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About Us:
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity founded in 1826, is a world-renowned centre of excellence for conservation science and applied conservation. ZSL’s mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This is realised by carrying out field conservation and research in over 50 countries across the globe and through education and awareness-raising at our two zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, inspiring people to take conservation action.
Overview:
ZSL’s Conservation Programmes (CP) division operates in 50 countries around the world, with the aim of promoting and achieving the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. The division – one of ZSL’s three mission teams, alongside our two Zoos and Institute of Zoology – has undergone substantial recent growth, mostly funded by the expansion of our grants funding from a range of institutional and other donors.
Role Profile:
This role has been created to deliver effective administration support for this growing grants portfolio in a key region, Asia. Reporting to the Programme Grants Manager, it will act as a focal point for CP colleagues in both in the region itself and the UK head office team, plus key cross-society functions such as Finance, in the provision of robust and consistent support for our regional programme grants.
While this position will support on all our Asia work, it will particularly focus on two multi-million pound conservation projects: a transboundary tiger project in Nepal and India funded by KfW and IUCN, and a large landscapes programme in Indonesia supported by the UK and Norwegian governments.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Maintain a good working knowledge of ZSL financial systems, processes and policies and ensure Conservation Programmes adherence.
- Provide accurate and timely information and support on key regional projects’ sustainability, stability and effectiveness at all points of the grant cycle.
- With our head office and country finance teams, help manage budget controls, project expenditures, budget analysis, expenditure forecasting, cost analysis, reporting and external audits.
- Work closely with the Programme Grants Manager and wider CP staff to ensure that project funds are appropriately transferred, spent, recorded and reconciled with central records.
- Ensure all grant monitoring and tracking systems are working effectively and are consistent with grant management protocols, donor compliance requirements and wider best practice.
- Where required, process CP invoices, expenses, international transfers and expense reconciliations, while ZSL moves to more robust country finance and grants management.
- Compile information from project accounts, the ZSL project database and accounting system for internal and external financial reports, liaising with funders about financial issues where necessary.
- Track financial status by analysing actual results in comparison with forecasts.
- Reconcile transactions by comparing and correcting data.
- Build strong, supportive and culturally-sensitive relationships with our country office teams in Asia to deliver processes and principles that build capacity and effectiveness ZSL country offices.
- Provide general wider support, assisting CP colleagues with general administrative matters such as travel permission forms, insurance cover and health and safety policies as required.
Other expectations
- Ensure that ZSL’s policy for equality of opportunity is adhered to and promoted in all aspects of our work.
- Oversee effective quality control and continuous improvement in all aspects of the responsibilities attached to this post.
- Comply with and promote ZSL’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures, and undertake recommended Health and Safety training as and when necessary.
- Commit to professional self-development for the successful delivery of this job.
- Undertake such other duties as are commensurate with the grade of the post and that may be reasonably required.
Person Specification:
The successful candidate will have solid experience in finance and grants administration and support in complex international organisations, preferably in the non-profit sector. Specifically, you will have:
- Degree level qualification in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, or related or equivalent
work experience.
- Strong competence in financial processes and reporting through grant administration/support experience in an international NGO or similar non-profit.
- Knowledge of grant management policies, procedures and best practice as per the requirements of major institutional donors.
- Proven knowledge of financial forecasting, diagnosis, and statistical analysis, with proficiency in spreadsheets, databases, MS Office and financial software.
- Demonstrable track-record in the creation and dissemination of high-quality project reports and financial narratives for a range of stakeholders, with the capacity to assimilate, prioritise, analyse and interpret complex data.
- Strong presentation, reporting and communication skills, able to distil complex information in support of project delivery for colleagues from across ZSL, both in the UK and internationally – including for colleagues whose first language is not English.
- Well-developed planning, coordination, and project management skills, with the capacity to organise a workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
- Able to operate effectively as part of multicultural, international team, building relationships through a supportive, culturally-aware approach – knowledge of another language would be an advantage.
- A commitment to ZSL’s values and mission to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.
To Apply:
Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills). Click the "Apply for this job online" button on the following link. If you have any queries regarding this position or when applying through the system please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org
Closing date for applications: Midnight Monday 2nd May 2016
The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.
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