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Finance and Grants Officer at Masakhane Research Foundation
Masakhane Research Foundation
September 17, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Position Overview
The Finance and Grants Officer supports the accurate and timely delivery of day-to-day finance and grants administration across Masakhane Research Foundation.
Working under the technical guidance of the Senior Finance Officer on finance-related responsibilities and the Senior Grants Manager on grants-related responsibilities, the Officer processes transactions, maintains financial and grant records, coordinates routine compliance requirements, tracks budgets and grant obligations, and prepares information required for reporting and decision-making.
The role serves as an operational link between Finance, Grants, Programme, Partnerships and Community teams. It helps ensure that financial and grant-management processes are completed accurately, consistently and in accordance with approved policies, procedures, donor requirements and delegated authorities.
Working Relationships
Receives technical direction from:
Senior Finance Officer for finance, accounting and financial-control responsibilities
Senior Grants Manager for grant administration, compliance and portfolio-management responsibilities
Works closely with:
Programme and Partnerships teams
Budget holders
Community teams
Grantees and implementing partners
External service providers and auditors
Key Responsibilities
Financial Processing and Administration
Process payments, advances, reimbursements and other routine financial transactions in accordance with approved procedures and delegated authorities.
Verify that payment requests contain complete and appropriate supporting documentation before submitting them for review and approval.
Accurately record financial transactions in the relevant accounting and financial-management systems.
Maintain complete, organised and accessible financial records and supporting documentation.
Support accounts payable and receivable processes, including tracking outstanding payments, advances and receivables.
Follow up with staff, budget holders and service providers to resolve missing or incomplete documentation.
Support month-end and year-end processes by preparing schedules, reconciliations and supporting information for review.
Reconciliations and Financial Records
Prepare routine bank, account, advance and balance reconciliations for review by the Senior Finance Officer.
Investigate routine discrepancies and follow up on outstanding reconciliation items.
Maintain accurate transaction, payment, advance and account records.
Support the maintenance of a clear and complete audit trail for all financial transactions.
Escalate unresolved discrepancies, unusual transactions or potential control concerns to the Senior Finance Officer.
Budget Monitoring and Financial Reporting Support
Maintain approved organisational, programme and grant budgets in the relevant systems and trackers.
Track expenditure against approved budgets and identify significant variances or emerging concerns for review.
Prepare routine budget-versus-actual information, expenditure reports and financial schedules.
Support the preparation of forecasts, donor financial reports and internal management reports.
Provide accurate and timely financial information to the Senior Finance Officer, Senior Grants Manager, programme teams and budget holders.
Update financial dashboards and trackers, ensuring that information remains complete and current.
Grant Administration
Coordinate routine administrative activities across the incoming and outgoing grant lifecycle.
Maintain complete grant files, including agreements, approved budgets, amendments, due-diligence records, reporting schedules, milestones and correspondence.
Update grant registers, compliance calendars, reporting trackers and portfolio-management systems.
Support grant application, assessment, contracting, amendment, renewal and close-out processes.
Track grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, funding conditions and outstanding actions.
Coordinate routine follow-up with internal teams, grantees and implementing partners.
Escalate delayed deliverables, non-compliance or other emerging concerns to the Senior Grants Manager.
Due Diligence and Compliance Support
Coordinate and document approved risk-based due-diligence processes for prospective grantees and implementing partners.
Collect and verify required organisational, financial, banking, governance and compliance documentation.
Record due-diligence findings using approved tools and submit them to the Senior Grants Manager for review and decision-making.
Monitor routine compliance requirements against grant agreements, donor conditions and Foundation policies.
Review grantee financial reports and supporting documentation for completeness and consistency.
Track agreed corrective actions and follow up on outstanding compliance requirements.
Escalate suspected fraud, safeguarding concerns, conflicts of interest, material non-compliance or significant fiduciary risks immediately through the appropriate channels.
Grant Disbursement and Financial Monitoring
Prepare grant-disbursement documentation and coordinate the processing of approved payments.
Confirm that required documentation, reports and milestones have been received before submitting disbursement requests for review.
Track grant payments, advances, expenditure, balances and liquidation status.
Support the reconciliation and financial close-out of grants.
Maintain clear records of disbursement decisions, supporting documentation and approvals.
Identify discrepancies or emerging financial risks and refer them to the Senior Finance Officer and Senior Grants Manager.
Ensure that no grant disbursement is processed without the required review and approval.
Audit and Documentation Support
Maintain complete, accurate and audit-ready finance and grant records.
Compile supporting documentation, schedules and transaction records requested during internal and external audits.
Respond to routine document requests and refer technical or judgement-based audit queries to the appropriate senior role holder.
Track audit and compliance actions assigned to the role and provide timely updates on their status.
Support implementation of agreed improvements arising from audits, reviews and monitoring activities.
Grantee and Internal Team Support
Provide practical guidance to grantees on financial documentation, reporting templates, submission requirements and grant-administration processes.
Support orientations and training sessions for grantees and internal teams.
Assist budget holders and programme teams to understand routine financial reports, grant requirements and administrative processes.
Work collaboratively with Finance, Grants, Programme, Partnerships and Community teams to resolve routine administrative issues.
Apply a supportive and proportionate approach when working with community-based and locally led organisations while maintaining appropriate accountability standards.
Refer matters requiring policy interpretation, exceptions or management decisions to the relevant senior role holder.
Systems and Process Improvement
Maintain finance and grants templates, trackers, checklists, standard operating procedures and process documentation.
Support effective use of accounting, grant-management and digital workflow systems.
Maintain accurate electronic records and appropriate document archiving.
Identify recurring administrative challenges and recommend practical process improvements.
Support improvements to the accessibility, consistency and efficiency of finance and grants processes.
Contribute to the development of reliable institutional knowledge and records as the Foundation grows.
Qualifications and Experience
Education and Professional Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Development Studies, Project Management or a related field.
Progress toward a recognised professional accounting qualification, such as CPA or ACCA, is an advantage.
Relevant training or certification in grants management, donor compliance or project financial management is also an advantage.
Professional Experience
At least three years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, grants administration, donor-funded programmes or non-profit operations.
Practical experience processing financial transactions and maintaining complete supporting documentation.
Experience supporting reconciliations, budget monitoring, financial reporting and audit preparation.
Experience administering grants or sub-grants, including maintaining grant records, conducting due diligence, tracking compliance and supporting reporting.
Experience working with community-based, research, technology, philanthropic or international development organisations is an advantage.
Experience working in a distributed, multicultural or pan-African environment is desirable.
Technical Skills and Competencies
Sound understanding of basic accounting, financial-management and internal-control principles.
Good understanding of the grant lifecycle and donor-compliance requirements.
Strong Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets skills and confidence working with budgets and financial data.
Experience using accounting, grant-management or workflow systems; familiarity with platforms such as Airtable, Submittable, Salesforce or similar tools is an advantage.
Strong documentation, records-management and organisational skills.
Ability to coordinate multiple activities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
Ability to identify inconsistencies, follow up constructively and escalate concerns appropriately.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional judgement.
Commitment to equity, transparency, accountability and community-centred ways of working.
Fluency in written and spoken English; proficiency in French or another African language is an advantage.
The Finance and Grants Officer supports the accurate and timely delivery of day-to-day finance and grants administration across Masakhane Research Foundation.
Working under the technical guidance of the Senior Finance Officer on finance-related responsibilities and the Senior Grants Manager on grants-related responsibilities, the Officer processes transactions, maintains financial and grant records, coordinates routine compliance requirements, tracks budgets and grant obligations, and prepares information required for reporting and decision-making.
The role serves as an operational link between Finance, Grants, Programme, Partnerships and Community teams. It helps ensure that financial and grant-management processes are completed accurately, consistently and in accordance with approved policies, procedures, donor requirements and delegated authorities.
Working Relationships
Receives technical direction from:
Senior Finance Officer for finance, accounting and financial-control responsibilities
Senior Grants Manager for grant administration, compliance and portfolio-management responsibilities
Works closely with:
Programme and Partnerships teams
Budget holders
Community teams
Grantees and implementing partners
External service providers and auditors
Key Responsibilities
Financial Processing and Administration
Process payments, advances, reimbursements and other routine financial transactions in accordance with approved procedures and delegated authorities.
Verify that payment requests contain complete and appropriate supporting documentation before submitting them for review and approval.
Accurately record financial transactions in the relevant accounting and financial-management systems.
Maintain complete, organised and accessible financial records and supporting documentation.
Support accounts payable and receivable processes, including tracking outstanding payments, advances and receivables.
Follow up with staff, budget holders and service providers to resolve missing or incomplete documentation.
Support month-end and year-end processes by preparing schedules, reconciliations and supporting information for review.
Reconciliations and Financial Records
Prepare routine bank, account, advance and balance reconciliations for review by the Senior Finance Officer.
Investigate routine discrepancies and follow up on outstanding reconciliation items.
Maintain accurate transaction, payment, advance and account records.
Support the maintenance of a clear and complete audit trail for all financial transactions.
Escalate unresolved discrepancies, unusual transactions or potential control concerns to the Senior Finance Officer.
Budget Monitoring and Financial Reporting Support
Maintain approved organisational, programme and grant budgets in the relevant systems and trackers.
Track expenditure against approved budgets and identify significant variances or emerging concerns for review.
Prepare routine budget-versus-actual information, expenditure reports and financial schedules.
Support the preparation of forecasts, donor financial reports and internal management reports.
Provide accurate and timely financial information to the Senior Finance Officer, Senior Grants Manager, programme teams and budget holders.
Update financial dashboards and trackers, ensuring that information remains complete and current.
Grant Administration
Coordinate routine administrative activities across the incoming and outgoing grant lifecycle.
Maintain complete grant files, including agreements, approved budgets, amendments, due-diligence records, reporting schedules, milestones and correspondence.
Update grant registers, compliance calendars, reporting trackers and portfolio-management systems.
Support grant application, assessment, contracting, amendment, renewal and close-out processes.
Track grant deliverables, reporting deadlines, funding conditions and outstanding actions.
Coordinate routine follow-up with internal teams, grantees and implementing partners.
Escalate delayed deliverables, non-compliance or other emerging concerns to the Senior Grants Manager.
Due Diligence and Compliance Support
Coordinate and document approved risk-based due-diligence processes for prospective grantees and implementing partners.
Collect and verify required organisational, financial, banking, governance and compliance documentation.
Record due-diligence findings using approved tools and submit them to the Senior Grants Manager for review and decision-making.
Monitor routine compliance requirements against grant agreements, donor conditions and Foundation policies.
Review grantee financial reports and supporting documentation for completeness and consistency.
Track agreed corrective actions and follow up on outstanding compliance requirements.
Escalate suspected fraud, safeguarding concerns, conflicts of interest, material non-compliance or significant fiduciary risks immediately through the appropriate channels.
Grant Disbursement and Financial Monitoring
Prepare grant-disbursement documentation and coordinate the processing of approved payments.
Confirm that required documentation, reports and milestones have been received before submitting disbursement requests for review.
Track grant payments, advances, expenditure, balances and liquidation status.
Support the reconciliation and financial close-out of grants.
Maintain clear records of disbursement decisions, supporting documentation and approvals.
Identify discrepancies or emerging financial risks and refer them to the Senior Finance Officer and Senior Grants Manager.
Ensure that no grant disbursement is processed without the required review and approval.
Audit and Documentation Support
Maintain complete, accurate and audit-ready finance and grant records.
Compile supporting documentation, schedules and transaction records requested during internal and external audits.
Respond to routine document requests and refer technical or judgement-based audit queries to the appropriate senior role holder.
Track audit and compliance actions assigned to the role and provide timely updates on their status.
Support implementation of agreed improvements arising from audits, reviews and monitoring activities.
Grantee and Internal Team Support
Provide practical guidance to grantees on financial documentation, reporting templates, submission requirements and grant-administration processes.
Support orientations and training sessions for grantees and internal teams.
Assist budget holders and programme teams to understand routine financial reports, grant requirements and administrative processes.
Work collaboratively with Finance, Grants, Programme, Partnerships and Community teams to resolve routine administrative issues.
Apply a supportive and proportionate approach when working with community-based and locally led organisations while maintaining appropriate accountability standards.
Refer matters requiring policy interpretation, exceptions or management decisions to the relevant senior role holder.
Systems and Process Improvement
Maintain finance and grants templates, trackers, checklists, standard operating procedures and process documentation.
Support effective use of accounting, grant-management and digital workflow systems.
Maintain accurate electronic records and appropriate document archiving.
Identify recurring administrative challenges and recommend practical process improvements.
Support improvements to the accessibility, consistency and efficiency of finance and grants processes.
Contribute to the development of reliable institutional knowledge and records as the Foundation grows.
Qualifications and Experience
Education and Professional Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Development Studies, Project Management or a related field.
Progress toward a recognised professional accounting qualification, such as CPA or ACCA, is an advantage.
Relevant training or certification in grants management, donor compliance or project financial management is also an advantage.
Professional Experience
At least three years of relevant experience in finance, accounting, grants administration, donor-funded programmes or non-profit operations.
Practical experience processing financial transactions and maintaining complete supporting documentation.
Experience supporting reconciliations, budget monitoring, financial reporting and audit preparation.
Experience administering grants or sub-grants, including maintaining grant records, conducting due diligence, tracking compliance and supporting reporting.
Experience working with community-based, research, technology, philanthropic or international development organisations is an advantage.
Experience working in a distributed, multicultural or pan-African environment is desirable.
Technical Skills and Competencies
Sound understanding of basic accounting, financial-management and internal-control principles.
Good understanding of the grant lifecycle and donor-compliance requirements.
Strong Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets skills and confidence working with budgets and financial data.
Experience using accounting, grant-management or workflow systems; familiarity with platforms such as Airtable, Submittable, Salesforce or similar tools is an advantage.
Strong documentation, records-management and organisational skills.
Ability to coordinate multiple activities and deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
Ability to identify inconsistencies, follow up constructively and escalate concerns appropriately.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional judgement.
Commitment to equity, transparency, accountability and community-centred ways of working.
Fluency in written and spoken English; proficiency in French or another African language is an advantage.