Senior Finance Officer, RLO Granting

Position Title: Senior Finance Officer, RLO Granting

Position Location: Preference for Nairobi, Abidjan, Kampala, Accra, Kigali, or Addis Ababa

Reports To: DREEM, Senior Finance Manager

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible

Expected Start Date: May 1, 2026

BACKGROUND

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization driving positive education and economic change for young people around the world. Our vision is a world where every young person thrives and belongs. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and create their own futures. To help achieve this goal, we develop initiatives that: deliver lasting, measurable impact; are powered by partnerships across the globe; stay true to our core programming principles; and respond to the priorities and aspirations of the people with whom we work.

WUSC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our global team of development professionals bring deep expertise and open minds to identify new solutions to old problems and create a better world together. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in the communities they serve.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

WUSC is launching the second phase (2026-2031) of DREEM, an exciting initiative which aims to significantly expand efforts to help refugee, displaced, and host community (RDP) youth, particularly young women, secure dignified and fulfilling work and access education opportunities across Africa. Building on prior successes, this Phase II will deepen engagement in new geographies, strengthen local ecosystems, and equip partners with necessary knowledge and tools for lasting change. A core strategy is emphasizing the engagement and strengthening of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to provide sustainable, locally led technical assistance.

Over the next five years, DREEM’s ambitious goals include indirectly enabling one million RDP youth to secure dignified work and 35,000 to access education through the provision of expert technical assistance to a broad ecosystem of actors. Key implementation strategies involve working closely with RLOs through three pathways: providing financial access via an RLO Opportunity Fund, strengthening their capacity to provide technical assistance to partners, and embedding them across Phase II’s functional areas. WUSC will serve as a network orchestrator, facilitating connections for scale and training partners and other stakeholders on RDP inclusion. The initiative will achieve its targets by increasing knowledge among partners, enhancing capacity to develop innovative programming, improving collaboration and inclusive policies, and strengthening the institutional ability of RLOs to design, implement, and sustain RDP solutions.

Role Description:

The Senior Finance Officer, RLO Granting, provides technical support for the financial management and capacity strengthening components of the project’s granting mechanism supporting more than 60 Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) across the African continent. Working closely with Finance, Operations, and Program teams, the role supports the effective administration of grants while strengthening the financial management capacities of RLO partners to ensure accountable, compliant, and impactful use of funds.

Responsibilities:

• Support the financial administration of the project’s RLO granting mechanism, including grant allocation, disbursements, and financial monitoring for over 60 RLO partners across Africa.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of streamlined financial processes and reporting systems that ensure compliance while minimizing administrative burden on RLO partners.
• Provide demand driven technical assistance to RLO partners on financial management, budgeting, reporting, and financial sustainability.
• Deliver financial capacity strengthening support to help RLOs strengthen financial systems, enhance accountability, and become increasingly “funding ready” for larger and more diverse funding opportunities.
• Work closely with program teams to provide practical financial guidance to RLO partners to support effective grant implementation.
• Ensure all RLO grant expenditures and activities comply with WUSC and donor financial policies and requirements.
• Conduct site visits to RLO partners, where relevant, to support financial training, monitoring, and compliance activities.
• Liaise with the Head of Finance to provide timely and accurate financial reports on the performance of RLO grants.
• Support financial planning and reporting processes, including contributing to annual budgeting, financial forecasting, and preparation of regular financial reports such as Budget vs. Actual (BVA) reports.
• Monitor budget adherence, flagging significant variances and supporting corrective action where needed.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• A professional qualification in Accounting (e.g. CPA, ACCA or equivalent qualification)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in accounting or financial administration, ideally within a nonprofit or development organization;
• Strong knowledge of accounting software (e.g., Sage) and Microsoft Office, especially Excel. Previous experience with Netsuite a desirable asset;
• Proven experience in grants management, financial oversight, or fund management, preferably within a non-profit or development context.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity strengthening or providing technical assistance to local partner organizations on financial or organizational management.
• Demonstrated experience in providing coaching and mentoring support to project colleagues on effective financial management.
• Superior cross cultural and cross-functional collaboration skills, including providing mentoring and coaching support remotely;
• Strong analytical, communication and problem solving skills;
• Fluent in English; French language skills are highly desirable.

Other requirements:

• The headquarters of this initiative is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the Senior Finance Officer, RLO Granting is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in.
• The role will require frequent travel across the continent, and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

WUSC’s office in Kenya is located in Westlands, off Waiyaki Way. Here is some of what you can expect working with us:

• 40-hour workweek, some ability to work flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement
• 21 days annual leave
• Health insurance coverage
• Free access to an e-learning platform with 350+ courses on various topics
• Get to know and exchange with people from all over the world
• Being part of a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team!

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

Persons with disabilities, who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to hr-rh@wusc.ca.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you are interested in this position, please follow this link to apply through our website.