Senior Finance Manager – Resilient Urban Futures

Position title: Senior Finance Manager – Resilient Urban Futures

Department: Corporate Services 

Reporting to: Head of Finance - Grants

Location: Kenya, South Africa - Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application. 

Salary: (Grade 3) Kenya KSH 6,303,102, South Africa ZAR 1,067,386  gross per annum - Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location. 

Term: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2030

Background 

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.

Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.

Diversity Statement

C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better. 

We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.

We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort. 

Department description:

The C40 Corporate Services team is at the heart of the C40 organisation. It comprises: Finance, Human Resources, Contracts, Grants & Risk, Information Technology, and Operations. The team manages the non-programmatic support mechanisms of the global organisation and works collaboratively with C40 senior management and global staff.
The Government Partnerships & Programme (GP&P) team supports the development and the delivery of C40 flagship climate programmes and grants from government funders that unlock and scale full-scale climate action and demonstrate scalable global impact, as well as lead C40’s government partnership and fundraising strategy

Position Description:

This position is responsible for supporting the programme team in managing one of C40’s largest restricted grants from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DMFA) through inception, delivery and close out. It is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to an ambitious, mission driven organization while collaborating with an extremely passionate, diverse, and international group of individuals. 

The role will join the Grant Finance team and will report to the Head of Finance - Grants, with a dotted line to the Programme Director of the Resilient Urban Futures Programme, Thus the role will need to work proactively across delivery and operations teams, ensuring the programme management team has timely and sufficient information and data for effective financial management and compliance with donor requirements.

The role is expected to proactively coordinate with the delivery teams on reporting and forecasting, as well as provide guidance and training, as an integrated member of the programme management team.

Responsibilities: 

C40 anchor point for the finance management of the Resilient Urban Futures programme with strong ownership of the programme finances and processes, as well as understanding of the donor requirements.  

Sufficient understanding of the operational environment of C40. Be able to advise the Programme Management team and provide solutions to programme-related challenges and issues, including a strong grasp of the relationship with the funder, such that well-informed decision making of the programme leads can be made

Reporting:

• Accountability for all transactions recorded against each project within the financial management system
• Manage the accuracy of the allocation of staff time to the grant without a set up finance system
• Provide monthly, accurate financial reports to the programme management and delivery teams.
• Provide variance analysis to programme leads
• Ensure financial information is provided in whichever format, and whichever currency that is required by programme management leads
• Provide high quality external reports for funders, using appropriate communication tools and analysis for the audience (i.e. annual reports, etc.)
• Provide ad hoc financial information as requested internally or by the donor (i.e. internal updates to the Resilient Urban Futures Steering Group, Global C40 teams, etc.)
• Work closely with Resilient Urban Futures Corporate Services colleagues to support the annual audit, mid-term review and any financial monitoring visits.
  

Forecasting:

• Maintain an accurate, detailed forecast of project expenditure and communicate it to the relevant programme leads in internal channels, incl. Coordinating input from programme management and delivery teams .
•  Assess and communicate financial risk as identified in the forecasts to the programme leads, as well as provide possible solutions. 
• Work closely with the legal counterpart to ensure committed project expenditure is adequately tracked
• Work closely with the HR counterpart, and program leads, to track vacancies and forecast compensation expenditure 

Budgeting:

• Support the programme leads to manage the budgets pro actively and solving problems collaboratively
• Support program staff with the preparation of budgets for proposals
• Support program staff with budgets modifications as needed
• Ensure that the internal control framework of C40 meets with the requirement of the donor, and that controls are followed at all times
• Plan and manage the project close out period
• Lead on audit preparation and be the point of contact while the audits are undertaken
• Be the finance lead for the direct implementation work in this grant in C40 cities
• The post holder may be required to plan and deliver relevant donor-specific compliance training to colleagues
• Work within a team composed of a diverse group of professionals that support a global organization

Person Specification:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, CPA, CIMA, ACCA)
• Experience with government  project accounting/ project management necessary
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, able to manage and organise large volumes of financial data
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to quickly master complex donor financial management guidelines and confidently act as the 'go-to' expert advising program leads on compliance.
• Ability to manage their own work planning - this role will support multiple time zones. The ability to work with those demands while staying within your allocated hours will be critical to success.
• Proven ability to independently design, build, and implement new financial workflows and templates from scratch with minimal managerial intervention.
• Experience of working internationally, dealing with multiple currencies
• Experience working collaboratively with programme teams, as well as a strong track record of actively leveraging peer-to-peer networks to problem-solve and avoid working in silos.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively escalate roadblocks, clearly communicate risks to deadlines ahead of time, and consistently 'close the loop' with stakeholders.
• Interest in working in the charity/not-for-profit sector and/or environmental and sustainability issues or an international organization preferred
• Experience in using Microsoft Business Central (desirable)
• Additional language skills relevant to the cities included in the project (desirable)

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the listed locations. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role. 

We seek to recruit individuals who not only have the appropriate skills and experience for the role, but are committed to carrying out their roles in line with our organisational values.

C40 offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employee well-being and work-life balance:

• Paid Time Off: Full-time employees receive 35 days of paid time off annually, which includes all national holidays.
• Company Shutdowns: In addition to the standard paid time off, C40 provides two non-contractual, non-statutory shutdown weeks each year (mid-year and end-of-year) for a full break.
• Parental Leave: All employees are eligible for up to 52 weeks of parenting leave. The first 16 weeks are paid at 100% of the employee's current salary. Weeks 17 through 52 are unpaid by C40, unless payment is required by national law.
• Flexible Working: C40 supports flexible working arrangements to enhance work-life balance, provided they align with business requirements.
• Time off in Lieu (TOIL): Employees can take TOIL to recover following periods of excessive hours or travel.
• Sick Leave: Entitlement to sick leave increases upon the successful completion of the employee's probation period.
• Employee Training: Training and development opportunities are available to all staff (excluding temporary staff and interns) after they have completed and passed their probation period.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Confidential services, such as counselling, are accessible for short-term support.
• Pension scheme: C40 offers a pension scheme to employees in eligible locations. Availability is determined by the country of employment.
• Private Health Insurance: This is provided in countries where publicly funded healthcare is not available. 

Application Process:

Closing date for applications is Friday 3rd July at 5pm UK Time. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

For any queries about the role, please contact careers@C40.org. Kindly note that this email address is for recruitment related queries only. We are unable to accept CVs and cover letters sent to this inbox. We can only accept and process applications that are submitted via our website.

C40 is an equal opportunities employer.