Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Operations

ABOUT SPARK MICROGRANTS

Spark MicroGrants believes in a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. Spark has worked in 1000+ villages in 6 countries and has pioneered a community-driven development model in sub-Saharan Africa. Spark works with NGO and Government partners to scale the model's adoption and impact on rural communities - on their own terms. Our model combines facilitated community meetings with a small, discretionary grant to catalyze local action and institution building. Read more about our Approach, Impact and Values on our website. 

OVERVIEW

The Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Operations will bridge the gap between high-level vision for new partnerships and funding relationships and the creation of realistic budgets, reports and financial narratives that meet donor needs and clearly communicate the relationship between outcomes and funding.  They will have deep experience in financial analysis, reporting, systems and tools, and are equally comfortable estimating high level information and building detailed models to support financial analysis and decision making. This role is an individual contributor and is a hands-on producer of value-added financial analysis, modeling, and reporting, and will report directly to the CFO.  The incumbent will collaborate with senior leadership, and work extensively with the fundraising team on donor and Board deliverables and on helping the organization and its stakeholders understand the financial impacts of new projects and partnerships.  

They will also lead enterprise functions including risk management and cash forecasting, and lead key aspects of financial operations on behalf of the CFO.   They will implement effective tracking and monitoring of Global and US operations OKRs, metrics and customer deliverables, and ensure appropriate follow-up and communication with stakeholders.  

Due to the amount of coordination with the fundraising team they will need to be based in the US and available on US East Coast time schedules, as well as being available to meet with teammates in Africa during cross-over time zones.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial reporting, analysis and scenario modeling in support of fundraising

• Model the cost of new projects, programs and partnerships and build repeatable tools and processes to increase the efficiency of generating external-facing budgets.
• Own financial processes for donor budgets, including templates, guidelines, metrics and analysis.
• Collaborate with program and functional teams to provide value added analysis and model future scenarios.
• Lead financial due diligence responses, and ensure adequate policies and practices are in place to satisfy key donor expectations and deliverables. 

Annual Budget, forecasting, and actual versus budget analysis

• Forecast quarterly, annual and long term revenue and cash flows, and model alternative scenarios, in support of budgeting and strategic planning processes.
• Ensure effective and timely tracking of forecasted revenues, cash flows and donor restrictions.
• Provide financial guidance to global support functions, including Operations, Fundraising, Executive and Innovation teams, and execute the annual budget process together with these teams. They will also provide reporting and analysis in support of the monthly Budget vs Actual (BVA) process and quarterly forecasting updates.

.Financial support to the Innovation team on proposals, pilot projects and research

• Work with the Chief Innovation Officer to model new opportunities, and to provide budgeting, reporting and analysis of pilot projects.
• Support the implementation of new processes and systems required to accommodate new workstreams, and coordinate the hand-over of expanding programs to the core finance team.
• Provide financial support for Social Return on Investment calculations and other financial metrics that aid decision making on where to allocate resources.

Build organization-wide financial reporting and optimize finance tools

• Work closely with the Head of Finance and CFO to design and build financial reporting models  to meet internal and external needs,
• Ensure optimal use of the current Netsuite reporting tools to ensure that reporting meets customer needs.
• Use AI effectively and responsibly to help the finance team become more efficient.
• Create effective materials to report financial status and forecasts  to the internal Executive Committee,  as well as to the Board, and Board Finance Committee.
• Implement financial processes, reporting, templates and budgets in support of new grants and projects, before handing off to the Country Finance team.

Risk Management 

• Implement enterprise risk tracking and action registers.
• Coordinate enterprise insurance policies and other risk mitigations.
• Work with Country Finance Managers and the Head of Finance to ensure appropriate funds available in each region.
• Lead the development of key global policies and procedures including those related to risk management, treasury, and legal.

US & Global Operations 

• Lead the implementation and effective use of operations dashboards, metrics, and global procedures.
• Coordinate US Operations including financial operations,  procurement, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Lead strategic Finance and Operations projects and cross-functional initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.

MBA or Professional accounting certification (CPA, or equivalent) is desirable.

Experience:

• 5-10+ years of progressively responsible experience in financial analysis, budgeting and reporting, preferably in an NGO or international development context.
• Experience designing and creating value-added reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven experience implementing useful financial tools and improving the timeliness, accuracy and usefulness of financial information.
• Experience with non-profit programs, grants finance, and donor budgets is highly desirable.
• Netsuite, Google workspace, Business intelligence tools, and strong Excel/google sheets skills.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical and judgment skills: You know when to estimate and when to do more detailed analysis, and you are good at both: You see patterns in the data and incorporate them to make effective estimates, and to provide support for financial decisions.
• Excellent execution skills: You get things done and you also set them up to be done efficiently the next time.
• Financial Tools and Systems: You are an early adapter of new technology and like to find efficient ways to produce analysis and reporting. You use AI effectively in your day to day work and continue to add new skills and tools to your toolkit.
• Adaptability: You like new projects and challenges, and enjoy finding solutions.
• Strong Communicator: You can translate financial concepts for non-financial audiences and provide clear explanations of information and analysis to audiences of varying levels.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to support organizational growth and change
• Solutions-oriented and proactive
• Detail oriented but also able to create high level summarized analysis
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-country environment.
• Committed to Sparks mission and values
• Willingness to travel to Africa periodically

OTHER INFORMATION

Job Location: New York or other remote locations in the US, East Coast time zone preferred. 

Reporting to: CFO

Start Date: As soon as possible

Salary: The preliminary salary range for this role is approximately $70,000 - $100,000, with final compensation based on experience and skills. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums for employees and 50% coverage for dependents, a 401(k) plan with a 3% employer contribution, generous paid leave, and a professional development stipend, among other benefits.

Probation period: Three months probation period with learning and performance objectives

How to Apply: Follow the link to apply: https://sparkmicrogrants.bamboohr.com/careers/177

SAFEGUARDING

Our safeguarding follows a do no harm principle. All Spark staff are expected to respect and uphold the safeguarding procedures and principles to minimize harm to stakeholders, program participants, and the environment, in compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and national legislation in the countries where we operate.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Spark Microgrants provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Spark are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Spark does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Spark will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.