Grants Specialist 3 (Grade K – Contract Management)

The Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Specialist works under the direction of the SIF Manager to assure quality management of grantees from inception to closure. This position requires strong demonstrated experience in the areas of Finance and Grants management, as well as a strong knowledge of USG grant rules and regulations, funding mechanisms, and requirements. In addition to technical management and monitoring role, the incumbent will ensure that Grantee program and operations staff improve their understanding of different granting mechanisms and build their capacity to adhere to donor and RTI regulations related to reporting, human resources, asset management, and procurement.

Grants Management and Compliance

• Serve as a first point of contact on grant management and compliance issues with the local Grantees
• Guide the review of any new granting mechanisms to ensure adherence to donor requirements

related to eligibility for the local grantees, budget presentation, acceptability of cost allocation

and other requirements.

• Support timely agreement development/review/approval, ensuring adherence to both internal RTI and donor requirements.
• Support timely response to donor requests related to local grant agreements, budgets and

Spending.

• Anticipate and respond to RTI and grantee questions related to agreements, budgets and spending.
• Review, communicate and monitor compliance with donor requirements related to staffing,

purchasing, and asset management and reporting.

• Identify compliance gaps and related solutions – including differences between donor and Grantee internal policies and procedures, including cost allocation.
• Ensure the timely reporting to B4R management of any identified compliance risks.
• Review payments to Grantees against approved milestones and maintain a tracker.
• Resolve grant compliance issues that arise by arranging for technical support from

the RTI Grant and Compliance team

• Participate in monitoring timely local grants closure – engaging both finance and program staff

well in advance of closure deadlines and advising on issues related to staffing, disposition and

reporting.

Internal Control Assessment

• Take lead in site visits to potential Grantees to assess adequacy of internal controls, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and RTI policies and procedures. Report findings to program management including proposed follow-up with grantees based on issues surfaced.
• Perform on-going monitoring and assessment of partner capacity to accurately record and post

all transactions.

• Ensure adequate response and monitoring to implement recommendations of all financial audits and partner capacity assessments
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of the RTI grantee guidelines. Ensure all partners are

effectively assessed; categorized and all corrective actions are fully implemented.

Financial management and analysis

• Review budget comparison reports to ensure adherence to restrictions on line-item flexibility and stated restrictions on accepted costs. Support follow up actions to resolve any identified

problems.

• Monitor the budgets and expenses at least on a monthly basis and ensure that the commitments to local partners do not exceed the available budget.
• Ensure timely receipt and review of monthly expenditure reports from Grantees/ Local partner

organizations.

• Ensure documentation of local partner reviews outlining justification of ant rejected
• Review of expenses and detailing improvements required.
• Review of cost share /Match expenses and maintain a tracker for Grantee cost share.
• Timely processing of grantee funds requests.

Capacity Building

• Through formal training, on the job support and monitoring, build the capacity of local partner

staff in grants/contract compliance.

• Prepare and implement training and technical assistance as needed to address capacity needs

and reinforce grant management, e.g., financial management, budget analysis, policies and

procedures, GAAP and basic accounting, etc.

• Coordinate planning and implementation of institutional capacity assessment and periodic review of potential new partner organizations.
• Conduct and coordinate with other Project team monitoring visits to local partner organizations

to assess adequacy of internal controls and to provide onsite mentoring and technical

assistance. Detail site findings and ensure implementation of recommendations/corrective action plan and follow-up requirements.

• Support local partners in attaining financial sustainability; developing and implementing training modules and ensuring checks and balances.
• Support the leadership of local partner organizations to maintain high operating standards and ensure accountability.

• Actively participate in program meetings as appropriate to effectively plan and collectively

coordinate financial and programmatic activities in conjunction with local partner capacity

building initiatives.