Grants Compliance Officer (French speaking)

At an exciting time of growth, AmplifyChange is seeking an enthusiastic and conscientious Grants Compliance Officer.

This role is key to delivering funds to our Grantee Partners and involves working on the financial management of our grants as a member of our Grants Compliance Team. The team is responsible for ensuring that funds under our management reach our Grantee Partners and are used for their intended purpose. In doing this, the team supports with due diligence assessments on all prospective Grantee Partners, analyses the financial reporting and forecasts of Grantee Partners, and works to prevent and investigate fraud across the portfolio. The team also oversees the proper implementation of the recommendations raised at the due diligence stage and contributes to the strengthening of our Grantee Partners internal processes and controls.

AmplifyChange is a bi-lingual fund so fluency in French is essential as the postholder will support our grantees, who are based across Africa, South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This is a very rewarding role where the successful candidate will work closely with the grants support team, as well as the Grantee Partners themselves. The role will provide support to the Grants Compliance Manager and will be responsible for leading on the financial management of a portfolio of grants.

You will be well-organised and able to manage your own workload. Your attention to detail will be exceptional, and you will have a strong understanding of the sensitivities necessary in this type of work.

The position includes the opportunity for international travel to visit Grantee Partners.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

You will work closely with the Grants Compliance Manager, the Finance team, the Grant Support Teams, the Operations Team and the Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation Team while completing a broad range of compliance related tasks.

As part of this role, you will:

• Support the Grants Compliance Manager with financial eligibility criteria checks on prospective Grantee Partners.
• Support on due diligence assessments where necessary.
• Review and approve budgets submitted by Grantee Partners.
• Review and approve documentation provided by the Grantee Partner in relation with the recommendations raised at due diligence stage.
• Conduct regular financial management checks on grantee partners including the verification of financial reports submitted by grantee partners every 3 or 6 months against budgeted workplans.
• Carry out quarterly expenditure verification of grants to ensure adherence to agreed standards and identify instances of fraud.
• Carry out reviews of audited financial statements as well as project audit reports submitted by the Grantee Partners.
• Provide technical support for the Grant Support and Operations Teams, acting as the first point of contact for all financial management related issues arising on assigned grants, particularly ensuring budget templates and financial reporting processes are understood and adhered to.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the Grantee Partners directly by acting as the first point of contact for all financial and compliance related issues.
• Where appropriate, conduct on-site monitoring visits with our Grantee Partners or participate in in-country convenings as the AmplifyChange compliance representative.
• Provide support to our online grantee community in the Circle platform.
• Contribute to the further development of our business processes and the grants compliance systems by sharing feedback and suggestions with relevant colleagues.
• Any other duties as reasonably required.

Please be aware that some of the SRHR material you will be required to review as part of your compliance role may be of a distressing and sensitive nature. Relevant support is available in this regard.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The ideal candidate will be someone who is enthusiastic and conscientious, with excellent attention to detail. A warm and polite approach is important, as the role will involve frequent interaction with various stakeholders including Grantee Partners and colleagues. You will be responsible for the compliance processes for your own grant portfolio and ensuring the smooth running of the grant compliance processes related to this portfolio.

You will bring a calm, confident, capable demeanour to this role, with a clear emphasis on collegiate working. You will successfully engage remotely and in-person with our colleagues, external consultants, Grantee Partners and other stakeholders. You will enjoy working in an entrepreneurial environment where everyone wears many hats and will take pride in supporting a purpose driven not-for-profit. Crucially, your positive energy will make you a natural addition to the team.

Essential:

• Sensitivity to, and support for, the values and general aims of AmplifyChange.
• Fluency in written and spoken French language.
• Educated to A-level or equivalent.
• Essential IT skills inclusive of MS Office; advanced Excel and Accounting software.
• Demonstrable interest in international development and SRHR.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment liaising with diverse teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, especially dealing with people from multicultural backgrounds.
• Good commercial acumen and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage a varied workload and prioritise tasks, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to use initiative, with a proactive and problem-solving attitude.
• Self-motivated, with proven ability to work autonomously.
• Ability to work flexibly and undertake international travel where necessary.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a finance or risk management role, with proven experience in some aspect of due diligence, risk management or financial reporting.
• Experience of in a charity or non-profit organisation.
• Experience with grants management software, with Fluxx experience an added advantage.
• Experience of working in SRHR or international development.
• Experience of working in Africa, South Asia and/or the MENA region.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Fluency in Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Portuguese, or other language skills relevant to the fund.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a full-time position at 37.5 hours per week, reporting to the Grants Compliance Manager.

International travel will be required as part of this role.

AmplifyChange is based in Bath and we operate on a hybrid working model with at least one day per week in the office. Requests for flexible working arrangements will be considered. The successful candidate must have proof of the right to work in the UK by the start of their employment. Please also be aware that the Grants Officer role does not meet the minimum salary requirements for sponsorship.