The African Wildlife Foundation Hiring Budget and Grants Officer

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has long stood at the forefront of Africa’s conservation and sustainable development efforts. With a mission to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa, AWF blends sound science, policy engagement, field-level conservation, and sustainable enterprise to drive results across the continent.

To strengthen its financial and grant management operations, AWF is seeking a highly capable, detail-oriented, and experienced professional to join its Finance Department as a Budget and Grants Officer (BGO). This full-time role is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and offers an outstanding opportunity for professionals who are passionate about conservation, financial stewardship, and international development.

If you are looking for a dynamic, mission-driven organization that is committed to making a real difference in conservation across Africa, this is your chance to contribute meaningfully while growing your career in a highly supportive and challenging environment.

Position: Budget and Grants Officer
Requisition Number: BUDGE001307
Department: Finance
Reports to: Senior Manager, Cost Proposal and Grants
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
Job Category: Finance and Administration
Job Type: Full-time

Position Summary

The Budget and Grants Officer (BGO) is a key member of AWF’s Finance team, primarily responsible for supporting cost proposal development and comprehensive grants management. This includes the initiation, tracking, and reporting of a wide array of grants—from federal and non-federal government to privately funded streams. The BGO will ensure the integrity and alignment of internal budget systems with donor-approved budgets, maintain documentation, and coordinate monthly budget phasing across programs and support teams.

This position involves both pre- and post-award responsibilities, including financial reporting, audit support, donor compliance, and capacity building. The BGO will collaborate closely with program staff, field finance teams, and the Senior Manager, Cost Proposal and Grants to ensure timely and accurate grant execution and reporting. Occasional travel to AWF field offices may be required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Budget and Grant Information Management

Receive and process documentation related to new awards and modifications from Program Design (PD) and Development teams.
Summarize essential grant information, including donor conditions, and disseminate Grant Data Sheets to relevant stakeholders such as Finance, Program, and Management Systems teams.
Ensure timely updates and maintenance of grants folders with key documents including agreements, budgets, financial reports, invoices, and proof of payments.
Conduct capacity-building sessions for program staff, field finance teams, and partners on donor requirements and internal policies.
Actively monitor and notify teams about critical grant milestones such as upcoming deadlines, reporting schedules, and grant closures.
Support the PD team in the development of cost proposals and assigned budget amendments.

2. Budget Management and Analysis

Perform real-time updates and reconciliations of the Grants and Budget Ledgers to ensure consistency between donor-approved budgets and AWF internal work plans.
Reconcile sub-grant general ledger balances with financial reports received from partners to ensure accuracy.
Post budget adjustments in a timely manner and maintain alignment with current operating budgets.
Administer and manage the Unanet timesheet system, ensuring accurate updates based on staffing changes and budget availability.
Track and post in-kind/matching contributions for grants requiring cost share documentation.
Reclassify misaligned expenditures promptly within the accounting system.
Perform cost-benefit analysis for operational programs and support quarterly review meetings to assess budget utilization and identify potential constraints.
Provide informed recommendations to management on mitigating financial risks.
Assist in maintaining budget controls and approval workflow rules in the financial system.

3. Grant Financial Management and Compliance

Generate and distribute monthly grant expenditure reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance with donor-approved budgets.
Highlight and communicate any anomalies or budget deviations to the Senior Manager, Cost Proposal & Grants, and program implementers.
Track grants receivables and advances; ensure timely invoicing, drawdowns, and account reconciliations.
Monitor grant spending to flag budget risks and provide timely solutions.
Support the close-out process for grants, ensuring timely completion and compliance with all financial conditions.
Complete monthly grant close-out checklists and assist in preparing donor reports for final review.
Review monthly grant transactions to ensure alignment with donor regulations.
Conduct ongoing field reviews for compliance and offer capacity-building support to AWF and sub-grantee field staff.
Prepare necessary documents for grant audits and ensure proper filing and documentation in Box.
Maintain invoicing schedules and ensure timely submission and documentation of all invoices.

4. Financial Reporting

Run and analyze monthly budget management reports for dissemination to all budget managers.
Maintain a comprehensive schedule of grant milestones related to financial and performance reporting, and ensure timely notifications for proactive planning.
Post grants budgets and expenses—especially sub-grants—in the NetSuite general ledger.
Track and communicate significant budget variances to project management teams for corrective action.
Prepare cost-match reports on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with donor matching requirements.

5. Additional Duties

Provide general assistance with grants and compliance issues as needed.
Support the preparation of ad hoc financial reports and cost analysis.
Carry out any other duties assigned by the supervisor to support the Finance team’s operations.

Requirements and Skills

A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) qualification is required.
Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, ideally within a donor-funded nonprofit setting.
Strong understanding of grant management, including working with donors such as the U.S. government, European Union, and German institutions.
Proven experience in communicating financial data to individuals without financial backgrounds.
Highly organized with a sharp attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure in a dynamic environment.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, exercise sound judgment, and resolve problems with minimal supervision.
Professionalism in handling sensitive and confidential financial matters.
A client-centered approach with excellent interpersonal skills, including patience and responsiveness.
Willingness to travel to field offices, sometimes in remote areas.
A passion for conservation and an interest in understanding AWF’s mission and programming.
Familiarity with financial management systems and databases.
Experience with NetSuite accounting software is highly desirable.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong technical skills in financial system navigation.
Ability to communicate in French is an added advantage.

Work Environment and Culture

At AWF, team members are driven by a shared vision of sustainable development through conservation. The organization fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging innovation and continuous learning. This position is based in Nairobi but will be part of a global team working across AWF’s regional and country programs. You will work with passionate conservation professionals and seasoned financial experts while contributing to one of the most respected conservation organizations in Africa.

This is an excellent opportunity to grow professionally in a complex, multicultural setting while contributing to important work that impacts wildlife, people, and the future of African ecosystems.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official AWF recruitment portal before the application deadline on July 31, 2025.

If you meet the outlined requirements and are motivated to support conservation initiatives through robust financial and grants management practices, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. AWF is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.