Senior Finance and Operations Associate

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

About the Innovation Practice

Around the world, individuals and institutions are finding new ways to work faster and smarter to address pressing challenges in health, education and nutrition systems. By adapting innovations to different contexts, creating novel approaches and solutions, and anticipating possible futures, these change agents are delivering better outcomes for citizens and challenging systemic inequalities.

In partnership with change agents, we facilitate the scale-up of innovations — addressing supply and demand-side barriers to scaling the impact of individual or cohorts of innovations. We also facilitate the strengthening of innovation ecosystems — addressing specific gaps, weaknesses and inefficiencies in the environment that are constraining innovation and scaling processes. To achieve these goals, we work with a range of innovation ecosystem actors, including social entrepreneurs, governments, civil society organizations, and development agencies. Read more about the practice here.

Opportunity

R4D is seeking a Senior Finance & Operations Associate to join our Innovation Practice, based in our London, UK office.

As an integral member of the Innovation Team, the Senior Finance & Operations Associate will work closely with team leads to support the operational excellence of the Innovation portfolio. The practice is at an exciting juncture of rapid growth and the team has been working over the past years to improve strategic budgeting and resource management, program management and quality control, and a team-building and human resources strategy.

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly organized individual to help us take this work forward. Experience supporting finance and operations functions across multiple programs will be essential along with an ability to build commitment for excellent Finance and Operations practices across the team. Strong verbal and written communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, dedication to being and keeping others organized, and an ability to think creatively and proactively within a highly collaborative team environment are also very important.

This position will report to the Senior Finance & Operations Manager.

Responsibilities

Finance

• Participate in refining and drafting suitable finance processes, tools and guidance for the practice, to ensure the practice leverages and works in accordance with R4D systems and processes
• Support the Finance & Operations team, R4D Grants and Contracts Managers and the R4D Finance team with the day to day function in a timely manner
• Be the interface between the Finance & Operations Team in London and the HQ Finance Team in Washington, DC on financial queries including invoicing and payments.
• Support the practice in preparing invoices on the R4D finance system (Jamis) and liaise with R4D finance on sign off of invoices
• Contribute to funder reporting processes, including working with different members of the team to ensure the timely submission of quality financial reports.

Operations

• Lead the establishment and execution of contracts for Innovation projects and other operational aspects of the practice, including consultant and supplier procurement.
• Support with the procurement process and tools and guidance for suppliers/consultants.
• Support the recruitment process for new staff members and consultants in collaboration with technical team members and the R4D Human Resources team.
• Work with project teams to support event and meeting coordination (e.g., speaker research, vendor selection, scheduling and event-day coordination)
• Support the Finance and Operations team in monitoring contractual, administrative and compliance aspects related to the maintenance of the R4D office space in London.
• Ensure the Audio-Visual / Comms facilities in the London office are updated and functioning

Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management.

Qualifications and experience

• Accounting professional qualification or Masters with 1 year of relevant experience preferred, or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with 1- 2 years of relevant experience required
• Experience developing and maintaining excellent systems such as for project management, tracking and managing resources, event coordination, and/or supporting recruitment efforts required
• Excellent analytical skills and experience with data analysis in Excel
• High level of organization, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability
• Highly collaborative and approachable team member who is enthusiastic about supporting the Innovation team and working closely with others at R4D
• Excellent oral and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complicated and detailed data to team leads
• Ability to prioritize and manage work in a fast-paced environment across multiple projects and work streams with competing time/resource demands
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Energy, good judgement, and humour
• Experience working with international donor funding and understanding of donor regulations (in particular FCDO/USAID) highly desirable
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the UK

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and this advert may close earlier than the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.