Associate Director, Finance – Grants and Contracts

About Climate Policy Initiative (CPI)

Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) is a non-profit organization that works to improve energy and land use policies around the world, with a specific focus on ensuring that sustainable solutions yield tangible on-the-ground results. Founded in 2009, CPI supports decision-makers through in-depth analysis and tailored approaches, enhancing their ability to achieve public policy objectives. Headquartered in San Francisco, CPI maintains an international presence through various offices across the globe, including dynamic hubs in cities like London, Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi, and Jakarta. The organization prides itself on marrying sophisticated analysis with practical expertise to help policy and investment decisions drive towards low-carbon and climate-resilient growth. CPI collaborates with stakeholders from government, finance, and business, leveraging evidence-based insights to provoke meaningful change. By combining a deep understanding of policy frameworks, investment flows, and market dynamics, CPI ensures that climate policies are not only visionary but also actionable and financially sustainable.

About this Role

CPI is looking for an exceptional Associate Director, Finance – Grants and Contracts to support our global offices implementing our programs across the globe. The position reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The Associate Director, Finance – Grants and Contracts will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end process of project financial management as well as for the oversight of all project-related financial compliance, audit, and reporting activities. Working closely with the Grants Finance Manager and local office finance staff, you will be part of a team enabling the successful delivery of our programs while ensuring compliance with donor requirements and sound financial management. The Associate Director, Finance – Grants and Contracts works independently and with the program and operations staff to provide improvement of the entire process of project financial management, compliance, reporting and grant-specific auditing. You will have the opportunity to work for an innovative global organization with a highly motivated team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the accurate, consistent, and timely financial reporting and compliance of the organization’s grants and provide guidance on their financial management to project managers.
• Review and understand grant terms and conditions before signature to guarantee compliance with funder requirements.
• Oversee donor due diligence financial reviews and financial assessments by external agencies.
• Review significant and complex proposal budgets ensuring reasonableness, financial sustainability and accuracy; advise on budgeting procedures to promote efficient performance.
• Ensure the successful implementation of grant set-up, orientation and trainings to educate project staff and downstream partners on the criteria and requirements necessary to manage each award.
• Conduct post-award grant financial monitoring including oversight of budget performance and budget modifications, ensuring changes and costs charged are both allowable and allocable.
• Participate in meetings with project managers, award agencies, and implementing partners to resolve any financial inquiries.
• Review requests and oversee subrecipient financial reporting and conduct financial due diligence of implementing partners; approve grantee financial reports, payment requests, and ensure resolution of review findings if any.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures and guidelines, provide on-going staff training on project budgeting, project finance management and donor source financial rules.
• Develop systems and tools for the improvement of budgeting and reporting processes.
• Prepare month-end/quarter-end project risk and compliance summary reports and collaborate with programs and other support departments to ensure adoption.
• Oversee the processing of grant cancellations, amendments, and invoice adjustments ensuring activity is accurately reflected in ERP systems.
• Partner with CFO on producing financial schedules and calculations required by donor agencies.
• Partner with accounting team on grant-specific audits and ensure the maintenance of organized records and documentation to facilitate audit readiness and completion.
• Partner with the CFO and Senior Management in budgeting, analysis, strategic planning.

Requirements

• 5+ years’ related experience in non-profit finance or grant administration demonstrating thorough experience and knowledge of cost accounting, financial management systems and Federal OMB CFR-200 requirements. Experience with European governmental funding a plus.
• A demonstrated understanding of GAAP accounting, financial reporting and restricted grant funding as they relate to non-profit/international NGOs.
• Track record of managing sub-granting/subcontracting programs, creating budgets, and evaluating internal controls.
• Strong oral/written communication, listening, and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with others and influence decisions. Experience training and developing practical skills in others.
• Highly organized with great attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must be self-motivated, resourceful, results-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and solve problems and bottlenecks. Track record of sound judgement, with ability to both anticipate and communicate the business and financial implications of decisions made.
• Expertise of principles and practices of contract/grant administration and monitoring and budgeting.
• Experienced in Sage Intacct or similar ERP systems, and MS Office, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.)

Benefits

• Not specified in the job description provided.