Grant Finance & Compliance Lead

SCOPE OF THE JOB

The Grant Finance & Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring robust financial compliance, documentation, and audit readiness across all donor-funded projects and partner organisations.

The role focuses on grant financial oversight, documentation quality, compliance monitoring, and standardisation of financial practices, working closely with country finance teams and programme staff.

The position plays a critical role in maintaining high-quality financial records across Alfanar’s investments, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and internal policies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Grant Financial Compliance & Oversight

• Monitor financial compliance across all grants, ensuring adherence to: 
  • Donor regulations 
  • Internal policies and procedures 
• Review financial transactions and reports for: 
  • Correct coding (grant, cost centre) 
  • Eligibility of expenses 
• Alignment with approved budgets 
  • Track grant utilisation and flag risks (under/over-spending, ineligible costs) 
  • Support country teams in interpreting and applying donor rules

Documentation & Audit Readiness

• Ensure all financial transactions are supported by complete, accurate, and compliant documentation 
• Maintain and oversee centralised documentation systems and filing structures 
• Conduct periodic documentation completeness checks (spot checks and sample reviews) 
• Ensure audit trails are clear, consistent, and accessible 
• Support preparation for: 
  • Donor audits 
  • Statutory audits 
  • Internal reviews

Partner Financial Monitoring & Capacity Building

• Review partner financial submissions and supporting documentation 
• Conduct financial assessments and monitoring reviews of partners 
• Provide guidance to partners on: 
  • Financial controls 
  • Procurement procedures 
  • Documentation standards 
• Support strengthening of partner financial management practices

Financial Verification & Data Quality

• Verify accuracy and completeness of: 
  • Partner financial reports 
  • Grant financial data 
• Support reconciliation between: 
  • Financial records 
  • Grant tracking tools 
  • Accounting systems 
• Ensure consistency between documentation and reported figures

Procurement & Expense Compliance 

• Review procurement processes and documentation for compliance 
• Ensure adherence to: 
  • Donor procurement requirements 
  • Internal approval processes 
• Conduct sample-based checks on: 
  • Vendor selection 
  • Supporting documentation 
  • Approval workflows

Systems, Tracking & Reporting Support 

• Maintain and update grant tracking tools and compliance dashboards 
• Support development and implementation of: 
  • Templates 
  • Checklists 
  • Standard operating procedures 
• Provide inputs to financial reporting processes where needed

Coordination & Communication 

• Work closely with:
  • Country finance teams
  • Programme teams
  • Regional Finance Lead
• Act as a focal point for grant compliance queries
• Escalate compliance risks and issues in a timely manner

Additional Duties 

• Support ad hoc compliance reviews or investigations 
• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance processes and controls