Grants Management Consultant

Grants Management Expert International Nonprofit Organization | Consulting / Interim Opportunity Company Overview Our client is an international nonprofit organization with operations and grant-funded programs across multiple countries. The organization is seeking an experienced Grants Management Expert to provide leadership, strengthen financial oversight, address identified compliance concerns, and improve grant management processes and internal controls. This individual will serve as a senior-level resource within the finance organization, providing interim leadership during a VP of Finance vacancy while driving critical grant management initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Compliance and Remediation

• Review and address findings identified through the CLA assessment related to grant management, financial controls, and compliance.
• Develop and execute corrective action plans to remediate identified deficiencies.
• Evaluate existing grant management policies, procedures, and internal controls to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure grant management practices align with donor restrictions, grant agreements, applicable regulations, and nonprofit accounting standards.

Restricted Funds Review and Financial Oversight

• Investigate concerns regarding the potential improper movement, allocation, or utilization of restricted grant funds.
• Perform detailed financial reviews to determine whether any inappropriate transactions or fund transfers have occurred.
• Quantify potential financial exposure, compliance risks, and remediation requirements associated with identified issues.
• Develop recommendations to address any confirmed deficiencies and establish sustainable processes to prevent future occurrences.
• Partner with finance leadership and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate accounting, tracking, and reporting of restricted funds.

Interim Grant Management Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight to the finance grant management team during the VP of Finance vacancy.
• Assess current team responsibilities, workflows, reporting structures, and operational effectiveness.
• Implement process improvements to strengthen grant accounting, reporting, compliance, and financial oversight.
• Establish clear accountability, standardized procedures, and effective internal controls across the grant management function.
• Provide guidance and support to finance team members on complex grant accounting and compliance matters.

Grant Management Task Force Leadership

• Lead the organization's grant management task force, coordinating cross-functional initiatives to address identified challenges.
• Establish priorities, action plans, timelines, and deliverables for remediation and process improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with finance, program leadership, compliance, and other stakeholders to strengthen grant management practices.
• Track progress against key initiatives and communicate findings, recommendations, and remediation status to senior leadership.
• Develop a sustainable grant management framework that supports long-term compliance, transparency, and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in grants management, grant accounting, financial compliance, or financial leadership within nonprofit organizations.
• Prior experience working with international nonprofit organizations, NGOs, or organizations managing complex, multi-country grant portfolios strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of restricted and unrestricted funds, donor restrictions, grant compliance, and nonprofit accounting principles.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and remediating internal control deficiencies, compliance issues, and financial process gaps.
• Experience conducting financial reviews or investigations involving grant expenditures, restricted fund allocations, or potential misuse of funds.
• Ability to assess and quantify financial exposure and develop practical remediation recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead finance teams, cross-functional task forces, and complex process improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP nonprofit accounting requirements, including ASC 958.
• Experience working with external auditors, consultants, and senior organizational leadership.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
• CPA, MBA, or relevant advanced degree preferred.

Key Objectives and Deliverables

• Complete an assessment of CLA findings and implement a prioritized remediation plan.
• Determine whether restricted funds have been improperly transferred, allocated, or utilized, and quantify any associated financial exposure.
• Strengthen grant management controls, policies, documentation, and financial reporting processes.
• Provide effective interim leadership and operational improvements within the finance grant management team.
• Lead the grant management task force through completion of critical remediation initiatives.
• Deliver actionable recommendations and a sustainable framework for ongoing grant compliance and financial oversight.

Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is a hands-on nonprofit finance and grants management expert with experience navigating complex compliance challenges, investigating financial irregularities, and implementing sustainable improvements. This individual must be comfortable operating independently, leading teams through organizational transitions, and working directly with senior leadership to resolve sensitive financial and operational matters.