Assistant II, Grant Finance

ChildFund Kenya is seeking an Assistant II, Grant Finance to provide financial administration and grant support for an EU-funded project in Nairobi. The full-time fixed-term role suits a finance professional with experience in financial administration, voucher verification, documentation compliance, and institutional grants.

Key Job Information

• Job Title: Assistant II, Grant Finance
• Employer: ChildFund Kenya
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Division: Global Impact
• Department: Country Management
• Employment Type: Full-time, Fixed Term
• Work Environment: Hybrid
• Reports To: Coordinator, Project

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that connects children with the people, resources, and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled, and safe. The organization works directly in 23 countries and has an extended reach to more than 60 countries through its global partnership network.

ChildFund promotes a culture where program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers can feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. The organization also emphasizes opportunities for staff to grow, learn, lead, and contribute their talents and innovations.

ChildFund International maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and other forms of harm. The position is subject to vetting checks, which may include criminal records checks and/or disclosures to support safeguarding of program participants.

About the Role

The Assistant II, Grant Finance will provide core financial support, payment validation, documentation compliance, and day-to-day accounting administration for the EU-funded Sheria ya Vijana project.

The role requires strict adherence to EU donor regulations, Barnfonden guidelines, national legislation, and ChildFund International financial policies while supporting project financial management and partner compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Project Financial Management and Coordination

• Manage day-to-day project financial operations in line with EU rules, Barnfonden policies, and national legislation.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning across the consortium in accordance with the approved budget.
• Prepare quarterly and annual financial reports for internal use and EU submission in coordination with the Grants Manager.
• Compile partner and Barnfonden financial reports into aggregated project reports.
• Support audits by organizing documentation, maintaining audit trails, and responding to auditor queries.
• Monitor compliance with EU grant conditions, including eligible costs, visibility requirements, and procurement regulations.
• Coordinate with the Sweden-based finance and grants team on accounting and reporting procedures.

Partner Financial Support and Sub-Granting

• Support partner organizational assessments and follow-up activities with project teams in Kenya and Sweden.
• Provide partners with capacity-building support on financial reporting, documentation, and EU compliance.
• Review partner financial reports and monitor expenditure against approved budgets.
• Identify budget deviations and participate in field visits and financial spot-checks.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to strengthen partner financial systems and controls.
• Document capacity-building outcomes and share findings with the Grants Manager and Project Manager.
• Assist with the development and management of the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) framework.

Procurement and Financial Monitoring

• Support procurement planning, documentation, and compliance checks for the Kenya project team.
• Verify quotations, purchase orders, contracts, payments, and other financial documentation.
• Review consultant and contractor invoices and verify deliverables before payment processing.
• Liaise with the Sweden-based finance team on payment approvals and processing.
• Track financial performance against budgets and highlight financial risks, under-spending, and over-spending trends.
• Contribute to project review meetings, financial lessons learned, templates, and training materials.

Other Finance Duties

• Assist the Project Coordinator and project team in tracking routine expenditure against the project budget.
• Track local accountabilities, working advances, and travel claims and ensure timely liquidation.
• Perform other finance-related duties assigned by the Project Manager, Grants Manager, or Project Coordinator.
• Remain alert and responsive to safeguarding, anti-fraud, and anti-corruption risks.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum Foundational level completion in the CPA (K) or ACCA qualification process.
• 3–4 years of hands-on experience in financial administration, voucher verification, and documentation management.
• Experience within an international non-governmental organization (INGO) environment is preferred.
• Direct experience with EU-funded projects or large institutional grants is an advantage.

Required Competencies and Skills

• Strong teamwork and ability to collaborate effectively while respecting individual differences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with empathy and tact in professional interactions.
• Results-oriented approach with good judgement and critical thinking.
• Resilience and ability to work effectively in changing, demanding, and complex environments.
• Digital literacy and willingness to use technology to address business challenges.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Hands-on experience with institutional accounting software or packages.
• High attention to detail and accuracy when verifying financial documents.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain clear audit trails and paper or digital filing systems.
• Ability to manage dual-reporting relationships involving operational and functional finance supervision.

How to Apply

Applicants interested in the Assistant II, Grant Finance position should use the ChildFund careers portal to review the vacancy and submit their application. Applicants should ensure that the information provided accurately reflects their qualifications, financial experience, and relevant grant or project experience.