Finance Manager - Grants Management

About the Department

The Drugs for Neglected Diseasesinitiative (DNDi) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization. Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to develop and deliver new treatments for neglected diseases that disproportionately impact millions of the world’s poorest people

The Operations Department manages DNDi’s corporate infrastructure globally across eight locations through its Business Development, Finance, Human Resources, Information Systems and Technology, Legal Affairs, and Project Management Office teams. The Department plays a central role in DNDi’s compliance and performance. 

About the Office

Preferred Location: Europe except Switzerland, Nairobi, Malaysia or India.

Overview

The Finance Manager - Grants Management is responsible for managing DNDi’s financial activities related to grant and budget management. This includes contributing to proposal development, supporting donor compliance and reporting processes, financial monitoring and ensuring compliance with DNDi policies and applicable regulations throughout the grant lifecycle.

The position also contributes to project budget planning, financial forecasting, and the effective use of budgeting tools across the organization.

The role supports program teams in the effective financial management of grants and project activities, including project budget preparation, monitoring, and collaboration with external partners to ensure appropriate financial oversight and follow-up. In a collaborative international environment finance plays a key role in supporting R&D projects and donor-funded projects while working closely with colleagues across functions and countries, and helping in strengthening financial management, compliance and continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Senior Head of Financial Control, the Finance Manager - Grants Management plays a key role in ensuring that financial processes and compliance activities are carried out accurately, efficiently, and consistently.

As part of the global finance team, the Finance Manager contributes as a business partner to project teams, supporting the implementation and monitoring of global projects in line with organizational objectives.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Project teams, External Relations, and Finance teams:

• Lead the financial component of proposal development in collaboration with R&D, External Relations, and Finance teams, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and internal policies.
• Review and validate donor agreements and contracts prior to signature, ensuring clarity on financial terms, eligibility rules, and reporting obligations. Including provide guidance to internal teams and partners on donor financial conditions and implications for project implementation
• Oversee financial management practices of implementing partners, ensuring compliance with donor agreements and DNDi policies, including providing guidance and support to partners on budgeting, reporting, and financial controls.
• Ensure that all financial reporting to donors is accurate, timely, and compliant with contractual, regulatory, and organizational requirements. Monitor compliance with donor rules (e.g. eligibility, procurement, VAT, timesheets) and escalate risks or discrepancies as needed.
• Contribute to organizational funding analysis, including forecasting income, tracking funding gaps, and supporting resource planning to support senior management in decision-making through analysis of funding trends, resource allocation, and financial performance of grants. Build trusted relationships with project teams, helping them understand the financial implications of decisions and supporting better planning and resource allocation.
• Support the preparation and coordination of donor audits in collaboration with Project teams, External Relations and Accounting teams. Ensure proper documentation, archiving, and traceability of donor financial information.
• Lead the financial coordination of donor audits, ensuring readiness, documentation completeness, and alignment with audit requirements.
• Act as a key point of contact for financial matters with donors and external partners, including participation in meetings and negotiations as required. Represent the function in internal working groups and contribute to cross-functional initiatives.
• Act as the finance systems champion, developing training material, coaching finance and project teams, and promoting consistent and effective use of finance tools across the organization.

Additional /specific/projects responsibilities

Project Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Support the preparation and consolidation of project and grant budgets as part of the annual DNDi budgeting process, working closely with the budget team and project stakeholders.
• Act as a key finance focal point for budgeting tools and processes, including supporting the maintenance and enhancement of Tagetik and delivering training and guidance to finance and project teams.
• Coordinate with finance teams across initiatives to ensure accurate recording of income transactions and preparation of annual income summaries.

Financial Systems and Tools Support

• Lead improvements in financial systems and tools related to donor and budget management, in coordination with the IST, and finance team especially the budget process leader.
• Act as a key resource person for Tagetik and related financial tools, ensuring adoption, training and continuous improvement.
• Provide training and guidance to finance teams and project staff on donor financial management and reporting requirements.

Reporting line & Interactions

• Finance Manager - Grants Management reports to the Senior Head of Financial Control
• Works with the R&D, External relations and other teams within the Operations department.
• Manages/drives relationship at the middle level with stakeholders in the same specialist/functional domain. Represents DNDi with stakeholders and interacts with external suppliers to ensure effective project/team delivery.

Experience and Education

• Advanced post graduate degree or graduate degree with equivalent in experience to reach master’s level.
• Minimum 10 years' relevant experience in which at least 6 years in supervision/coordination roles.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure.
• Experience working in the public and private sector is highly desirable.
• International NGO or matrix organization experience.

Skills and competencies

Critical Skills

• Strong business partnering expertise with experience working with senior leaders and negotiating with both internal and external stakeholders in a global matrix, multi-cultural environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Capable of managing projects and contributing to larger initiatives. Able to manage portfolio independently, prioritize competing demands and make sound decisions with limited supervision.
• Highly autonomous while enjoying teamwork. Demonstrates expertise in their field and in managing people and projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to simplify complex financial concepts for non-finance colleagues. Good communicator and trainer
• A strong team player with the ability to document, plan, organize, monitor, schedule, coordinate, and manage relationships. Thrives in a collaborative, multicultural and matrix environment, bringing people together to solve problems and improve ways of working.
• Curious about AI and automation. Interest in emerging technologies (including AI) and willingness to explore their practical application within finance.

Technical Skills

• Strong donor finance knowledge, grant lifecycle management, and financial compliance
• Financial planning and analysis experience. Comfortable with ERP (BC), EPM (Tagetik), Power BI, Excel and new digital tools.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and financial processes.
• Data analysis and financial modelling. Able to transform financial data into meaningful insights and dashboards that support decision making
• Good understanding of audit processes

Other requirements

• Fluency in English
• Proficiency in French and local languages desirable. 
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Suite

DEI Statement

DNDi is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive organisation. Our success and global reach are dependent upon our ability to encourage diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We particularly welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in at DNDi and across the sector, especially women, and including, but not limited to, black and minority ethnic candidates, and those with other protected characteristic.