WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

OUR SOLUTIONS

DECENTRALISNG & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website.

OUR VALUES

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming.

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard.

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming.

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress.

JOB PURPOSE

This role is based in the Finance Team and works closely with the Resource Mobilisation and Programme teams. The role contributes to the effectiveness and impact of our work by supporting the sound financial, grant management, and administrative practices across Start Network. The post holder will ensure that the financial and administrative systems and procedures for the programmes and budgets are of high quality and compliant with donor and legal requirements.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

GRANT MANAGEMENT & REPORTING

The role will be responsible for the end-to-end grant management cycle for a number of large and / or complex grants from institutional and corporate funders. This includes the following accountabilities:

• Work with fundraising and programme teams to manage the smooth running of donor preliminary assessments, start up and close out processes

• Support grant monitoring calls working with Programmes, Resources Mobilisation and Operations functions.

• Support the development of specific subaward grant processes where appropriate. Manage sub-grants to member and non-member organisations from contracting to reporting, recording, compliance, and managing financial risk as appropriate.

• Manage donor financial reporting, set up systems and process to ensure reporting is compliant, timely and accurate.

• Compile donor financial reports and payment requests ensuring accuracy with Start Network financial systems and work with finance team to develop a consistent process for reconciliation of donor financial reports.

• Support in advising Resource Mobilisation, Finance, Programmes, and Operations teams on best practices in grant management processes as required.

• Review and provide advice on donor agreements to ensure feasibility from an operations perspective.

  GRANT ADMINISTRATION AND TRAINING

• Support on grant tracking processes, establishing and managing a grant management tracker and calendar. Work closely with the resource mobilisation team to maintain trackers and to communicate key dates.

• Support for financial reporting and grant management training for Start Network peers and members.

  FINANCIAL AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT

• Manage complex grant budgets, ensuring all stakeholders are accurately informed and grants are drawn down appropriately

• Support on the development of grant management procedures

• Develop processes to ensure smooth payment to grantees. Work with the Finance team to support implementation of these processes.

• Support preparation of team specific and project budgets as required for presentation to prospective donors and or governance committees

• Support on development of grant specific management reports to inform financial decision making.

• Meet regularly with budget holders for financial monitoring of grants, to advise on and take decisions on reallocation of funds where required.

• Monitor income and fund transfers from donors and where relevant- grant custodians.

• Work with the resource mobilisation teams to support donor-related internal and external audit requirements

• Working with the finance team, support on development of processes to ensure consistency of grant financial management (ICR, FX rates, salary postings)

• Support on monitoring of financial risk related to exposure on sub-grant agreements. Support with preparation of policies and papers to be presented to the FAC and R&C committees.

• Support and advise from a grant management perspective on wider finance team initiatives.

PERSON PROFILE

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Working knowledge of institutional and international donors, grant management, compliance and audit processes
• Proven ability to develop and manage complex budgets, and to draft high quality financial reports for colleagues and donors
• Knowledge of and ability to work with financial systems, and experience of setting up andimplementing administrative and financial processes
• Demonstrable experience of managing multiple deadlines requiring attention to detail.
• Experience of capacity building of colleagues and or partner organisations
• Experience of building relationships across diverse teams and geographies
• Excellent communication skills in English; ability to communicate complex technical issues information to a range of audiences
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office 365, specifically Excel

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Communication: Able to convey complex information concisely to different audiences
• Strategic Thinking: Deliver results with awareness of impact on others internally and externally by considering the positions and perspectives of relevant stakeholders
• Collaboration: Actively promote collaboration by spotting and breaking down barriers to siloed working, connecting colleagues, teams, and initiatives.
• Leadership of self and others: Willing to share own expertise with others in the organisation and network, both formally and informally
• Ability to adapt and learn: Balance the need to follow systems and processes with the courage, identifying when systems and processes do not align with the mission, suggesting alternatives
• Getting things done the Start Network way: Deliver results in pursuit of our mission by holding yourself to account for your work, taking decisions relevant to your role and supporting colleagues whilst having fun

OUR OFFER TO YOU

• Centrally located office space if based in the UK
• Hybrid working with options to work from home and remotely Flexible working arrangements
• Contributory pension Life Assurance
• Family friendly policies
• Learning and development opportunities for individuals and cross-organisationally
• 25 company days over the Christmas/End of Year period