; in conjunction with the Controller, Grants & Designated Funds, review and approve sign-off by the CFO, as needed;
• Serve as a back-up to the Director of COA on FFATA and other mandatory reporting;
• Assist with the development of financial performance metrics for PP budget managers;
• Provides financial numbers for and is an active participant in the PP quarterly portfolio review meetings

Strategic Support, Budget & Planning

• Provide ongoing strategic support to the CFO and the SVP P&P by participating in forecasting, modeling and other strategic planning activities
• Manage the PP budget planning process and conduct periodic re-forecasting of revenues and expenses;
• Develop and monitor the budget for the Finance, Grants & Contracts unit
• Recommend pricing strategies for new business proposals that maximize cost competitiveness while ensuring full cost recovery;
• Formally participate in the Business Development (BD) proposal budget process by serving as reviewer of all US government (USG) cost and budget proposals with Finance Officers and BD pricing staff/costers, providing feedback and ultimately providing Finance approval of the final budget to be submitted.
• Work with the SVP P&P and senior management to identify and address financial risks in the project portfolio
• Support the COO and the SVP P&P in the quarterly portfolio review process
• Read solicitation documents from BD and provide input to the decision-making during Go/No-go proposal meetings or provide requests for clarification;
• Serve as an advisor on financial aspects of USG sub-contracting;
• Review and sign-off on budget modifications and realignments for existing USG programs/projects;

Audit and Other Matters

• Assists the Senior Director of Finance in the coordination of the Uniform Guidance audit as needed
• Review IH Global Assurance audits and Grants & Contracts Finance Officer’s field compliance review reports for determining follow-up actions including communication with the PP project managers;
• Act as a resource on indirect costs in accordance with the organizational NICRA, as needed.
• Serve as the final approver for unallowable costs as it relates to costs on specific projects that have been identified as potential issues from field visits or reviews of donor financial reporting documentation.
• Seek new ways to expand the use of accounting software and Salesforce to support program and management reporting needs.
• Collaborate with COA, legal advisor, project team or others as necessary in addressing or advising on any USG audits of programs/projects outside of the normal annual external Uniform Guidance Audit.
• Responsible for doing periodic updates to the International Aid Transparency Initiative reporting (IATI).

Training, Supervision & Coaching

• Guide P&P program managers in understanding program budgets, burn rates, LOE usage, direct and indirect costs, and other financial matters to build accountability for program financial results;
• Direct and supervise the Grants & Contracts Finance Officers; distribute project portfolio workload allocations; plan Finance Officer field visits with the team based on risk, project materiality, etc.; work with team in all aspects of financial reporting, budgeting, and financial management of projects, allowability, cost principles, procedures, rules/regulations;
• Assist the Finance team in the design and delivery of periodic in-house trainings and workshops related to financial management, budgeting, NICRA, policies and procedures, etc. as needed;
• Develop and manage relationships across teams through building trust, understanding requirements, and being proactive.

Qualifications Needed to Be Successful in the Job

A demonstrated commitment to creating a successful and engaging culture for all team members in support of Plan International USA’s mission.

Competencies

• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Problem-solving, analytical and decision making skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and coordinate activities among teams
• Demonstrated ability to work within multinational teams
• Strong knowledge of finance, accounting, and budgeting principles, , including international issues such as addressing foreign currency exchanges or other issues that can arise while working with Country Offices
• Proven home office and international USG funded project experience in financial management and oversight of institutional donor awards
• Ability to analyze financial data and prepare financial-related reports
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, both oral and written, with Spanish and/or French a plus
• Supervisory and coaching skills
• Sound decision making and judgment
• Well organized and able to manage multiple priorities
• Competent computer skills, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and general ledger software

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree, preferred; preferably in accounting or business administration
• Knowledge and experience with USG Rules and Regulations and of other institutional funders within the field of international development. In-depth understanding of indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 700, FAR and AIDAR.
• 10+ years’ experience in finance-related field, demonstrating increasing management responsibilities in a similar size organization implementing USG international contracts and cooperative agreements
• Preference given to candidates with INGO experience and candidates with field/home office experience; experience as a controller in a business unit is a strong plus
• Experience in INGO with diverse (private and institutional) funding
• 5+ years supervisory experience
• Preference given to experience in the non-profit and International Development areas as well as experience with both the field and home-office perspectives
• Demonstrated capacity to work finance operations in the field of international development

Physical and Mental Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job

Work Environment

• Typical office environment
• International travel may be required occasionally based on matters such as reporting needs, training needs or other global meetings
• Minimal domestic travel

Key Interactions

Within Plan

• CFO, COO, CEO and SVP of PP
• Director COA, PP budget managers, Senior Director of Finance, Controller, Grants & Designated Funds
• Plan International USA Management and business unit leaders
• Finance staff (including oversight of Grants & Contracts Finance Officers)
• International Headquarters finance staff
• Grants and Finance Managers globally
• Country office staff, as needed
• Global Assurance and the Counter-Fraud Unit

Outside Plan

• Grants and Contract donors, as needed
• Vendors, as needed
• Federal and other institutional donor agencies
• Audit firm

About the Organization

Plan International USA (Plan) is part of a global organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners to:

• Empower children, young people, and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability.
• Drive change in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels through our reach, experience, and knowledge of the realities children face.
• Work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises and to overcome adversity.
• Support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood.

Founded in 1937, Plan now works in more than 70 countries. Our programs in water and sanitation, health, education, child protection, economic empowerment and disaster response directly impacted x people in 2017 and our advocacy work made progress in addressing girls’ rights by bringing girls’ voices to the forefront in policy discussions on early marriage, sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence.

Plan International USA has two offices, located in Washington, DC and Warwick, Rhode Island. It is part of the global Federation, Plan International, which is comprised of collaborative partnerships between 21 national offices and 51 country offices. Plan International USA is registered 501(c)(3) and has an independent Board of Directors.