RRLI Finance Manager

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks RRLI Finance Manager (Remote)

About Asylum Access

Asylum Access believes it’s time to put power back in the hands of people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. 

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. By supporting refugees as they assert their rights, we help restore their power and agency. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and empowers them to make choices about their own lives. 

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance. 

Project Description

The Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) is a six-organization strong global coalition dedicated to shifting power and resources to refugee-led organizations (RLOs). The initiative is convened by Asylum Access and includes 5 prominent RLOs around the world: Basmeh & Zeitooneh in Lebanon, Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Egypt, Refugiados Unidos in Colombia, Refugees and Asylum Seekers Information Centre (RAIC) in Indonesia, and Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) in Uganda. Together, the initiative aims to assist 45 RLOs to access 20 million USD across 10 countries in 5 years and unlock 20 million USD for RLOs around the world. We were the recipients of the USD 10 million Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award, which kickstarted the effort, and already awarded 3.6 million in grants to 17 refugee-led organizations.

Position Description

The RRLI Finance Manager is in charge of the overall financial management of the project, and will work closely with both Asylum Access (as fiscal sponsor and financial head for the project) and the coalition (who govern the project). The RRLI Finance Manager will ensure that the financial reporting to donors is excellent, will kindly assist RLO grantees in their applications and grant reporting, and will ensure that the coalition has the financial and accounting information and guidance it needs to make sound financial decisions. 

This position will be part of the RRLI project management team that will assist the coalition as it implements its innovative funding and aid initiative. 

Key Responsibilities

All duties are carried out in close collaboration with and under the overall supervision of the coalition. An excellent joint working relationship with coalition members is essential to the success of this role. The RRLI Finance Manager will perform a wide range of duties including the following: 

Project Financial Management (30%) 

• Develop a comprehensive project financial management system and manuals in collaboration with the coalition. 
• Produce the project financials (e.g. income and expense statements, and budget vs. actuals) on a monthly basis and distribute to the entire coalition for review. Also, informing Asylum Access key stakeholders.
• Present and interpret financial results for the coalition providing interpretation and recommendations. 
• Assist the Asylum Access accounting team during the annual audit with relevant documentation and information. If needed, coordinate grant-specific aspects of the audit. 
• Collaborate with different RRLI functions to develop financial models and forecasts to guide long-term financial planning and ensure sustainability.
• Conduct periodic reviews of financial processes to identify areas for improvement and implement changes that enhance efficiency and reduce risks.

• Lead the RRLI budget including budget development, budget updates, grants budgets 

development, grant budget amendments and multi-year budget forecasting. 

• Conduct analysis and management guidance on RRLI investments. 

Project Accounting Management (25%) 

• Manage accurate income record keeping for all project funding sources, ensuring transparency and accountability in the allocation of funds.
• Prepare detailed data for finance and development teams, including inputs for cash flow forecasts, ensuring proper planning and alignment with project objectives. 
• In collaboration with Asylum Access and the coalition, develop expense management procedures. Ensure these procedures are documented in formal guidelines and provide training to coalition members on their application.
• Oversee the expense management of the overall project, including tracking, evaluating and controlling the costs to ensure the project stays within the budget. This includes but is not limited to verifying supplier invoices and managing change events that impact the budget.
• Conduct regular reconciliation of accounts to ensure consistency between recorded income and expenses, providing detailed variance analysis where applicable.
• Work closely with procurement teams to ensure that financial records align with contractual obligations and procurement processes.
  

Grantee Financial Liaising (20%) 

• Liaise with grantees to develop and finalize  grant budgets and grant reports from the RLO-to-RLO fund. 

• Provide one-to-one coaching and assistance to grantees in the design, implementation and enhancement of financial management systems and controls. 
• Organize and store all grantee financials in an accessible and secure manner, ensuring compliance with project documentation requirements.
• Build capacity among grantees by offering training in financial reporting, budget management, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Conduct periodic financial reviews with grantees to identify potential issues and offer support in resolving financial challenges.

Donor Reporting (15%) 

• Produce timely and accurate financial reports based on the donor-specific requirements, as outlined in grant contracts, ensuring clear communication of financial status.
• Where necessary, liaise directly with donors on financial matters, answering to inquiries, clarifying financial statements, and providing additional reports as needed. 

• Ensure all donor reporting adheres to both internal financial policies and external donor guidelines, avoiding any discrepancies.

• Work with the fundraising and development teams to provide financial insights that aid donor engagement and stewardship efforts.
• Track grant-specific income and expenditure to ensure donor funds are properly allocated and used as per donor expectations.

• m the RLO-to-RLO fund. 
• Provide one-to-one coaching and assistance to grantees in the design, implementation and enhancement of financial management systems and controls. 
• Organize and store all grantee financials in an accessible and secure manner, ensuring compliance with project documentation requirements.
• Build capacity among grantees by offering training in financial reporting, budget management, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Conduct periodic financial reviews with grantees to identify potential issues and offer support in resolving financial challenges.

Human Resources (5%)

• Supervise the RRLI Administration and Assistant by guaranteeing the completion of the duties and leading their growth in the organization. 

Other duties as assigned (5%) 

• Other duties required or assigned by the RRLI team members. 

Reports to: RRLI Director of Operations & Strategy.

Required Qualifications:

• At least four years of experience managing finances, accounting, and granting grants to a non-profit organization or initiative. 
• Strong command of fundamental non-profit accounting concepts and accounting systems. 
• Comfortable working individually and in concert with positions across the various functions and levels of the organization and with external partners, recognizing and valuing the need to adapt and respect other cultures and languages. 
• Proven history of taking the initiative to own and execute a diverse set of duties. 
• Excellent verbal presentation of financial information and demonstrable ability to help guide others in interpreting financial data. 
• Evidence a service-minded approach that aids stakeholders who may be new to complex financial concepts. 
• Attention to detail in accounting, and willingness to perform administrative tasks alongside management tasks. 
• Willingness to go above and beyond in promoting inclusivity across cultures and languages. 
• A passion for refugee leadership in refugee response. 
• Outstanding commitment to ethics in financial management. 
• Prior experience with NetSuite is a plus. 
• English language proficiency. Spanish and/or Arabic is a plus.

Working Hours and Compensation

The RRLI Finance Manager position is a full-time, exempt role based in Kenya or Uganda. We anticipate that the role will take approximately 40 hours per week.  Note that employment arrangements and contract details may differ based on location. Regardless of location, all candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required to take out-of-hours calls and meetings with international colleagues.

The position comes with a well-paying nonprofit salary based on location, with an annual salary for US-based candidates of USD 86,700. The offered salary will be calculated based on location and presented in local currency. Generous paid time off policies and healthcare coverage appropriate to the location will also be offered.

Asylum Access is committed to paying competitive salaries and upholding sustainable equity practices. However, because salary negotiations perpetuate existing structural inequities, Asylum Access does not participate in salary negotiations for any candidate.

Application Instructions to Candidates

Please upload your resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample in English. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, and how you learned about the position. 

Asylum Access is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement and encourage people with such lived experience to apply. For more information about our organization, visit our website.