GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by providing cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. The Brookings Institution estimates that $70B of cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of it on evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that, establishing cash transfers as a benchmark for foreign aid – as the index fund is a benchmark for the financial industry – and in the process accelerating the end of extreme poverty.
GD has raised over $1B since launching in 2011 and delivered cash to more than 2 million people in 15 different countries. We’ve also supported large-scale, experimental research that indicates strong recipient impact of our programs. As a result, GD has been celebrated as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company, while the growing cash transfer movement (and GD’s leading role within it) have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.
Our culture is candid, analytical, agile, and non-hierarchical. Our global team of ~150, and country operations teams of ~650, span 21 different countries and 69 languages. From software engineers to seasoned humanitarian workers, management consultants to public servants, researchers to field operations -- it’s an incredible group of people.
Our values are central and deliberately opinionated. We genuinely center the people we serve in our decision-making, and strive to build an ambitious, dynamic and high-performing environment. We strongly encourage you to read through our values carefully, if they reflect how you like to work and energize you, this could be a great fit.
We work hard to create an environment in which all our team members can thrive, succeed, and grow. We support high ownership, flexibility, take care of each other, have fun, and create professional growth opportunities.
Location: this role is fully remote but --
- must be located on the East Coast
- must overlap with an East Africa timezone by at least 3 hours - practically speaking, this looks like taking meetings as early as 8am and having open work time during your afternoons
About this role
We’re looking for someone with an endless drive for improvement, a solutions oriented mindset, an ability to deliver high-quality accounting on tight deadlines and the flexibility to adapt to quickly changing needs while being highly detail-oriented. The candidate should be a strong analytical thinker, have a superb understanding of U.S. GAAP and Uniform Guidance, be knowledgeable about best practices and be an excellent communicator. For this role we are searching for candidates with 7 - 10 years of experience, preferably within the non-profit sector.
Note: We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas in the U.S. at this time.
Reports to: Controller
Level: Senior Manager
Travel Requirement: Must be able to travel ~1-2 times per year to one of our countries of operation for team retreats or field visits
What you’ll do:
Financial Management, Accounting and Reporting
- Lead key elements of the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and clear documentation of judgments and variances
- Oversee revenue recognition in accordance with US GAAP, including reviewing and approving monthly entries, reconciliations, and supporting analyses
- Create error free periodic reports, such as balance sheets, profit & loss statements, management reports etc.
- Maintain integrity of the general ledger, including establishing and enforcing appropriate coding structures, review processes, and documentation standards
- Serve as a key decision-maker on accounting treatment, estimates, and operational judgment calls, escalating complex issues to the Controller as needed
- Ensure expenditures comply with donor requirements, regulatory standards, and internal policies; act as a key point of interpretation for finance and non-finance teams
- Document and update financial policies and procedures in our knowledge management system.
- Review and approve reconciliations and journal entries, ensuring issues are identified, investigated, and resolved promptly
- Implement accounting system workflow improvements
- Partner cross-functionally (finance, treasury, payments, operations) to ensure accounting implications are understood and embedded in processes
- Identify areas for improvements and maintain documentation
Audit and Compliance
- Manage the annual financial statement audit and the Single Audit
- Support preparation of the consolidated financial statements
- Oversee the preparation and submission of regulatory filings, especially form 990
- Ensure ongoing compliance with US GAAP, FASB guidance, and internal control requirements; proactively identify and address gaps
- Act as a key liaison between auditors and internal teams, ensuring timely, accurate responses and minimal disruption
Other tasks
- Where applicable, manage and support accounting staff, including reviewing work, providing feedback, and strengthening team capabilities
- Participate in cross-functional initiatives and organizational projects, representing accounting perspectives and requirements
- Perform all other duties that may be assigned to you from time to time by the Controller and stakeholders
What you’ll bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or equivalent practical experience.
- 7+ years of professional experience in accounting or finance, with strong experience in data analysis and reporting.
- Professional qualification (ACCA or CPA) is preferred.
- Professionally proficient in English.
- Strong command of US GAAP, with the ability to independently research, interpret, and apply guidance to real-world scenarios
- Experience with multi-country / multi-entity accounting, including intercompany transactions, consolidations, and navigating differing local regulatory and reporting requirements
- Experience working in audit environments and managing external auditors
- Ability to liaise remotely with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility, tact and diplomacy
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate accounting concepts to non-finance audiences
- Ability to be proactive and logical in problem-solving scenarios
- Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines
- Calm disposition and positive outlook particularly when working under pressure
- A full appreciation of the value of cooperation, both internationally and within a team environment
- Aptitude to learn new software tools such as Slack and Sage Intacct
- Advanced spreadsheet skills
- Aptitude for numbers and quantitative skills
- Exceptional alignment with GiveDirectly Values and active demonstration of our core competencies: emotional intelligence, problem solving, project management, follow-through, and fostering inclusivity. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve.
Compensation
At GiveDirectly, we strive to pay our employees generously and equitably. We use an accredited third party salary aggregator to calculate what we believe to be competitive pay based on role, location, and cost of living. We also have a no negotiation policy to ensure we are paying staff equitably across roles. Read more about our compensation philosophy here.
Unless otherwise noted, the benefits stipend may be used to cover benefits or taken as additional taxable income.
United States
- Base Salary: $109,200
- Bonus at Target Performance: 10% (~$10,920, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization’s current performance multiplier, this amount would be $12,776 in 2025)
- Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $120,120+
- Annual Benefits Stipend: $21,393
Why work at GiveDirectly?
At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:
- A supportive team that works hard and cares hard
- A robust health benefits plan (exact details will vary by country)
- Flexible paid time off that staff is encouraged to take
- Allowances for desk set-up and learning and development
This role is fully remote, so if you are not based in the US, UK or Kenya, we will share an estimated salary benchmark for the country you are based in during the hiring process.
#LI-REMOTE
Working at GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.
Commitment to Safeguarding
As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.
These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.
**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing, reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**
Reasonable Accommodations
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at [email protected] with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.
Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!
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