Management Accountant – Grants

Role Overview

This role sits at the centre of financial stewardship for donor-backed programmes and foundation-led initiatives. The post holder keeps grant and project finances accurate, audit-ready, and aligned with each funder’s rules, while giving programme and finance colleagues clear visibility into how money is committed, spent, and reported. By connecting day-to-day accounting with donor expectations, the position helps protect restricted funding, strengthens accountability, and supports timely, credible reporting to partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the grant ledger and supporting records, ensuring each award, amendment, and budget line is reflected accurately from award setup through closeout.
• Compare actual spending with approved donor budgets on a regular cycle, flag variances, and work with programme teams to address underspending, overspending, or reallocation needs.
• Produce donor financial reports, invoice or drawdown schedules, and reconciliations that tie to the general ledger and meet submission deadlines.
• Apply donor-specific rules on eligible costs, procurement, matching contributions, and fund restrictions, escalating compliance risks before they become findings.
• Administer foundation income and expenditure, including donations, sponsorships, fundraising proceeds, and other non-grant revenue streams.
• Prepare accountability reports for foundation activities and support stewardship updates that show how contributions have been used.
• Track project funding balances, reconcile project accounts, and monitor budget absorption and utilisation rates across multiple awards.
• Coordinate audit and donor review requests, maintain complete documentation, and draft responses to auditor or funder queries.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline from a recognised university.
• Professional accounting certification such as CPA(K) or ACCA.
• Four to six years of relevant experience in grants accounting, project accounting, fund management, or a comparable finance role.
• Practical familiarity with donor-funded programmes and the reporting cycles, restrictions, and audit expectations that come with them.
• Solid grasp of fund accounting, including restricted versus unrestricted balances, cost allocation, and donor budget structures.
• High level of accuracy in financial tracking, reconciliations, and reporting, with strong analytical and written reporting skills.
• Ability to manage several funding streams at once, prioritise competing deadlines, and keep documentation audit-ready.
• Knowledge of donor compliance requirements and confidence working with auditors, funders, and programme colleagues.