SHARON AMADI OSANO
Grants, Governance & Operations Specialist
Nairobi
Summary
Results-driven Finance and Grants Specialist with a strong foundation in accounts payable, receivable, financial management, and inventory oversight. Expertise in developing and implementing financial best practices and process improvements to enhance operational efficiency. Proficient in data entry and analysis using accounting spreadsheets, word processing, and database software, ensuring the highest levels of integrity and accuracy. Committed to leveraging financial acumen to support organizational goals and drive sustainable growth.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
8
8
Certifications
Work History
GRANTS & FINANCE SPECIALIST
GDI Africa – Global Development Incubator Inc.
02.2023 - Current
- Key Contributions:
- Financial Management & Compliance:
- Led the development of two comprehensive budgets for Mastercard proposals from inception, showcasing strong initiative and financial acumen, which contributed to successful submission and funding approval.
- Created and implemented a comprehensive finance tracker for SSP, encompassing consultancy tracking, invoice payments, and awards management, which streamlined financial oversight and improved transparency across all functions.
- Developed and executed the KSEIP cost overruns appeal, securing an additional Ksh 51 million in reimbursement, significantly bolstering the current contract from Ksh 428M to Ksh 479M and project sustainability.
- Established a robust compliance checklist and grants monitoring tool for the MTIL project, enabling detailed monitoring visits and preparation of comprehensive reports with findings, recommendations, and best practices, thereby enhancing partner compliance.
- Facilitated partner onboarding and oversight by offering hands-on financial management support, helping organizations align with donor requirements, including financial accountability, cost eligibility, and reporting frameworks
- Capacity Building & Mentorship:
- Designed and facilitated a 5-day Extended Finance Capacity Building (e-FMCB) workshop in April 2024, enhancing financial management competencies and financial practices among finance leads and within partner organizations.
- Facilitated a session titled 'Finance and Governance' at a 3-day Governance, Coaching, and Leadership Workshop in May 2024, designed for CEOs and Board members of partner NPEs.
- Created and administered a feedback survey post-workshop, gathering valuable insights into participant experiences and expectations, which informed future capacity-building initiatives.
- Mentored SSP-partner non-profit entities' finance personnel via strategic relationship-building and compliance advisory feedback sessions, recovering 80% of a previously unpaid Ksh 350,000 commitment fee within two months.
- Facilitated targeted finance capacity strengthening workshops for partners, tailored to each organization's needs based on diagnostic findings. This included coaching on budgeting, reporting, compliance, and internal controls
- Donor Relations & Reporting:
- Led the budgeting and due diligence process for the NurtureFirst project, uncovering and addressing a significant conflict of interest, which led to exclusion of a non-compliant organization from contracting, safeguarding project integrity.
- Developed and refined a finance diagnostic tool for the Tiko project, a key deliverable in Phase 1 of the rollout, effectively supporting capacity assessments for CBOs and NGOs and enhancing their financial processes.
- Led the successful registration of GDI on SAM.gov, a pivotal step in meeting USG funding regulations and securing DFC project contracting.
- Collated data from GDI’s projects over the past three years to create a comprehensive impact report, expediting the tax exemption application process
- Successfully closed out the MTIL project in Mombasa with 6 YLOs, ensuring full compliance with grant and financial close-out procedures, submission of final financial reports, and partner fund reconciliations.
- Supported the NurtureFirst partner budgeting and sub-award process, creating templates that were adopted by other initiatives, demonstrating the influence and scalability of my contributions.
- Administered a finance diagnostics tool to 60 Cohort 2 organizations, collecting feedback from within two months, which informed strategic decisions on capacity building and partnership management.
- Strategically planned to enhance partner relationships by developing a communications calendar to schedule regular check-ins, updates, and meetings, fostering stronger, more consistent partnerships.
- Led comprehensive financial diagnostics across 10 key performance areas for 33 partner organizations in Kenya and Ethiopia including Youth-Led Organizations (YLOs) assessing capacity, compliance, and institutional readiness
- Process Improvement & Innovation:
- Expanded the role in the MTIL project beyond initial expectations, conducting sessions on proper accounting practices and sub-award agreement walkthroughs with five partners, which resulted in a comprehensive report that streamlined the grant processes.
- Supported development and implementation of Data Protection Guidance Framework for NurtureFirst project, ensuring a smooth rollout and compliance with data protection standards via partner walkthroughs.
- Revised and modernized the organization’s Subaward Agreement template, improving clarity, enforceability, and alignment with donor expectations and the operational realities of community-based partners, including youth-led initiatives
- Improved internal tools and frameworks, including: Finance Diagnostic Tool – streamlined for accuracy and ease of partner administration and the Internal Control Improvement Plan (ICIP) Template – developed to guide tailored capacity-building efforts for partners, fostering accountability and strengthening financial systems.
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
SCORE – Sustainable Community Opportunities for Restoration & Empowerment
10.2017 - 01.2023
- Key Contributions:
- Financial Management & Strategic Planning:
- Managed a diverse project portfolio totaling over KES 102 million, ensuring effective financial oversight and compliance across four sub-counties over four years.
- Successfully scaled project funding from KES 15 million to KES 50 million within one year by implementing robust financial management practices and demonstrating effective resource utilization.
- Implemented QuickBooks Premier and payroll integration, reducing financial reporting processing time by 50%
- Operational Expansion & Efficiency:
- Expanded operations from one office to 15 fully functional field offices, enhancing service delivery.
- Revamped administrative and filing systems to accommodate dynamic donor documentation requirements, resulting in a 35% improvement in document retrieval and compliance auditing processes.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development:
- Strengthened strategic partnerships with government agencies, donors, and NGOs, advancing SCORE’s mission and increasing funding opportunities.
- Coordinated capacity-building initiatives for staff and partners, enhancing overall project implementation effectiveness and stakeholder engagement.
REGIONAL FINANCE OFFICER
Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO)
02.2016 - 09.2017
- Key Contributions:
- Financial Planning & Analysis:
- Managed a comprehensive portfolio of KES 108 million across six major projects, including Global Fund Malaria and TB initiatives, ensuring optimal financial performance and compliance.
- Developed long-range financial plans and budget forecasts, utilizing tracking metrics to evaluate key financial indicators and inform strategic decision-making.
- Generated and analyzed monthly variance reports, facilitating proactive budget adjustments and resource optimization aligned with donor guidelines.
- Capacity Building & Compliance:
- Conducted thorough pre-funding and post-funding organizational assessments for sub-grantee organizations, identifying capacity gaps and implementing targeted improvement strategies.
- Initiated and coordinated tailored capacity-building programs in line with donor and government requirements, enhancing the financial management capabilities of partner organizations by 30%.
- Audit Coordination & Stakeholder Collaboration:
- Led USAID project audits, securing first continued funding and regulatory compliance.
- Established and strengthened partnerships with County Ministry of Health and Law Enforcement agencies, resulting in the establishment of the first fully operational Drop-in Centre in Kakamega County.
- Led the development of a revised Finance Policy Document, aligning financial practices with the organization's strategic plan and enhancing overall governance.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Finance
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting
Certified Public Accountant - undefined
Skills
- Operational Strategy & Work Plan Execution
- Grants Administration & Reporting
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Risk Management & Mitigation
- Impact Reporting & Fundraising Support
- Leadership & Team Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration & Capacity Building
- Process Improvement & Systems Optimization
- Taxation & Regulatory Compliance
- Strategic Financial Planning
- Stakeholder Engagement & Partner Relations
- CRM & Data Management (Salesforce, QuickBooks, ERP)
- Cash flow management
Certification
- Cooperative Agreement Management
- Financial & Grants Management
- QuickBooks ProAdvisor
- Safeguarding & Child Protection
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Languages: English (Fluent) | Swahili (Native) | French (Level A2)
Affiliations
- Member, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
- Association of Women Accountants of Kenya (AWAK)
Software
Financial Systems: Quickbooks, Sage,SunSystems
Grants Management: Salesforce, Submittable
Data & Reporting: Excel(advanced)
Collaboration: MS Teams, Google Workspace
Interests
Capacity building for grassroots organizations
Data-driven decision making
Grant-making trends
Timeline
GRANTS & FINANCE SPECIALIST - GDI Africa – Global Development Incubator Inc.
02.2023 - Current
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER - SCORE – Sustainable Community Opportunities for Restoration & Empowerment
10.2017 - 01.2023
REGIONAL FINANCE OFFICER - Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO)
02.2016 - 09.2017
Egerton University - Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting
KASNEB - Certified Public Accountant,
University of Nairobi - Master of Business Administration, Finance
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