Sunday, September 29, 2013

Catholic Relief Services Vacancy : Grants Manager

Catholic Relief Services is the official agency of the United States Catholic Conference and currently recruits for the position of a Grant Manager.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is recruiting to fill the following position:

Job Title: Grants Manager

Band:
 Band E-1
Location: Benue
Duration: Full Time

Responsibilities
  • Reports to the DCOP
Sub-recipients Financial Assessment:
  • Lead the assessments of all sub-recipients using CRS HQ Finance's guidance for stratification of the sub recipients for SMILE grant.
  • Assist the sub-recipients in preparing a Corrective Action Plan within sixty calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit that addresses each of the identified weaknesses in any of the ten assessed areas scored below 75%.
  • Assist Program Managers in making sure that the sub recipients addresses all issues listed in the Corrective Action Plan within 120 calendar days of the assessment or monitoring visit
Sub-recipients Financial Monitoring
  • Serve as the principal point of contact on Grant Management and compliance issues with Program Managers, CRS/Nigeria
  • Finance and Compliance staff.
  • Lead the training and implementation of the new CRS/HQ sub-recipient monitoring policy for SMILE project within CR5 Nigeria.
  • Coordinate the development and implementation of Grant Management capacity building activities such as trainings at the sites, in close collaboration with CRS Nigeria finance and compliance staff.
  • Ensure SMILE project within the Country Program has in place and adheres to a schedule of planned monitoring visits of sub-recipients during each year. The basis for the selection, timing and frequency of its monitoring visits should be properly documented.
  • Ensure financial and programming staffs participate in the financial monitoring, including site visits, of sub- recipient activities. The trip reports must indicate the monitoring steps performed, the processes reviewed, and the result of the testing and reviews.
  • Ensure all monitors prepare and submit a written trip report for each visit to a Sub-recipient.
  • Review and analyze monitoring reports on a timely manner and sign off for further follow-up
  • Work with sub-recipients to correct weaknesses detected by internal and external auditors, SMILE project management or CRS Nigeria finance and compliance staff.
  • Ensure sub-recipients' internal control systems are reviewed at least annually by auditors or CRS/SMILE project monitors effectively to ensure that their financial duties are adequately segregated.
  • Ensure SMILE project and CRS Nigeria obtains assurances that each local and foreign sub-recipient to which it provides funding that expends $300,000 or more of USAID funds in the sub recipient's fiscal year, complies with the requirement to undergo an independent annual audit each year it equals or exceeds that threshold.
  • Ensure SMILE project Sub-recipients evaluate and effectively monitor their lower tier sub-recipients.
Sub-recipient Financial Support
  • Ensure that the CRS Nigeria finance and compliance staff provide direct technical support in all aspects of finance for sub-recipient under SMILE project
  • Orient accounting and project management staff in relevant and appropriate donors financial management policies, procedures, and standards
  • Ensure integrity of donor grants financial reporting and the effective control of financial assets. Regularly monitor and assess sub-recipient ability to accurately record and post all financial transactions and provide feedback to CoP, DCoP and CRS Finance Manager.
  • Advice and ensures on GAAP and basic accounting records to be maintained at Sub-recipient.
Grants Management and Budgeting
  • In coordination with SMILE CoP and DCoP prepares all required sub-recipient agreements and monitors grant amendments, update grant files, submit copy of amendment documents to CRS Nigeria and HQ finance and monitor grant expiry period.
  • Ensure that donor required reports are prepared accurately and disseminated within the due dates.
  • Coordinate with HQ finance to ensure that donor reports that are generated by HQ finance are sent out to the relevant donor.
  • Coordinate grant closure activities with the CoP, DCoP and respective CRS Nigeria staff and ensure that expired sub-grants are fully closed out within 90 days limit
  • Review cash disbursement advance journals, ensuring accurate postings particularly to accounts 1231, 1232, and 6166.
  • Review and approve liquidation journals ensuring accurate postings particularly to accounts 1231, 1232, and 6166, and that proper sub-recipient accounts (T-codes) are charged.
  • Review posted journals for errors and recommend correction when necessary
  • Takes a leaden developing SMILE cash projections and communicates to CRS Nigeria and HQ finance units
  • Participate in the preparation of the budget commensurate with the program implementation plan and provides technical advice to the COP and DCoP on budget submissions from all SMILE sub-recipients
  • Review consortium members and or tub-recipient budgets and provide comments/recommend approval by Cop.
  • Develop effective budget monitoring tools and implement them for all SMILE project sub-recipients.
  • Actively engage in budget discussions and generate feedback for SMILE senior management team on adverse budget variances in monthly 6CR meetings and results from sub-recipient monitoring
  • Actively attend SMILE Management Team Meetings on weekly basis and contribute to the overall team work spirit of SMILE project and CRS Nigeria.
  • Address the needs and the implementation of trainings on budgeting and compliance with all relevant SMILE protect sub-recipients.
  • Contribute in new project sub-recipient proposal budgets review and revisions when required. Staff management:
Staff Management
  • Lead, direct, mentor and coach SMILE Finance and compliance officers.
  • Take lead in setting annual SMILE project finance and compliance targets and ensure that specific tasks are built in every compliance staff Performance plan.
  • Motivate, develop, coach and appraise subordinate staff in accordance with CR5 Performance Management System (PMS) and Catholic Social Teachings (CST)
  • Ensure that supervisees' job descriptions are reviewed and updated at least on annual basis to ensure adequate workload distribution and support to staff
Requirements
  • Associate Member of ICAN Nigeria
  • Maser's Degree in Administration or Finance, Organizational Development, Management or other relevant field.
  • Must be a matured, motivated, problem solving individual with high levels of initiative
  • Minimum of five years relevant experience, preferably with an International Organization.
  • Thorough knowledge of best practices in capacity strengthening with prior experience of integrating this with programming; Experience in curriculum design and development.
  • Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through participatory adult learning, mentoring, distance education, and other formal and non-formal methods; Experience in the design of and delivery of training workshops.
  • Must demonstrate a good understanding of contemporary management best practices
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Familiarity with HIV/AIDS and working in PEPFAR projects is added advantage
  • Demonstrate high level of initiative, diplomacy and tact
  • Excellent knowledge of computer software MS Office (PowerPoint and Excel especially);
  • Must be flexible and be able to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Ability to travel as needed
Application Closing Date
9th October, 2013

Method Of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to download the CRS application form and send with a detailed CV attached as a word documents to: olajumoke.ogunjuyigbe@crs.org applicants must state the position applied for in the CRS application form and in the subject of the email e.g ADMIN OFFICER