Main purpose of the role

The Senior FBP is expected to perform all elements of the core FBP role explained below with additional responsibilities related accountability for delivering cross-CIFF initiatives.

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) is the critical interface between the finance function and the SRHR programme management team, playing a key role of representing finance in the programme teams and representing the programme teams in finance. The FBP will provide commercial and financial input to the design and delivery of our programme investments. They will provide added value support to the SRHR team, by performing modelling value for money analysis and ad hoc data analysis and reporting as required. It also involves technical oversight and support to ensure that CIFF’s grant monies are safeguarded and utilised in the pre-agreed manner. The FBP is responsible for the due diligence assessment of CIFF’s grantees including internal controls, processes and procedures and ensuring grant activity is properly reported.

The FBP will work across the global portfolio of SRHR activities managed from London which focuses on improving sexual & reproductive health and rights, and empowering millions with the opportunities to prevent unplanned pregnancy, HIV and make an informed choice on family size through demand generation, product development, SRHR commodity access and security and behaviour change.

Specifically, the Senior FBP SRHR is responsible for:

Programme Finance “Pillar” Ownership

• Responsible for delivery of PF pillar deliverables as agreed as part of the annual business planning process
• Expectation that 30% of time should be dedicated to cross-CIFF improvement initiatives

ED Decision Support

• Act as a trusted advisor to the ED SRHR
• Strategic insight provided on Programme Team strategies ahead of business planning strategy assessment

The position is based in the CIFF office in London and involves travel to programme implementation sites primarily in Africa in order to work closely with our partners in monitoring the expenditure on CIFF’s grants.

The reporting line is to the Director of Programme Finance, based in London. There will also be a dotted reporting line into the SRHR Executive Director based in the UK.

This role may also have line management responsibilities and would be responsible for operational and performance management and coaching of at least 1 FBP.

Role’s responsibilities

Principal Accountabilities

• Strategic partner to SRHR ED and Directors
• Management and Reporting of SRHR Team performance against Business Plan Targets
• Advice on the finance structure of grant proposals and commercial contracts
• Analysis and negotiation of grantee budgets to assess for value-for money principles
• Management of the payment approval process
• Financial, governance and risk due diligence prior to investment approval
• Working with grantees to strengthen their financial and operational controls
• Support the SRHR programme management team (c. 16 people) to manage their grant portfolio (c. $400m)

Key Tasks:

Decision support

• Provide added value, commercial and financial advice on relevant aspects of programme design and delivery. This may include product development and manufacturing contracts, volume guarantees and other funding structures, clinical trials, product demand generation, commodity financing, advocacy and policy programmes.
• Carry out financial modelling and analysis to support programme decision making.
• Review and assessment of commercial contracts to assess for risk and appropriate structure to enable CIFF to meet its desired outcomes
• Support and challenge of finance teams of new entities to ensure processes, controls, funding structures and budget and financial management are appropriate.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the SRHR leadership team including support in managing and challenging partners with sensitivity and empathy.

Grantee Assessment

• Prior to investment approval, review the budget submitted by the grantee for reasonableness and accuracy. Budgets should also comply with CIFF’s internal policies and be compatible with the Foundation’s priorities and financial resources. Where appropriate, suggest changes to the proposals and agree internally.
• Work with the sector teams to identify financial and operational risks which may impact on programme strategy and develop mitigating solutions to the identified risks for the grantees to implement.
• Support partners in building financial reporting tools, giving guidance where necessary on data analysis and interpretation once tools are operational.
• Coach and support the SRHR Programme Team in analysing the financial reports submitted by the grantees and in preparing summaries of progress and performance.
• Support external audit partner with audits of the financial expenditure and internal controls of grantees.
• Prepare financial or grantee assessment-related dissemination materials for CIFF and as needed, for distribution to other stakeholders.

Grants accounting and controls

• Working with the finance team to support management reporting, e.g. analysing key trends in granting activity and disbursements and using this analysis to develop internal reporting and to benchmark future grant budgets.
• Supporting the finance team in the statutory reporting of grant and programme related investment activities and for complex mixed motive investments.
• Ensuring compliance with Charity Commission audit and financial best practice.

Key working relationships

• CIFF Board members
• Other CIFF teams – particularly EME and functional teams (e.g. legal, HR, finance)
• Global partners and stakeholders
• International charities and NGOs
• National governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies
• Research and academic institutions active within sector specialism

Management dimensions Responsibility for personal pipeline and delivery targets

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within the development sector
• Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and belief in the importance of evidence-based decision making
• Experience of working with SMEs would also be of value
• Understanding of the financial risk environment within the international development sector
• Good understanding of effective governance models and risk management frameworks
• Experience within Internal Audit would be particularly helpful
• Strong working knowledge of impact measurement and programme monitoring and evaluation
• An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes
• Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience

Benefits

Alongside a competitive salary (GBP 80k-100k), we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Annual leave – 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service, to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus – CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before 11 August 2023.