Project Finance and Risk Advisor
Sightsavers implements projects in over 30 countries in Africa and South Asia working to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities. We are looking for a Project Finance and Risk Advisor to work closely with country office staff and other support teams to ensure that projects funded by donors run smoothly.
Location: Haywards Heath, West Sussex with some flexibility around home working and hours worked
Contract: Two-year fixed term
Salary: £28,000 - £33,000 depending upon experience
About the role
The Project Finance and Risk Advisor, reporting to the Head of Programme Finance, specialises in support and advice of project financial management and donor compliance to key stakeholders across the organisation. They offer support and advice across the key stages of Sightsavers’ projects life cycle: design, launch, implementation and close-out. They ensure that project financial planning, monitoring and reporting are delivered on time and to a high standard. This role also provides support to Sightsavers’ overall project financial management processes through capacity building and special projects/ objectives.
The main driver of workflow and structure in the Project Finance and Risk Advisor role is the project cycle for donor funded projects. A project follows the cycle: Design, Start-up and Inception, Implementation, Evaluation and Review, Close-out or re-design. Risk management and compliance are central and key duties and accountabilities include:
- 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 involved role so see the job description for full details. Please note that there will be an expectation that you can occasionally visit our offices in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (RH16 3BW). Once it is possible to travel again, we anticipate that there will be 3 - 4 international trips per year of approximately one week each.
About you
This job may be for you if:
- You are proactive by nature and have initiative.
- You are comfortable taking decisions and have a good sense of when to escalate issues.
- You are quick to notice irregularities, yet you do not lose sight of the bigger picture.
- You enjoy solving problems and have a keen eye for improvement.
- You communicate clearly. You adapt your language and pace to suit your listeners.
- You are confident holding close working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Jobholder Requirements
Essential:
- Able to demonstrate finance and accountancy experience or excellent numerical skills
- Advanced Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
- Experience of working for an international (INGO)
- Proven experience of institutional donor project financial management
- Good English language skills and experience working in English
- Good communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strong attention to detail with a willingness to follow issues through to resolution
- Continuous improvement mindset, seeking ways to improve processes and mitigate risk
Desirable:
- Proven experience of USAID, EC and FCDO project financial management
- Proven experience of financial training to finance staff
- Able to explain financial issues and procedures to a non-financial audience.
- Experience of a computer-based accounting system
- Any knowledge of languages in addition to English (French, Portuguese, Wolof, or Swahili would be particularly useful)
- High level of programmatic and financial understanding of the project cycle
Benefits
In addition to our offices being an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London, we offer some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts.
Next Steps
We anticipate that remote interviews will take place from early July onwards and the evaluation process will include a one-hour Excel assessment. Due to project deadlines, we are keen to fill this role as quickly as possible so applications will be considered as soon as they are received.
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.
Closing date: 4 July 2021
How to apply:
https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/sightsavers/vms/e/careers/positions/d6nds455Pij7Kmc15SB-_S