Grants Manager Independent Consultant

Name: Sharmin Ahmed

Cell phone: 917-***-****

E-mail: *************@*****.***

Expertise: Experienced Grants Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the International development sector. Skilled in Financial management (General & Grants), Subcontract management, General administration, Internal and external audit, partner NGO’s financial management and financial management capacity of Nonprofit Organizations. Negotiation, and Internal Audit. Strong community and social services professional with a Finance focused in Masters from University of Dhaka major in Finance. Developed expertise in financial management by working and interacting with different International and national Ngo’s.

Summary of Experience:

Many years work experiences in International Consulting firm, International NGO’s financial management, Grants and sub award Management, Subcontracts Management, Accounting and General Administration.

1 .Grants Officer: Innovations for Poverty Action, NY, USA, March –November 2021 Draft and reviews subawards agreements to ensure adherence to Donor/Sponsor rules and regulation .Monitor and manage subawards and necessary reporting/compliance requirement Sponsor per donor terms and conditions. Liaise with sub grantee and relevant IPA teams to complete due diligence check, Process amendments. Reviews sub award expenditures and financial report on a quarterly basis as required. Supports and input Data base systems, workflow process and procedure related to sub awards. Set up Prime award in Grant database, allocate them in different project and country allocation program. Process subaward invoice payment, manage deliverables payment schedule, Manage, review and approve cost transfer.

2. Grants Manager “The Livestock Production for Improved Nutrition (LPIN)” Implementing by ACDI/VOCA, Project office Dhaka Bangladesh. January 27, 2019 to October 15, 2019).

Responsible for managing contractual and financial aspects of Grants and small grants awarded through the project; Oversee grants application processes, selection procedures, management, and reporting; Work with grant recipients to ensure the implementation of awards conform to USAID procurement and competition requirements. Build the capacity of potential grantee organizations .Reviewing and analyzing budget estimates discerning reasonableness, consistency, and whether expenses are allocable and allowable; Ensuring post-award management . Tracks and reviews grants and contracts through the payment cycle, Produce monthly financial projections, Manage the budget and cash flow. 3. Grants Specialist for USAID-AVC, Project of DAI (Development Alternative Inc.), Project office Dhaka Bangladesh from October 20, 2013 to January 24, 2019. Responsible for day-to-day implementation of the AVC Grants Fund from concept to award to close-out. Specific objectives of award competition, evaluation criteria and grants administration mechanisms. Convenes a selection committee for each solicitation, Review technical applications for responsiveness, evaluates the cost application for cost reasonableness, allocability, and allowability, drafts grant documents, manages and monitors the grants implementation, Oversee funding obligations, administrative management. Ensures high risk grantees are provided with appropriate training. Provides post-award briefing to newly awarded grantees, Ensures compliance with all USAID regulations.

4.Grants Manager for USAID-LDP, Project of Counterpart International USA, worked in Dhaka Bangladesh for Leadership Development Program (LDP). Project office Dhaka Bangladesh from November 26,2012 to October 19,2013 . Oversee and engaged all aspects of grant-making process - Consultant Contract, Local contract agreement for services, pre- award assessments, preparation of grant agreements, Independent consultant agreement, Service contract agreement, monitoring and evaluation and close out. Design/improve grants management systems and update the grants management manual and templates. Worked with finance and program staff to plan out, analyze and make adjustments to grants and contract disbursements within the project life cycle in a way that supports a healthy burn rate and meets the program objectives. Contribute to financial reporting to Counterpart HQ and the donor.

5. Associate Grants Manager for USAID-PROGATI, Project of DAI. Worked in Dhaka Bangladesh from 9th March 2011to September 30,2012.Assist in the development of Grant, Firm Fixed Price purchase order and Sub-contract documents prepare subsequent agreements and contracts for signature; Maintain grant and sub- contract files and ensure they include all necessary accounting documentation and are

“audit ready”. Ensure financial reports and supporting schedules/documents are produced for audit, as per statutory/donors requirement.

6. Assistant Finance Manager for USAID-PROGATI, Project of DAI. Worked in Dhaka Bangladesh from November 11,2007 to March 08,2011. : Maintain project accounting procedures, ensuring that they are compliant with local laws, as well as DAI and USAID regulations, Maintain financial records and documentation in conformity with USAID, DAI. Communicate in all bank, tax and customs issues related to office financial operations; Monitor and ensure to office financial operations. Timely submission of invoice to the Donor and get reimbursement accordingly. Maintain liquidity of project accounts through weekly funds requests to DAI/Bethesda; Record financial transactions in the field accounting system, ensuring proper coding of transactions against USAID funding earmarks. Prepare Field Expense Report (FER) and Bank Reconciliation Report, and submit them directly to DAI/Bethesda; Compliance and legal issue. 7. Accounts officer for NSDP (NGO service delivery program) Pathfinder International of Boston, USA –worked in Bangladesh Country Office from July 01, 2002 to November 10,2007. Responsible for the Accounting Fund Management for the NGO Service Delivery Component of NIPHP .Maintained adequate controls to ensure Compliance administrative requirements and assisted in reviewing financial records & reports. Prepare staff salary statement & processes salary disbursements & reimbursement of transport expenses, posting them in MOR (Monthly operation report) as per ABC codes based on weekly time allocation records. Conduct day to day operation of Pathfinder Dhaka, reconciles ledger accounts, analyze balances monthly. Review the project budget. Review Imprest fund of Dhaka Office, and Regional office. Meet auditor queries & supply information as request by the auditor. Liaison with banks, correspond /Coordination with HQ, staff, Sub-grantees.

8. Assistant accounts officer for RSDP(Rural service delivery program) Pathfinder International, Dhaka Bangladesh Country office from October 12,1999 to June 30,2002. Prepare monthly financial report and send to HQ (Boston, USA).Arrange the monthly fund request from HQ (Boston, USA).Prepare budget for different training, workshops and sub grantees. Manage sub grantees’ fund disbursement and perform routine visit at their Workstation. Preparation of staff monthly salary and arrange its transfer to the staff’s individual bank account. Work with internal auditors from HQ and external auditors during the annual audit.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

Master in Business Administration (MBA): United International University (UIU), Dhaka, Bangladesh equivalent to USA Master’s (Evaluation recorded in USA) Master of Commerce major in Finance, Department of Finance, University of Dhaka Bangladesh (DU).Equivalent to USA Bachelors (Evaluation recorded in USA) PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

Attended two days training on USAID, Compliance- Financial Management of USAID Awards, organized by Center for Public Management, Maryland, USA-held in Dhaka, Bangladesh April 2011.Attended a training on VAT regulations, Provided by USAID, Dhaka Bangladesh,2009 Attended a day long training on USAID, Compliance- Mexico City policy and Financial Management of USAID Awards. Received in-house training on Monthly operations Report MOR (Lotus based accounting software) in 2000. Received -in-house training on Sales Force, NetSuite, Replicon, Web based Cloud and Oracle. Received 3 days training on Financial Policy & Procedures for NGOs, organized by Pathfinder Int. Bird, Comilla In 2003.

COMPUTER LITERACY: Skilled in working with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point under Windows environment. Experience to use Sales Force, NetSuite, Cloud, Adobe, Absta, Replicon, Asana, Share point, TAMIS( Technical Administrative Management Information System) database,,Experienced with organization’s Intranet, Lotus Notes and Financial Report maintenance under ORACLE environment.

US Status: US permanent resident. Authorized to work for any employer in the USA.

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