Apply: SCI Proposal Budget, Costing Specialist

By Development Diaries
December 17, 2020

Deadline: 29 December, 2020

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Save the Children is seeking applications from eligible applicants for the post of Proposal Budget and Costing Specialist.

The organisation works to ensure children around the world get health care, food and shelter as well as learning and child protection services.

Responsibilities

Thoroughly review solicitations/calls that provide opportunities for funding and become an expert on donor instructions and requirements seeking a clear understanding of donor flexibility
Working as a member of the business development team, develop proposal budgets and costing templates and guidance to budget holders
During the proposal development process, work closely with technical advisors
Working with inputs from the country office senior finance manager, review and maintain the Gap Analysis report – a database that provides a detailed breakdown of costs and allocations of country office programme and support personnel working across all or many projects at the same time
Maintain a log of typical and essential direct and indirect project costs across all Save the Children International programmes, taking into consideration global common approaches and other Save the Children International policies and procedures
Analyse proposal budget allocations for Save the Children International’s essential programme inputs like child safeguarding, MEAL, and security; and periodically disseminate these to relevant teams for tracking and reporting purposes
During the proposal development process, work closely across all units, such as operations, human resource, security, logistics and finance, to identify and budget for operational costs
Improve and maintain budgeting tools and processes within the Save the Children Nigeria country office in line with Save the Children International and donor guidance
Ensure realistic, comprehensive and accurate donor-compliant budgets accompany all proposals
Build the capacity of staff involved in proposal development when necessary in budget development and budget-related areas of donor compliance, preferably including commercial contracts
Work closely with ER/CAM focal person to ensure full recovery of country office operational cost by reviewing and ensuring all CAM cost allocations are utilised within the relevant period
Make appropriate estimation/projection of foreign exchange rates to be applied in proposal budgeting, taking into consideration annual inflationary adjustments

Requirements

B.Sc or HND in Accounting or equivalent area of study
Professional qualification or master’s degree in Accounting or Financial Management will be a plus
Two years, minimum, of experience in developing budgets for development and humanitarian projects
Proven experience in leading in the development of budgets for proposals for donors such as USAID, DFID, other bilateral foundations and/or corporations with a knowledge of their rules and regulations
Experience with non-profit accounting, budget analysis and development
Ability to work with technical experts to cost out proposed project activities
Readiness to spend time in field locations and to work with field staff as well as headquarters staff
Experience in building the capacity of appropriate staff on business/cost proposals
Proven experience in strategic cost modelling
Excellent experience in using computerised accounting packages
Familiarity with cost modeling applications