About the Organisation
Slum Dwellers International (SDI) is an unparalleled women-led grassroot slum dwellers movement with over 25 years’ experience organizing urban poor communities across the world. We amplify the voice, agency and influence of the world’s 1 billion slum dwellers to improve their lives and make the cities and human settlements they reside in inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. SDI is organised as an international network currently made up of 22 national slum dweller federations (of which 19 in Africa) each counting their members in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of individual slum dwellers.
About the Job
The Senior Grants Officer will oversee the financial management of SDI’s grant portfolio, including, grant budget development, grant budget tracking, controls, forecasting and compliance, as well as financial reporting on all grant agreements. The role requires strong coordination with the Finance and Programmes team as well as close working relationships with funders and subgrantees (mainly SDI national affiliates) to enable effective, efficient and timely implementation of projects. The role plays a critical role in strengthening grant management practices and systems both within the SDI Secretariat and across the SDI network.
This role requires adaptability to changing donor regulations and financial complexities, strong ethical standards and a commitment to transparency and accountability as well as an ability to handle multiple grants simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Financial Management & Compliance
Lead the full financial lifecycle of grants, from set-up and budgeting to amendments and close-out.
Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and timelines, ensuring efficient utilisation of funds.
Ensure compliance with donor regulations, contracts, and internal financial policies.
Track grant cash flow and oversee subgrant disbursements in line with approved schedules.
Maintain accurate grants trackers, tools, and filing systems.
Financial Reporting & Expenditure Tracking
Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for donors and internal stakeholders.
Reconcile grant financial data with accounting systems and conduct variance analysis.
Review and provide feedback on affiliate financial reports and supporting documentation.
Provide financial insights to support programme implementation and management decision-making.
Proposal Support & Budgeting
Support proposal development through detailed budget preparation and costing.
Ensure donor templates, financial guidelines, and compliance requirements are strictly followed.
Review budgets for financial viability, risk exposure, and alignment with organisational policies.
Support to Project Managers
Work closely with project teams to develop activity-based budgets and cost estimates.
Support ongoing budget monitoring, compliance, and financial planning.
Systems Strengthening & Risk Management
Identify financial and compliance risks and recommend mitigation measures.
Strengthen grants policies, procedures, templates, and internal controls across the organisation and affiliate network.
Support organisational readiness for donor reviews and audits.
Audits
Coordinate and support internal and external audits across projects.
Ensure audit-ready documentation, proper financial controls, and timely completion of all required audits.
Monitor and track audit findings and ensure corrective actions are addressed.
Support to Management
Provide administrative and coordination support to management and the Board, including preparation of documentation and meeting records.
Undertake additional duties as reasonably required.
Requirements
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, International Development, or related field
Experience and Technical Skills
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in grant financial management within an international NGO or donor-funded organisation
Demonstrated experience with institutional and private funder financial compliance, preferably with existing or similar SDI funders
Proven track record of developing budgets and financial reports for complex, multi-donor programmes
Strong knowledge of financial reporting, donor compliance, and grant management
Good working knowledge of computer software including:
Word processing
Spreadsheets (Intermediate proficiency level)
PowerPoint
Xero accounting system (essential)
Key Competencies and Attributes
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
Ability to work independently
Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Commitment to integrity and transparency
Excellent organisational and time management abilities
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment
Additional Requirements
Ability to travel extensively across Africa, Asia, and other regions as required (5%)
To apply
In order to apply, email your application by Friday 13th March 2026 to tracy@actionappointments.co.za - send your completed AA bio form, letter of motivation and updated CV (all in MS Word format).
