Senior Project Finance and Risk Advisor

Sightsavers, Inc; Haywards Heath; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an established industry player as a Senior Project Finance and Risk Advisor, where your expertise in finance and risk management will play a crucial role in supporting international development projects. This two-year fixed-term contract offers the chance to work remotely while occasionally visiting the office in Haywards Heath. You will be instrumental in ensuring compliance with donor regulations and managing project financials effectively. If you have a passion for making a difference and possess strong analytical skills, this role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful projects and collaborate with diverse teams.

Qualifications

• Proven finance experience with a strong focus on project financial management.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with institutional donors like USAID.
• Excellent stakeholder management and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial management support throughout project life-cycles.
• Engage in capacity building and identify challenges in project finance.
• Support the Programme Finance team with special projects.

Skills

Finance and accountancy experience

Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel

Stakeholder management skills

Attention to detail

USAID project financial management

Financial training experience

Risk management experience

Fluent in English

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Computer-based accounting system

Job description

Overview

Location: United Kingdom, remote working with occasional travel to the office in Haywards Heath
Contract: Two-year fixed-term contract (renewable)
Salary: £38,000 - £42,000 dependent on experience.

We are actively looking to engage a Senior Project Finance and Risk Advisor (SPFRA) to join the Programme Finance Team here in the United Kingdom. This opportunity is offered on a two-year fixed-term contract which is renewable.

The SPFRA reports to the Head of Programme Finance and focuses on supporting and advising on project financial management and donor compliance to key stakeholders across the organisation. As a specialist role, the post-holder has a detailed understanding of the rules and regulations of an increasingly large portfolio of donors including USAID, the EC, FCDO and SCB and a wide range of other smaller-scale funders.

This role is integral in supporting and advising teams and stakeholders throughout key stages of Sightsavers’ project life-cycles through to close-out and exit. The post-holder ensures project financial planning, monitoring and reporting are delivered on time and to a very high standard. The role also provides support to Sightsavers’ overall project financial management processes through capacity building and key projects/objectives.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities but not limited to:

• Project cycle; financial management support and advice, project design and proposal development, project start-up and inception, implementation and close-out/exit.
• Capacity building; identifying gaps and challenges and generating/implementing the capacity building plan.
• Working on a portfolio independently, with support.
• Engaging in special objectives/special projects as assigned.
• Providing other support as a member of the Programme Finance team.

This is an engaging and involved role. Please note there is an expectation you will/can occasionally visit our offices in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (RH16 3BW) as and when required.

Skills and Experience

If you have similar experience within international development covering risk management tied to projects and their complexity, donor compliance, rules and regulations; contract value; reputational risk; budget development for bids; advising start-up activities for newly approved donor-funded projects; implementation, close out and exit of projects from a finance and risk perspective, this could be an ideal opportunity.

Essential:

• Proven finance and accountancy experience and highly numerate.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Previous experience of working for an international (INGO).
• A solid track record within institutional donor project financial management.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• An influencer with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and keen to resolve any issues.
• Evidences a continuous improvement mindset, seeking ways to improve processes and mitigate risk.
• Proven experience of USAID, EC and FCDO project financial management.
• Proven experience of financial training to finance staff.
• Able to travel internationally as required during the length of the tenure.

Desirable:

• Able to explain financial issues and procedures to a non-financial audience.
• Experience of a computer-based accounting system.
• Knowledge of additional languages for example French, Portuguese.
• A high level of programmatic and financial understanding of the project cycle.

The recruitment process will be in two stages. The first stage will be a written task using Excel lasting up to one hour. Candidates successful at this stage will then be invited to attend a virtual interview lasting up to one hour. We intend to conduct interviews from mid-January 2025 onwards. We reserve the right to close this ad early.

Next Steps

The deadline to submit your application is 5 January 2025 at 23:59 GMT.

To apply for this opportunity please simply click on the ‘apply’ icon. We are particularly keen to understand your motivation for working with Sightsavers.

As an equal opportunity Employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.