Finance Officer: Grants and Management Accounts

Finance Officer: Grants and Management Accounts

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) is an international human rights organisation that supports forest communities who live in tropical forests and depend on them for their livelihoods. FPP is a UK charity with 65 staff based around the globe and an administrative hub in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire. We are looking for a highly motivated finance professional to join our Finance team with experience in the not-for-profit sector both with grant monitoring and reporting to donors, as well as a familiarity with management accounts for charities.

About Forest Peoples Programme

FPP works with indigenous forest peoples and local communities in 20 countries around the tropical forest belt and has, for over 30 years, been working to support them to secure their rights, control their lands and decide their own futures.

We do this by working side by side with indigenous and local groups and by bringing international expertise, including legal expertise, to support their cause – from mapping traditional lands to litigating governments, from engaging powerful global companies to shifting UN standards.

Job Description and Person Specification

Our work is funded by a large number of grants from governments and foundations. We are looking for someone to join the team to help with managing the budgeting, tracking the spend, working closely with local partner organisations to support their reporting requirements, and preparing reports to donors. Many of these grants are based in Latin America, and so fluency in Spanish is highly desirable. The role will manage the finances of a portfolio of grants (approx. 80% of the role) and will work closely with the grant budget holders, supporting them in ensuring that the funds are used effectively in achieving the objectives of the partners and FPP and comply with donor requirements. Where possible, the role will also support building partners’ capacity.

Applicants should also be comfortable taking on some tasks to help with the production of monthly management accounts, particularly in relation to salary allocations from grants, balance sheet accounts, and cover for Accounts Payable and payroll (approx. 20% of the role).

Specific Responsibilities

• Jointly create budgets for proposals with programme staff, including working with partners to budget for their element of the proposal. Budgets should be realistic and phased and aim to cover all internal costs and overheads.
• Provide frequent updates of expenditure against budget and advise the Grant Budget Holder (GBH) of any issues. Answer ad hoc queries regarding allocation and availability of budget as needed.
• Receive and review documentation from partners to ensure that it matches the reported expenditure and is sufficient for grant and statutory audits.
• Review, support and build the capacity of the partner as needed. Awareness of fraud and controls is important. Support may be provided remotely, in person or through other means.
• Prepare reports of expenditure for donors in line with the grant contracts and answer other financial queries as needed.
• Support the GBH in managing the salary allocations for staff and updating our internal consolidated forecast for these allocations.
• Support the creation of contracts, Letters of Agreement, purchase orders and other documentation as required as part of the grant implementation and to facilitate payments.
• Review expenses of staff allocated to this postholder, reconcile against advances and support the staff member with any queries.
• Update our consolidated forecasts and budgets for changes in grant income and expenditure.
• Manage the grant audit process with the external auditors to a successful outcome, including providing transaction lists, supporting documentation and supporting the partners where necessary.
• Ensure that any compliance conditions within grant contracts are kept, in line with FPP internal policies and procedures.
• Play an active role within the Finance team, supporting the creation and improvement of policies and procedures and more widely providing support to other team members as necessary.

Management Accounts (20%)

• Lead the process of the monthly allocation of grant salary budgets to cover individual staff salary costs, including posting monthly salary allocation journals.
• Review, reconcile and lead any action required on balance sheet accounts, including prepayments and accruals, other debtors, other creditors and contract debtors.
• Produce the quarterly management accounts using the standard process and template provided and with support from the Finance Manager.
• Work with and provide cover for the Accounts Officer on Purchase Ledgers and monthly payroll.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Knowledge

Essential

• Finalist/ part-qualified CIMA/ACA/ACCA/AAT or equivalent professional training in other countries.
• Familiarity with accounting packages.
• Understanding of audit principles and processes.
• Knowledge of anti-bribery requirements, procurement and other compliance considerations.

Desirable

• Fully qualified CIMA/ACA/ACCA/AAT.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working closely with budget holders, supporting them in the successful financial delivery of projects.
• Experience of working as part of a small team.
• Experience of assisting with management accounts and year-end processes.
• Experience of grant reporting and grant budgeting of large restricted funds.
• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector, ideally internationally.

Desirable

• Experience of reporting and budgeting in foreign currencies.

Skills

Essential

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Good relationship-building skills and an ability to present complex finance information in an accessible way to a variety of audiences.
• High-level Excel skills.
• Experience of remote working, particularly with people from different cultures.
• Strong alignment with FPP’s values and principles.
• Availability to travel overseas for 1–2 weeks (likely to be no more than 2–3 times per year, if at all).

Desirable

• Fluency in Spanish is highly desirable.
• Competency in French would be an advantage.
• Experience of working overseas.
• Understanding of human rights and/or indigenous populations.

Terms

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time position
• Location: FPP Offices in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, UK (some remote working might be considered for the right UK-based candidate, with regular visits to the office (at your own expense) as a requirement)
• Salary: £36,000 – £41,000 dependent on qualifications and experience

The right to live and work in the UK is a requirement for this position.

Forest Peoples Programme offers 25 days’ annual leave plus UK bank holidays and the days off between Christmas and New Year.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 21 October 2023.

We are hoping to recruit promptly and will interview as relevant applications are received.

Apply Here