Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

We work with local communities, governments and organizations to conserve Africa’s important places. Africa is special. Its wild lands and waters are home to incredible numbers and diversity of species living close to people. For most rural Africans, connection to place takes on unique meaning, more so than anywhere else on Earth because their daily exi...

Responsibilities or duties

The Lead Grants Specialist has a high level of expertise in award administration and financial services. The position administers and maintains public award documentation and completes financial activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures, public rules and regulations, and best practices in financial/organizational management. The Lead Grants Specialist provides assistance to all levels of personnel in their specialty area. They respond to complex employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area. The Lead Grants Specialist shares knowledge with other members of the Grants Services Network (GSN), supports and participates in GSN activities, and supervises GSN staff.

The Lead Grants Specialist oversees and manages a team of Grant Specialists and/or Grants Associates within their assigned geographical area. The Lead Grants Specialist may monitor team funding trends and work with the Grants Manager on team workload distribution and new hires. They communicate with the Grants Manager to report, discuss and resolve issues, and identify and implement projects. May collaborate with other Lead Grants Specialists. Position location is flexible with strong preference given to Kenya, Tanzania or an established Nature Conservancy office within TNC’s Africa region.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

At least 3 years of experience in public award accounting, financial management, compliance, and financial analysis.

Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, regulations, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.

Experience with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, and standard contract clauses.

Experience with multilateral and international donor regulations, including IKI, UK GOV, GCF, GEF, UNDP, BAF, or similar funding mechanisms.

Experience recruiting, supervising, developing, and managing staff.

Professional certification such as CPA or CIA preferred (or required, if applicable).

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desired Qualifications:

Multilingual skills and/or experience working in multicultural environments.

Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel and demonstrated ability to analyze and manage complex financial data.

Expert knowledge of GAAP and/or other applicable accounting and regulatory frameworks.

Demonstrated experience interpreting complex regulatory requirements and applying them to practical business situations.

Experience monitoring and ensuring compliance with organizational policies, applicable laws and regulations, and finance, accounting, and management best practices.

Experience evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and recommending process improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance.

Proven ability to interpret guidelines, analyze complex information, and adapt processes and procedures as needed.

Ability to independently identify, analyze, and resolve complex financial, compliance, or operational issues.

Experience serving as a technical resource and providing guidance to colleagues and stakeholders on accounting, financial, and compliance matters.

Professional certification such as CPA or CIA preferred.

• Administers and maintains public award documentation.
• Completes financial activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures, public rules and regulations, and best practices in financial/organizational management.
• Provides assistance to all levels of personnel in their specialty area.
• Responds to complex employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area.
• Shares knowledge with other members of the Grants Services Network (GSN).
• Supports and participates in GSN activities.
• Supervises GSN staff.
• Oversees and manages a team of Grant Specialists and/or Grants Associates within their assigned geographical area.
• Monitors team funding trends.
• Works with the Grants Manager on team workload distribution and new hires.
• Communicates with the Grants Manager to report, discuss and resolve issues.
• Identifies and implements projects.
• Collaborates with other Lead Grants Specialists.

• Award administration
• Financial services
• Public award documentation
• Financial activities
• TNC policies and procedures
• Public rules and regulations
• Financial/organizational management best practices
• Assistance to personnel
• Problem-solving
• Knowledge sharing
• Team supervision
• Team management
• Funding trend monitoring
• Workload distribution
• Issue reporting and resolution
• Project implementation
• Collaboration
• Accounting principles
• GAAP
• Accounting and financial reporting systems
• U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance
• State and local regulations
• Standard contract clauses
• Multilateral and international donor regulations
• Recruiting
• Staff development
• Microsoft Excel
• Financial data analysis
• Regulatory interpretation
• Compliance monitoring
• Internal control evaluation
• Process improvement recommendations
• Guideline interpretation
• Complex information analysis
• Adaptability of processes and procedures
• Independent problem-solving
• Technical resource provision
• Guidance to colleagues and stakeholders

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in public award accounting, financial management, compliance, and financial analysis.
• Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, regulations, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Experience with U.S. Federal Uniform Guidance, state and local regulations, and standard contract clauses.
• Experience with multilateral and international donor regulations, including IKI, UK GOV, GCF, GEF, UNDP, BAF, or similar funding mechanisms.
• Experience recruiting, supervising, developing, and managing staff.
• Professional certification such as CPA or CIA preferred (or required, if applicable).
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Multilingual skills and/or experience working in multicultural environments (Desired).
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel and demonstrated ability to analyze and manage complex financial data (Desired).
• Expert knowledge of GAAP and/or other applicable accounting and regulatory frameworks (Desired).
• Demonstrated experience interpreting complex regulatory requirements and applying them to practical business situations (Desired).
• Experience monitoring and ensuring compliance with organizational policies, applicable laws and regulations, and finance, accounting, and management best practices (Desired).
• Experience evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and recommending process improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance (Desired).
• Proven ability to interpret guidelines, analyze complex information, and adapt processes and procedures as needed (Desired).
• Ability to independently identify, analyze, and resolve complex financial, compliance, or operational issues (Desired).
• Experience serving as a technical resource and providing guidance to colleagues and stakeholders on accounting, financial, and compliance matters (Desired).
• Professional certification such as CPA or CIA preferred (Desired).