Cowater International

Position Title: Finance and Grants Officer

Reports to: Senior PFO

Position Location: Ottawa

Summary of Position:

In support of the financial and contractual administration of active projects.

Key Responsibilities:

The Finance and Grants Officer’s duties will include the following:

Financial administration of active DFAT programs according to Head Contract
Verify and code international travel expense reports. Review project expense reports and transactions from field offices overseas, convert expenditures into Australian dollars as required, and post into head office accounting records
Prepare bank reconciliation(s) for project bank account(s)
Prepare financial reports as required under the contracts with DFAT, including, but not limited to, quarterly and annual financial reports, budget variance reports, statements of eligible expenditures, etc
Work with Program Managers on narrative variance reporting
Closely monitor expenditures against project budgets
Work with Program Managers and Senior Finance Officer to prepare modifications to budgets
Prepare invoices and advance requests for review and approval by Senior Finance Officer and DFAT Program Managers. Follow up as needed.
Prepare Monthly and quarterly financial reporting
Provide support for internal finance and compliance audits across the DFAT Portfolio
Work in close cooperation with the Senior Finance & Grants Officer to develop and implement Program-level Finance/Operations Manuals, and support development of tools and templates for the set-up finance processes and systems for the Programs in the DFAT Portfolio
Analyze trial balances
Review field office reports and vouchers on a monthly basis
Ensure all items from monthly closing checklist are completed

Program Grants:

Monitor, track and verify all Partner Grant Payments including verification of all required documentation including financial reports and acquittals
Support the establishment of Partner agreement and variation templates
Ensure all financial records and reports are updated in the Cowater Sharepoint in a timely manner
Prepare payment documents related to tranches and core funding payments, including the grants checklist for review by the Senior Project Finance & Grants Officer,
Ensure that documentation for Partner annual audits are shared by the DFAT Programs and uploaded to the Cowater Sharepoint
Contribute to DFAT Program Grants and Investment Manuals and Partner Financial Guideline updates in line with Cowater and DFAT requirements
Process financial reconciliation and refund of the remaining funds
File all grant partner documents in the Cowater Sharepoint
Provide support for internal grants audits across the DFAT Portfolio

Finance and Grants Officer