Specialist, Budget Analyst
Washington DC, United States
Finance – Washington DC - HQ /
Full Time - Local /
On-site
Search for Common Ground
In a world often divided, Search for Common Ground stands for the power of bringing diverse
people together to find solutions. By meeting this moment with Search, you join a powerful
the global peace movement that believes in the profound impact of courageous multi partiality - that all voices should be heard and respected in shaping a better, more connected world, and
collaborative vision is essential for lasting peace.
Search for Common Ground takes a dynamic approach by building solutions based on communities' needs. We engage with leaders and elected officials to advance dialogue
and collaboration. We are community leaders. We are youth activists. We are women. We are
Peacebuilders. We have been doing this work for over 40 years. We have developed our
understanding of what peace looks like, being able to quantify our impact and design more
effective programming. Peace moves at the speed of trust, so we invest for the long haul. When
we’re no longer needed, we leave, leaving behind people and institutions with the ability to
manage future conflicts.
Department Summary
The Search for Common Ground Finance Team seeks to achieve excellence in financial
management by providing accurate and timely financial information to Search management and
programs and by adhering to established financial practices and accounting principles.
Team Summary
The Budget and Analysis team facilitates timely and accurate reporting and development of budgetary information to ensure compliance with donor and Search policies.
Responsibilities
- Oversee and conduct continuous improvement in the quality of budgeting for project submissions.
- Globally support the organization's operating budget process and recommend improvements.
- Review donor proposal budget submission to ensure compliance
- Monitor and evaluate donors' project budget submissions for enhancements
- Ensure that donor budgets comply with Search and donor policies and regulations,
- Use financial operations experience in the non-profit INGO sector to conduct budget analysis and financial management in a non-profit accounting environment.
Contributions
- Review donor budgets at one million USD and above annually and ensure adherence to Search and donor policies and regulations.
- Maintain and update the standard internal Search budgeting format for modifications by the Country office Program and Finance to convert into the donor’s format.
- Closely work with Program Development staff to develop the procedures and techniques for budgeting protocols and narratives.
- Collaborate with HR and finance to develop and maintain a labor cost tracker for the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF) and other fixed labor cost contracts.
- Develop budgeting procedures and tools to ensure consistency across the regions in close cooperation with the Program and Business Development team.
- Guide contract mechanisms such as Time & Material, fixed price, etc.
- Develop training material and conduct training for finance and non-finance staff on budgeting.
- Support the Program Development team with technical negotiations with donors related to financial systems, procedures, and budgeting tools.
- Infuses organizational values into all work.
- Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.
Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Manages overall strategy and vision. Provides functional and program/project management. Anticipates and plans for needs and takes action accordingly. Guides direct reports or matrixed team members.
- Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and Search’s network of experts critical to the area of purview.
- Modifies a planned course of action in response to new information or new circumstances.
- Responds to changing circumstances and expectations readily.
- Articulates Search/function program/project goals and objectives within and external to Search. Develops program objectives that reflect broader Search strategies and approaches.
- Provides input for standards across functions globally within Shared Services teams and with a view from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
- Overcomes obstacles using ethical practices; formulates and evaluates morally and ethically justified solutions.
- Assesses risks and opportunities to lead decision-makers to a favorable outcome.
- Checks the accuracy of one’s and others’ work and sets up systematic checks and balances to support content and data integrity.
- Knowledge of project management tools, including technology, as a resource for efficiency and stress reduction.
Type and Nature of Contacts
- Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations tactfully.
- Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
- Interacts with the country office and regional staff.
Preferred Experience
- Experience managing audits of projects with a range of donors (USAID, EU, UK FCDO, German FFO, UN, World Bank, CIDA, SIDA, the Dutch Foreign Ministry, and other European bilateral funders)
- Experience working with both assistance (grant, cooperative agreement) and acquisition/contract funding instruments.
- Familiarity with financial budgeting & analysis software is desired.
Education
Typically, BS/BA with a minimum of 9 years experience
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel internationally at least 20%.
Supervisory and Budget Responsibility
May supervise one or more staff members.
