Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title: Head of Finance, Global Greengrants Fund UK

Salary: £66,700 per annum (Band E)

Benefits: We have improved our benefits package and we now offer 10% employer’s pension contribution, remote and flexible working, generous family and sick leave, employee assistance programme, health and life insurances, 28 days annual leave plus all UK bank holidays.

Location: Remote or hybrid working within the UK. Individuals will be required to attend occasional in-person office days in London as needed and prescribed by the organisation. This role requires applicants to be able to show that they have the right to work in the UK. Must be able to internationally travel on occasion.

Contract: Full-time 35 hours a week; permanent

About Global Greengrants Fund

Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) supports grassroots activists and civil society organisations around the world working to address environmental and social justice in over 160 countries.  GGF applies a participatory and decentralised model in making grants to grassroots groups through regional and thematic boards of advisors, global partner networks and independent funds, to support grassroots environmental and social justice action.

Global Greengrants Fund comprises two organisations located in the USA, Global Greengrants Fund Inc (established in 1993), and Global Greengrants Fund UK (established in 2012). The two organisations work closely together with a shared grantmaking programme and strategic collaboration at the senior leadership level. GGF UK consists of thirteen staff members working on fundraising and influencing philanthropy; finance; communications; and operations, with all of these functions operating autonomously but in close collaboration with their US counterpart functions.

In 2024, Global Greengrants Fund is amid a strategic journey in which we collectively centre our values, including diversity, equity and inclusion, and organisational care in our work, and to rediscover our identity and potential after 30 years of work. We have experienced tremendous growth over the past two years and we are thoughtfully, yet rapidly, growing our annual grantmaking, our philanthropic advocacy, and our global partnerships and collaborations to new levels. This includes creating a globally networked learning organisation and transforming our organisational culture to be more collaborative and self-steering – we call this our transformational journey. The Programme Funding Manager needs to understand the challenges and opportunities that come with these transformations and can remain flexible, steady, and adaptable.

Head of Finance

The Head of Finance reports to the Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) and is responsible for the organisation's financial records, supporting all financial strategies and operations including some line management responsibilities. This role is responsible for all accounting, financial reporting and budgeting functions of the organisation, and with guidance ensures the organisation adheres to relevant regulatory and accounting principles. The postholder works closely with the DFO of Global Greengrants Fund UK to manage information exchange, integration and collaboration with our US sister organisation.  The role is vital to the finance function. It ensures accurate financial data capture and high-quality financial reporting while driving automation and efficiency across financial processes. As the finance business partner, you will work closely with budget holders, particularly in programs and philanthropic partnerships teams , providing them with meaningful financial insight and advice.

The role will also play a key role in understanding and managing program/project funding (both restricted and unrestricted) and collaborate with the Programme Funding Manager ensuring effective tracking of restricted and unrestricted income and expenditure within GGF.

The ability to leverage Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks and other financial tools (policies, processes and software) will be crucial in optimising our financial systems and improving processes.

Position specifications
Essential duties and responsibilities

Accounting and Financial Controls

• Support the DFO with preparations for reporting to the Finance Sub-committee and Board of Trustees
• Prepare the quarterly management accounts for review by the DFO
• Oversee and review the month end processes including timetabling of month-end activities and balance sheet reconciliations
• Oversee the overall financial records management both internally and externally
• Be fully responsible for the payroll working with the service provider
• In collaboration with the  Finance and Grants Officer, Grants Associate and Operations Manager implement and administer financial policies and processes, establish and maintain internal controls
• Oversee the restricted income and expense reconciliations via monthly fund analysis reconciliations
• Oversee the accuracy and timeliness of expenditure transactions and payment processes

• Running periodic monthly checks to ensure accuracy and completeness of data, and oversee quarterly reconciliations on grants and transaction accounts with GGF US
• Support the DFO with the financial risk analysis as part of the overall risk management on an (at least) annual basis
• Review and update the finance manual and process documents annually
• Implement  bank mandate changes as decided by the DFO in consutation with the SLT and the Board

Treasury and Cashflow Management

• Actively ensure the charity remains in a strong liquid financial position by monitoring cash flow through maintenance of a 12-month rolling report.
• Assist with treasury management, collaborate with the Programme Funding Manager to ensure optimal use of funds
• Monitor exchange rate variances and advise on remedial action as necessary
• Responsible for advising the SLT on the best exchange rates available for purchasing currencies as part of exchange rate risk mitigation measure.

Process Automation and Systems Development

• Champion automation in finance function, streamlining processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual workload
• Maintain and improve accounting digital and IT systems including data capturing and reporting systems
• Work (with consultants where needed) and in collaboration with internal stakeholders to integrate financial systems with other internal platforms e.g. SalesForce and SmartSimple

Budgeting and financial planning (in support of the DFO)

• Plan, organise and oversee annual budget development process in conjunction with GGF US
• Develop a budget process document to be used with collaborators.
• Prepare the budget reforecast once a year at the end of quarter 2 of the financial year and ensure departmental functions adhere to established budgetary guidelines and implementation procedures.
• Oversee budget preparation for GGFUK and donor proposals and reports, working with accounting and fundraising staff to ensure that donor restrictions are reported accurately

Annual Audit

• Prepare the audit schedules as agreed with our auditors.
• Manage organisational financial review and statutory audit and support with US audit.
• Manage  project audits as required.

Grant processing

• Approval of small grants on the grants management system (SmartSimple)
• Monthly and annual reconciliation of the grants records between SmartSimple and QuickBooks in collaboration with the GGF UK Grants Associate and Grants Management team in the US.

Line Management

• Line management of the Finance and Operations Administrator
• Support, mentor and train the Finance and Grants Officer where needed
• Manage finance consultants and support temporary staff as applicable

Minimum experience

• Relevant accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT with experience or equivalent)
• 5-10 years of accounting experience in the charity sector on non-profit settings
• Knowledge of accounting principles – UK GAAP
• Systems accountant experience with high proficiency in MS Excel, and excellent knowledge of Quickbooks Advanced or similar intuitive accounting packages

Additional desired experience

• Experience working in a comparable role in a charity or grantmaker
• Experience including knowledge of exchange rates and ability to advice onmeasures to minimise exposure to exchange rate risk
• Experience of working in an international organisation
• Exposure to/experience of US GAAP

Skills and attributes

• Highly organised with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines in a fast growing and changing setting.
• Work on own initiative and including being comfortable in a remote digital working environment

Other

• A deep commitment to and ability to uphold Global Greengrants’ mission, vision, and values.
• Global Greengrants particularly encourages applicants with lived experience of the social and environmental justice work and issues which we support.

If you’re intrigued by this position but feel like you don’t fit the profile precisely, please still apply. You can ask questions or seek further information to feel able to apply by writing to careers@globalgreengrants.org.uk.

To learn more about Global Greengrants Fund, please visit our website at https://www.greengrants.org/

Global Greengrants Fund UK is an equal opportunities employer. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.