Essential Job Details

• Position Title: Budget and Grants Officer
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Salary: KES 80,000–100,000 Monthly (Estimated)
• Category/Department: Finance and Administration
• Reporting To: Senior Manager, Cost Proposal and Grants
• Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
• Reference Number: BUDGE001307

Introduction

An exciting Budget and Grants Officer opportunity awaits a dedicated professional in Nairobi, Kenya, to join the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), a leading conservation organization committed to ensuring wildlife and wildlands thrive in modern Africa. This role is ideal for individuals passionate about financial management and grant administration, offering a chance to support AWF’s conservation programs through effective budget oversight and compliance. As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll play a critical role in developing cost proposals, managing grants, and ensuring financial accountability, contributing to AWF’s mission of sustainable conservation across Kenya and beyond.

About African Wildlife Foundation

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, is a premier conservation organization founded in 1961 to protect Africa’s wildlife and wildlands. Operating as a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States and a charity in the United Kingdom and Canada, AWF collaborates with governments, communities, and global partners to deliver innovative conservation strategies. With programs across Eastern and Southern Africa, AWF focuses on sustainable development, community empowerment, and biodiversity conservation. The organization’s Strategic Vision 2020–2030 emphasizes rights-based conservation, integrating human rights into its core principles. AWF fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation, providing a dynamic workplace for professionals passionate about conservation and financial stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Organize and disseminate key budget and grant information to finance, program, and management teams.
• Receive and summarize documentation for new awards and modifications, distributing key donor conditions via Grant Data Sheets.
• Update Grants folders with agreements, financial reports, budgets, invoices, and payment evidence.
• Provide capacity building to program staff, field finance staff, and partners on donor contractual requirements and AWF policies.
• Proactively share information on upcoming grant milestones, such as reports due or grants nearing closure, to ensure compliance.
• Support the program design team in developing cost proposals for new funding opportunities.
• Assist in budget amendments and cost modifications as assigned by the supervisor.
• Review and maintain Grants and Budget Ledgers, ensuring alignment between donor-approved budgets and AWF’s internal work plans.
• Reconcile sub-grant General Ledgers to ensure accurate and current financial reports from partners.
• Post budget adjustments in the Budget Ledger promptly to reflect real-time financial status.
• Administer the Unanet timesheet system, ensuring timesheet updates align with approved budgets and restricted awards.
• Track and post monthly in-kind/matching contribution documentation for grants with matching requirements.
• Ensure spending aligns with approved budgets, reclassifying non-compliant expenses in the accounting system.
• Perform cost-benefit analyses to evaluate programs and review financial requests.
• Participate in quarterly monitoring meetings with program teams to assess budgets, staffing, and implementation risks.
• Provide expert recommendations to management to mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Maintain system budget controls and approval workflows to ensure compliance.
• Run and share monthly grant spending reports, analyzing for compliance and flagging issues to the Senior Manager.
• Support grant close-out processes, ensuring timely and within-budget completion.
• Assist in preparing donor reports for final review and sign-off by relevant staff.
• Conduct monthly grant transactional reviews to ensure compliance with donor regulations.
• Perform field compliance reviews and capacity building for AWF staff and sub-grantees.
• Prepare schedules and documents for grant audits, ensuring a smooth audit process.
• Maintain a schedule of grant invoicing, ensuring timely invoicing and documentation filing.
• Run monthly grants receivables and advances to ensure accurate donor invoicing and reconciliation.
• Prepare monthly grants receivable schedules, proactively advising on potential payment delays.
• Develop and maintain a Grants Milestone schedule for financial reporting and performance deadlines.
• Communicate significant budget variances and trends to budget managers, prompting corrective action.
• Prepare monthly cost match reports to track in-kind contributions.
• Assist in developing ad hoc financial reports or cost analyses as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field from a recognized institution.
• CPA (K) certificate, demonstrating professional accounting expertise.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience, preferably within a donor-funded nonprofit organization.
• Solid knowledge of grant management principles, including U.S. government funding, European Union, and German donors.
• Experience communicating financial information to non-financial audiences clearly and concisely.
• Ability to organize and present issues in a clear, logical manner to diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise good judgment, and resolve problems with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of professionalism.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, enabling professional interactions with staff, partners, and donors.
• Ability to provide good customer service with patience and a sense of urgency.
• Strong technical skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel and navigating accounting systems.
• Willingness to travel, occasionally to remote areas, to support AWF offices and partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in spoken and written French is an added advantage for regional coordination.
• Experience using the NetSuite accounting package is highly desirable.
• Interest in learning and understanding conservation programs to align financial management with AWF’s mission.

Company Culture and Values

The African Wildlife Foundation fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation, creating a dynamic environment where employees are empowered to drive conservation impact. AWF values diversity, inclusion, and rights-based conservation, ensuring all activities respect and promote human rights, as outlined in its Strategic Vision 2020–2030. With a commitment to professional growth, AWF provides training and development opportunities, enabling staff to excel in their roles. This supportive workplace is ideal for professionals passionate about financial management, grant compliance, and contributing to sustainable conservation in Africa.

How to Apply

Apply now for the Budget and Grants Officer position. Candidates must submit the following documents:

• Updated CV detailing relevant experience and contact information (telephone and email address).
• Cover letter explaining your interest in the role and alignment with AWF’s mission and requirements.
• Copies of academic and professional certificates, including your Bachelor’s Degree and CPA (K) certificate.

Applications must be submitted through the online portal at Apply for Budget and Grants Officer Jobs in Nairobi. Include your email and telephone contact details, as these will be used to schedule interviews. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and required to produce originals of their National Identity Card, academic and professional certificates, transcripts, testimonials, and a valid clearance certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct) during interviews. The application deadline is July 31, 2025.

AWF is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via the provided email or phone number for further instructions.

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Budget and Grants Officer, Finance Jobs Nairobi, AWF Careers 2025, Grants Management Jobs Kenya, Conservation Jobs Nairobi

Why Pursue a Career as a Budget and Grants Officer with AWF?

The Budget and Grants Officer role with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) offers a unique opportunity to join a leading conservation organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, with an estimated salary of KES 80,000–100,000 monthly. This position is ideal for professionals passionate about financial management and grant administration, providing a platform to support AWF’s conservation programs across Eastern and Southern Africa. As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll contribute to sustainable development by ensuring financial accountability, managing donor-funded grants, and supporting cost proposal development, aligning with AWF’s mission to ensure wildlife and wildlands thrive in modern Africa.

The Role of a Budget and Grants Officer

As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll play a critical role in managing AWF’s financial operations, focusing on grants from federal, non-federal government, and private donors. Your responsibilities will include developing cost proposals, maintaining budget ledgers, and ensuring compliance with donor regulations. By coordinating with program and finance teams, you’ll ensure accurate financial reporting, timely invoicing, and effective grant management, supporting AWF’s conservation initiatives in regions like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Career Growth and Skill Development

The Budget and Grants Officer position offers significant opportunities for professional growth in finance and grants management. Working with AWF, you’ll develop expertise in budget management, grant compliance, financial reporting, and cost analysis, which are highly transferable skills across the nonprofit and conservation sectors. The role provides hands-on experience with tools like NetSuite and Unanet, as well as training opportunities to enhance your understanding of conservation programs, preparing you for advanced roles in finance or program management.

Impacting Conservation in Africa

Your work as a Budget and Grants Officer will directly support AWF’s mission to protect Africa’s wildlife and wildlands. By managing budgets and grants for programs like the AWF GIS Fellowship and community-based conservation initiatives, you’ll ensure financial resources are allocated effectively, enabling projects that benefit ecosystems and communities. Your efforts in maintaining accurate ledgers and ensuring compliance will strengthen AWF’s ability to deliver impactful conservation outcomes across Eastern and Southern Africa.

Working in Nairobi: A Global Conservation Hub

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and AWF’s headquarters, is a global hub for conservation and development, making it an ideal location for the Budget and Grants Officer role. You’ll work in a dynamic, multicultural environment with access to international networks and conservation experts. Occasional travel to AWF offices in countries like Uganda and Tanzania will provide opportunities to engage with field teams, enhancing your understanding of conservation challenges and financial needs.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

The Budget and Grants Officer role requires close collaboration with AWF’s program, finance, and program design teams to ensure seamless grant management. Your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate financial information to non-financial audiences will be critical in building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including donors and sub-grantees. By providing capacity building to field staff and partners, you’ll enhance compliance and financial literacy across AWF’s programs.

Commitment to Financial Accountability

Financial accountability is at the core of the Budget and Grants Officer role. You’ll ensure that all grant spending aligns with donor-approved budgets, using tools like NetSuite and Unanet to track expenses and reconcile ledgers. Your attention to detail and organizational skills will ensure timely invoicing, accurate financial reporting, and compliance with regulations from donors like the U.S. government, European Union, and German funders, upholding AWF’s reputation for excellence.

Leveraging Technology for Financial Management

As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll use advanced financial management systems like NetSuite and Microsoft Excel to maintain budgets, track receivables, and generate reports. Your technical skills will streamline processes, such as monthly grant spending reviews and cost match reporting, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Familiarity with these tools, combined with your ability to navigate accounting systems, will enhance your effectiveness in managing AWF’s financial operations.

Supporting Conservation Programs

The Budget and Grants Officer role directly supports AWF’s conservation programs, such as reforestation in the Mau Forest and community-based initiatives in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba landscape. By ensuring financial resources are managed effectively, you’ll enable projects that protect endangered species, promote sustainable livelihoods, and empower local communities. Your work will align with AWF’s Strategic Vision 2020–2030, integrating human rights and conservation for maximum impact.

Professional Development Opportunities

AWF is committed to employee growth, offering training and development opportunities to enhance your expertise in grants management and financial reporting. As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll gain hands-on experience in managing complex grants, conducting cost-benefit analyses, and preparing for audits, preparing you for leadership roles in finance or conservation. AWF’s international presence provides exposure to global conservation challenges, enhancing your professional profile.

Why This Role Stands Out

The Budget and Grants Officer position with AWF is a unique opportunity to join a leading conservation organization with a competitive salary of KES 80,000–100,000 monthly. This full-time role offers stability, career growth, and the chance to contribute to impactful conservation programs in Nairobi, a global hub for environmental innovation. With a focus on budget management, grant compliance, and financial accountability, this position is ideal for professionals passionate about finance and conservation.

Preparing for Success

To excel as a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll need to leverage your organizational skills, attention to detail, and technical expertise in financial systems. Your ability to manage competing priorities, communicate effectively with non-financial audiences, and maintain confidentiality will ensure success. By staying proactive and collaborative, you’ll contribute to AWF’s financial sustainability and conservation impact across Eastern and Southern Africa.

Aligning with Your Career Goals

The Budget and Grants Officer role is ideal for individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration, a CPA (K) certificate, and at least 5 years of experience in donor-funded nonprofits. It offers hands-on experience in grants management, financial reporting, and conservation finance, aligning with career aspirations in finance, nonprofit management, and conservation. Your work with AWF will build a strong foundation for future leadership roles in these fields.

The Future of Conservation Finance in Kenya

Conservation finance is a growing field in Kenya, driven by the need for sustainable funding to protect wildlife and wildlands. As a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll be at the forefront of this transformation, managing resources for programs that address critical environmental challenges. Your work will support AWF’s efforts to secure sustainable financing for protected areas, ensuring long-term conservation impact across Africa.

Joining AWF’s Vision

By joining AWF as a Budget and Grants Officer, you’ll become part of an organization committed to ensuring wildlife and wildlands thrive in modern Africa. With operations in Nairobi and across Eastern and Southern Africa, your contributions will strengthen AWF’s financial sustainability and conservation impact. This role offers the chance to align financial expertise with a passion for conservation, creating a lasting legacy for Africa’s wildlife and communities.

The Importance of Grants Management

Grants management is critical to AWF’s success