Finance Manager – EdTech Hub At Results for Development Institute

R4D is seeking a Finance Manager who will be dedicated to supporting our flagship EdTech Hub Programme.

About the EdTech programme

R4D is the prime contractor for the FCDO Directorate for Research and Innovation Hub on Technology for Education (EdTech Hub) programme. The aim of the EDTech Hub is to empower people by giving them the evidence they need to make decisions about technology in education as part of a global non-profit partnership focusing on research, innovation and engagement.

EdTech Hub is a global research partnership that aims to empower people by giving them the evidence they need to make decisions about technology in education. EdTech Hub:

● Undertakes and funds robust and rigorous research in five key topic areas

● Delivers support in up to six core countries to develop and deliver Sandboxes to learn about technology in education in a specific environment

● Delivers Technical Advice and Helpdesk support to FCDO, UNICEF and World Bank advisors as well as government officials on technology in education

● Functions as a Hub, and shares a range of Learning Products to make evidence available to a wide audience.

EdTech Hub is delivered through a consortium of R4D and five core sub-contractors, two regional sub-contractors, as well as range of country and activity specific local and international sub-contractors. From a management perspective, it is a complex programme funded by multiple donors including various departments within the FCDO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and UNICEF. Ed Tech Hub is in the 3rd year of an anticipated 8 year funding period, with a secured budget of £24M and a projected total life budget of at least £28M.

The role

A core role within the Hub Central Services team has become available. The EdTech Hub Finance Manager will work closely with the Chief of Operations for the Hub to oversee and manage all financial elements of the Hub, including budgeting and forecasting, invoicing and payments, and finance reporting to R4D HQ and multiple donors.

The Hub has recently undertaken an organisational reform process, and we are seeking someone to work closely with the COO to refine and embed our new finance management process. The right person will have experience of finance management on donor programmes (preferably FCDO) and will be able to work independently. They should be able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, and to develop creative solutions as the Hub grows and changes. The right person will have strong financial management skills, and a knowledge of procurement processes, grants/contracts and consortium engagement will be an asset. The successful candidate will have good interpersonal skills and must be able to work well within a large team.

This position is home based in the UK and will report to the EdTech Hub Chief of Operations. Periodic travel to an office in London for meetings could be required. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

While the role is full time, requests for flexible working will be considered. The Hub Finance Manager is required to liaise with colleagues in the US, which might on the rare occasion require attending meeting after 5pm.

Responsibilities

1. Develop budgets and template
2. Set up donor and grant / intervention specific financial templates and support the technical team to use this effectively.
3. Develop annual, quarterly and grant / intervention specific budgets for the Hub as a whole, for specific donors and for additional funding requests.
4. Support the COO to ensure technical teams, consortium members and individual consultants are aware of budget allocations.
5. Work with the COO to help technical teams scope inputs and benchmark rates appropriately to ensure Value for Money.
6. Track, manage and report on finances
7. Track expenditure and make adjustments at least monthly, or more frequently if needed.
8. Adjust monthly forecasts for the Hub Core Delivery Team and the FCDO based on actuals and programme developments
9. Develop and use a dashboard to report finance data and performance to the Hub Core Delivery Team, the Consortium Management Forum and the FCDO.
10. Keep a database of fee rates to enable benchmarking of rates
11. Provide financial information to the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for VFM reporting purposes.
12. Prepare and submit FCDO IATI data quarterly or as required.
13. Invoicing
14. Request invoices from subcontractors, grantees and individuals.
15. Undertake QA of invoices, including drawing information from the R4D ERP system, comparing invoices with budgets and forecasts, and ensuring technical sign off before payment.
16. Process invoices on the R4D finance system (Jamis) for approval.
17. Be the main liaison for subcontractors, grantees and individual consultants on financial queries including invoicing and payments.
18. Support the R4D Chief Finance Officer to manage cashflow and meet FCDO payment requirements.
19. Other
20. Serve as liaison between the R4D Finance and the Hub finance team at an operational level.
21. Input into payment terms for contract negotiations if required.

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification
• 5+ years of relevant experience; experience of FCDO programmes is highly desired.
• Demonstratable experience of developing budgets and forecasts, tracking and managing resources, and developing financial reports
• Advanced Excel skills
• Able to work independently in a fast-changing environment, taking initiative and balancing competing demands
• Excellent oral and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial data to technical staff
• Able to work well with a wide range of team members from diverse professional and personal backgrounds
• High level of organization, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability