Finance Associate, U.S. Programs

Summary

The U.S. Program Finance, Planning and Analysis team is seeking an energetic, collaborative Finance Associate to partner with the education program team. Key responsibilities include partnering with the program team in grantee financial assessment and grant investment structuring, including complex transactions. Other key responsibilities include supporting the Program CFO and Finance Managers in budget and financial planning, resource allocation and ad hoc projects.

Critical skills for success include solution-orientation and an action-oriented attitude. Experience using financial/data analysis and modeling skills in an advisory role are necessary in building strong relationships with key partners, including the education leadership team.

The Finance Associate must be effective at influencing with exceptional partnership and communication skills. Most importantly, s/he must be passionate about the foundation’s mission, particularly in addressing the educational inequities that exist today.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy and Financial Planning

Support budgeting and financial planning.

Produce detailed, dynamic 5-year investment forecasts, including risk assessment and scenario modeling.

Work with the Program CFO on ad hoc analysis related to the education division.

Pipeline Management

Monitor actuals and forecasts against budget, with risk assessment, and produce variance analysis.

Build tools and reports to plan and monitor workflow, as input to and check on forecasting.

Investment Analysis

Ensure grantee financial performance, e.g., perform new grant and annual progress report budget reviews, conduct financial diligence, review grant proposal summaries, evaluate budget forecasts, and assess the financial health of organizations to ensure potential funding meets the Foundation’s grant-seeker requirements, strategic goals, and programmatic missions.

Provide analytical support on complex analysis with a financial component and for complex financial transactions, including PRIs.

Support the analysis of the financial health of organizations through market research, financial statement review and discussions with key finance members of the organization under review.

Cross-Foundational / Project based

Participate in PST-related and cross-foundation projects to develop tools and best practices in support of effective investment-making, pipeline management and operational excellence.

Respond to internal and external portfolio data requests and analysis.

This role is responsible for high quality interactions and clear and consistent communications with grantees and partners in the field.

Core Knowledge and Skills

Broad knowledge of finance, including corporate and non-profit finance.

Project management.

Strong analytics (especially financial modeling, investment/deal structuring).

Ability to build and manage relationships within and outside the organization (critical to success in the role).

Ability to influence without formal authority.

Financial and strategic planning; analytical, numerical and financial modeling skills.

Business plan development and evaluation.

Project management skills (basic)

Ability to translate data into user friendly tools/resources.

Ability to communicate complex financial issues in non-financial terms.

Intellectual curiosity.

Ability to absorb / quickly distill significant amounts of information.

Negotiation skills.

Solution and action orientation.

Advanced excel (pivot tables and advanced modeling skills)

Tableau preferred.

Ability to read and analyze financial statements.

Ability to manage multiple projects and activities.

Optimism and a good sense of humor a must. This role is based at the foundation’s Seattle headquarters.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s or other advanced degree with 3+ years of experience, or equivalent experience.

This is a Limited Term Employee role targeted for 18 months starting in May/June 2017 , however the start and end dates for this assignment may change.

For internal candidates, you are required to have a conversation with your manager to confirm their support before you apply to this position. Managers have the right to decline a request to apply for a backfill position, regardless of tenure in role. With Manager Support and if selected for the role, internal FTEs will retain their FTE status during this stretch assignment.

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve-in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs-and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve the mission of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to: