The Finance Specialist (FS) will provide financial oversight and support for FHI 360’s work for the USAID Infectious Diseases Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) project that serves the Global Health Security Agenda, TB programs and other related initiatives. IDDS supports select governments and their relevant ministries in the strengthening of their human and animal health diagnostic systems for infectious diseases, TB and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The work will focus primarily on public health systems but may also include private health and other non-governmental diagnostic facilities (laboratories and point-of-care facilities). The position will be based in the FHI 360’s office in Durham, NC. The FS will report to FHI 360’s Senior Diagnostics Advisor (Director, Laboratory Sciences).
The FS will provide financial support to other FHI 360 projects and divisions as needed and as time permits.
Performs a variety of financial duties, including core and/or field activity budgets, donor reports, and sub-award management. Prepares and justify proposal and/or operational budgets and assisting with workforce planning to ensure all work meets deadlines. Handles special projects and the development of training materials, review of operational budget analysis, and budget system/report testing. Prepares annual program and General and Administrative (G&A) budgets with periodic updates as needed. Performs monthly financial analysis for portfolios (Departments) and direct projects as assigned. Prepares and distributes monthly management financial reports. Provide financial guidance to program and field office staff. Provide training to supporting program personnel on financial reporting systems and procedures. Develop, monitor, and adjust fiscal year budgets. Perform Actual vs. Budget analysis, forecasting, cost allocation and tracking, and other quantitative and qualitative analyses. Review and validate sub-recipient’s requests for reimbursement and budgetary compliance. Prepare routine monthly financial and labor related reports to be distributed to Senior Management, and international/domestic program, technical and financial staff. Follows up with international/domestic program, technical and financial staff to obtain and/or verify financial and budget information to ensure quality budget/fiscal controls. Assist in the design and maintenance of supporting financial modules related to grants, awards, and contract management. Assists in development of best practices and training initiatives as requested.
- Work with FHI 360 IDDS teams (HQ, regional, and countries) to prepare budgets in accordance with the workplan and make sure the necessary costs are captured and tracked.
- Assist in the review of program budgets and expenditures.
- Works with FHI IDDS country’s Financial Specialist and local finance support to regularly monitors the budgets; conducts analysis on discrepancies and ensure adherence to applicable regulations.
- Demonstrates basic knowledge of review and submission of budget revisions and are familiar with the budget systems.
- Analyzes spending patterns and identifies potential areas of concerns.
- Assists in providing technical guidance to staff relative to budgetary guidelines and laws.
- Prepares a variety of analyses, reports, and comparisons, as required.
- Performs a limited variety of recurring and related tasks/functions using steps/processes/applications that are readily understood.
- Provides assistance to others by troubleshooting simple technical problems.
- Reviews program budgets and expenditures and approves budget revisions for accuracy and program efficiency.
- Regularly monitors the budget; conducts analysis on spending patterns to identify potential strengths and weaknesses.
- Develops, test, and trains staff on new financial tools and reporting systems.
- Assists Senior Diagnostic Advisor, and IR1 Lead with the development of training and procedural manuals.
- Analyze project budgets and expenditures.
- Provides financial tracking of departmental and project revenues and expenditures, including sub award management.
- Reviews and manages annual work plan and budgeting process.
- Independently troubleshoots errors within the budget and provides recommendations to management for program improvements.
- Reviews and assists in developing methodologies used for spending forecasts or budget projections.
- Highly knowledgeable of all current internal budgetary policies and guidelines as well as external state and federal regulations.
- Perform cost-benefits analyses to compare operating programs, review financial requests, and explore alternative financing methods.
- Examines budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations.
- Reviews the financial and operational proposals that are submitted by the department heads and managers.
- Interacts regularly with project leaders, field finance manager, and subcontracts to resolve problems or issues
associated with monthly expenditures and project budgets - Prepares quarterly financial report for IDDS project to submit to Prime.
- Reviews and approves monthly invoice.
- Work with Senior Diagnostic Advisor, IR1 Lead, and Sr. Program Officer to prepare procurement request, review against the budgets, and approve procurement of supplies and equipment.
- Other duties as assigned.
- For all duties noted above these relate to HQ and country office budgets.
Problem Solving & Impact:
- Works with staff in country to fulfil budget needs
- Analyzes issues and problems and proposes solutions which are consistent with the company’s priorities and financial resources.
- Uses tools to identify meaningful patterns or relationships and draws conclusions about the meaning of the data.
- Identifies cause and effect of problems; looks at underlying problems for solution.
- Collects, relates, associates or compares data to identify options/alternatives.
- Approaches a complex task or problem by breaking it down into its component parts and considers each part in detail.
- Identifies problems that require in- depth analysis.
- Gathers and analyzes/interprets information to better understand problems.
- Creates relevant options for solving problems.
- Chooses appropriate action by considering implications and consequences.
- Seeks input from stakeholders (e.g., subordinates, peers, management, customers.)
- Checks outcome of problem resolution.
Supervision Given/Received:
- Works under only very general supervision.
- May supervise US-based financial staff that support the work.
- Work is reviewed for soundness of judgment and overall adequacy and accuracy.
- Contributions are supervised and detailed reviews are made with line management to ensure any errors a spotted early and corrected to ensure that they have no or limited effect on the organization.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of the company’s budgetary processes.
- Thorough understanding of general accounting/financial principles and methods in budgeting and administrative management.
- Capable of projecting the future fiscal requirements by considering the various future projects of the organization.
- Analyzes the cost benefits, studying the financial requests and researches on various funding procedures for the organization.
- Summarizes budget figures by combining the budgets of individual departments.
- Reallocates the excess funds if any deficit occurs in the funds.
- Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
- Suggests suitable modifications to the existing budget plan in order to improve efficiency and profits.
- Consolidates the required data to prepare budget presentations.
- Provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation.
- Seek new ways to improve efficiency and increase profits.
- Review operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs.
- Ability to review contracts, as needed.
- Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in a professional business environment.
- Proficiency in spreadsheet software required.
- Demonstrable understanding of accounting procedures
- Must demonstrate excellent analytical and organizational skills.
- Science or health-related field experience preferred. * Non-governmental organization (NGO) experience preferred.
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Authorization to work in the USA
- Impeccable business ethics, including the protection of confidential information
Preferred Qualifications:
- Detail-oriented and highly organized
- Experience completing a variety of financial tasks by establishing priorities and working in a fast-paced office environment, under pressure and against numerous deadlines
- Ability to work independently and as well as part of a team
- Accuracy and attention to detail in the performance of duties is of critical importance
- Excellent organizational skills, including task and time management
- Fluent in other languages which may include French, Thai, Bahasan, or Vietnamese
Typical Physical Demands:
- Typical office environment.
- Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift 5-50 lbs.
FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.