Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist

THE COMPANY

The Low Income Investment Fund is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that mobilizes capital and partners to achieve opportunity, equity and wellbeing for people and communities. LIIF innovates financial solutions to create more equitable outcomes for all by building and preserving affordable homes, quality educational opportunities from early childhood through higher education, health clinics, healthy food retail and community facilities. In this way, LIIF provides a bridge between private capital markets and communities. LIIF's headquarters is in San Francisco and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Washington D.C.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

This position reports to the Deputy Director, Operations and Grants Management ("Deputy Director") and collaborates frequently with the Early Child Care and Education, Programs, Fundraising, and Finance teams. The position will also interact with other LIIF staff and external parties.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist ("Specialist") manages the full lifecycle of government and foundation-funded grants and contracts, including both pre- and post-award activities. This role is responsible for accurate accounting and revenue recognition, monitoring restricted funding, reviewing monthly invoicing and programmatic billing, and supporting budget-to-actual analysis. The Specialist ensures compliance with funder requirements and internal policies, contributes to quarterly reporting, and supports program revenue planning.

Acting as a key liaison across departments, the Specialist leads interdepartmental communication around grant management and collaborates with Finance, Programs, and Fundraising teams to align financial and programmatic goals. The Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining the efficiency and compliance of LIIF's philanthropic and public sector funding portfolio.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grant & Contract Management:

• Attend and participate in grant kick-off meetings with program teams to review important grant information, such as revenue and reporting requirements.
• Participate in the grant application process by reviewing all contracts and grant agreements to determine proper accounting treatment, revenue recognition concerns, and reporting responsibilities to all agencies.
• Partner directly with the Finance department, project budget leads, and program staff to develop, prepare, and implement timely and accurate contract and grant application budgets, data, and documents for submission to funders.
• Prepare budget vs. actuals and forecast reports, exercising discretion to identify overspending or underspending and propose solutions as appropriate to the finance and program teams.
• Monitor budget vs. actuals performance monthly and discuss with the Deputy Director to prepare for monthly program meetings.
• Identify and propose journal entries related to budget reallocations after discussion with responsible program directors and personnel.
• Based on analysis performed in conjunction with job responsibilities, identify the need for contract modifications and present to the Deputy Director for discussion with Finance and responsible program directors.
• Review staff allocations to grants and contracts prepared by the Programs team ensuring allocation is allowable and fully documented for billing purposes.
• Communicate with program staff on grant spending progress and deadlines.
• Develop and implement grant-related policies, processes, and workflows to be distributed internally to Finance and Program staff.

Finance and Billing:

• Assist in preparing monthly contract invoices including all backup documentation for all complex grants and contracts.
• Prepare financial reports from accounting and budgeting systems in place to monitor grant and contract budgets, revenue, and expenditures.
• Oversee and work in conjunction with program directors and lending directors on audits initiated by contractors or grantors, including the annual federal single audit.
• Support the finance team in preparing for the annual financial statement audit process, including Uniform Guidance Audit.
• Support the finance team on tax and regulatory reporting requirements, as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in grant and contract management, preferably in nonprofit or government-funded settings, with expertise in pre- and post-award administration and federal, state, and philanthropic funding requirements.

Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability to interpret financial data, analyze variances, and provide strategic recommendations.
• Deep understanding of budgeting, financial forecasting, and nonprofit accounting standards, including GAAP and grant compliance principles.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey financial information to stakeholders across departments.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, build strong internal partnerships, and maintain professional interactions with employees at all levels.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, work independently, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of integrity and discretion when working with confidential or sensitive information.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, complex formulas) and working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with financial and grants management software, including Salesforce, MIP, Concur, and Adaptive Insights is preferred.
• Commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and advancing the organization's goals through sound fiscal stewardship.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

LIIF offers a hybrid work environment with flexibility to balance in-office and remote work. However, all employees are expected to work on-site at least two (2) days per week. The successful candidate may be expected to travel occasionally for meetings, trainings, conferences, or other Company sponsored events.

All Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In accordance with LIIF's policies, we provide reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to qualified individuals who cannot get vaccinated against COVID-19 because of sincerely held religious or medical reasons. If you believe you need an accommodation from the vaccination mandate required by this policy, please notify our Human Resources Department.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply with Resume and Cover Letter via our recruitment portal: Recruitment (adp.com) or via email: ...

Notice to Third Party Recruitment Agencies:

Please note that Low Income Investment Fund does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed Recruitment Services Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee.

In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement Low Income Investment Fund shall explicitly reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of Low Income Investment Fund.

We do not accept unsolicited phone calls. Only candidates being considered for a position will be contacted.

LIIF, an EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer), believes that diversity ensures excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or national origin. Candidates of diverse backgrounds and with diverse experience are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.