WAGARI BULI TADESSE
Grant Management, Senior Grant Accountant, Senior Finance and Sub award
PROFILE SUMMARY
Accomplished finance and grant management professional with over a decade of experience in government and NGO
sectors, specializing in multi-donor grant management for agencies like USAID, DANIDA, EU, NORAD, AfiD, and
MasterCard through the Ethiopian Agriculture Transformation Institute. Expertise spans financial analysis, budgeting,
compliance, and donor relations, with a commitment to transparency and accountability in multi-million-dollar projects.
Recognized for strong leadership in roles such as Grant Director, Regional Finance and subgrant Head, and Project
Director, with proven skills in grant acquisition, project management, and fostering stakeholder collaboration.
Proficient in ERP systems, QuickBooks, sage2022 and other financial software, dedicated to continuous professional
development, and adept in intercultural team management across diverse donor and sub-grantee landscapes.
Contact
Phone--Address
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
Professional- skills
✓ Grant Management,
✓ Sub-Award
Management,
✓ Donor Compliance
Management,
✓ Financial Analysis,
✓ Team Leadership,
Forecasting and
Budgeting,
✓ Capacity Building,
Stakeholder
Management,
✓ Knowledge of Multiple
Donor Requirements
Experiences
❖ Grant Director 10/2020 – Present
Ethiopian Agriculture Transformation Institute (ATI) - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
✓ Successfully directed Multimillion donor funds, establishing a robust compliance
framework that ensured strict adherence to ATA goals and donor guidelines,
significantly enhancing funding utilization.
✓ Developed and monitored complex grant budgets, achieving a 15% reduction in
budget variances through diligent tracking and proactive adjustments, thereby
maximizing resource allocation and enhancing financial efficiency.
✓ Strengthened stakeholder relationships by actively collaborating with government,
private sector, and academic partners, leading to impactful project outcomes aligned
with Ethiopia's agricultural priorities.
✓ Spearheaded the submission of comprehensive financial reports and updates to
donors, greatly improving transparency and accountability in project operations,
fostering trust and credibility with funding organizations.
✓ Provided strategic leadership throughout the grant lifecycle, focusing on risk
assessment and capacity-building for local partners, ensuring effective fund
utilization and sustainability of grant-funded initiatives.
✓ Collaborated with program staff to review and submit grant proposals, ensuring
alignment with organizational objectives and compliance with donor requirements,
which resulted in successful grant acquisitions.
✓ Prepared and submitted timely reports to donors, documenting program progress
and financial expenditures, thereby ensuring adherence to grant conditions and
maintaining strong funding relationships.
✓ Implemented effective systems to track grant activities and outcomes, facilitating
program effectiveness assessments and promoting continuous improvement in
grant management processes.
✓ Developed and maintained an efficient document management system for grantrelated documents, enhancing accessibility and organization, and ensuring
compliance with regulatory requirements.
✓ Provided technical assistance and capacity-building support to local partners and
grantees, which improved their organizational capabilities and ultimately
contributed to the successful execution of grant-funded projects.
❖ Regional Accounting and Subgrant Head
IT. skills:
❖ Strong skills in Excel
❖ Power Point, Word
❖ Outlook.
❖ Experienced in ERP –
Agresso 4 unit.
❖ QuickBooks,
❖ Sage 22, Peachtree.
Languages:
Oromo: native speaker
Amharic: native speaker
English: fluent (C2)
03/ 2011-09/ 2019
UN- WFP Funded Child Survival Initiative project- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
✓ ❖ Oversaw regional financial management by preparing annual financial plans,
training accountants, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements and internal
policies, leading to improved financial governance.
✓ ❖ Led grant disbursement and financial tracking across multiple branches,
implementing controls that increased accuracy and compliance with donor
templates, resulting in enhanced financial reporting.
✓ ❖ Collaborated closely with partners to develop tailored financial protocols,
achieving alignment with donor guidelines and maintaining transparency in
expenditure, which strengthened stakeholder relationships.
✓ ❖ Conducted detailed financial analyses and reporting, providing strategic insights
for decision-making that ensured effective use of resources and improved budget
allocation.
✓ ❖ Built capacity for grantees by conducting pre-award assessments and offering
technical assistance, enhancing partner performance and compliance, leading to
successful project outcomes.
✓ ❖ Prepared comprehensive annual financial plans and oversaw all branch financial
activities, including creating financial statements and providing training for branch
accountants, ensuring alignment with donor expectations.
✓ ❖ Managed and supervised disbursed grants to ensure effective delivery and
compliance with donor requirements, maintaining transparency and accountability
throughout the grant lifecycle.
✓ ❖ Liaised with relevant stakeholders on staff compensation and benefits, ensuring
employee satisfaction and compliance with organizational policies, which improved
workforce morale and retention.
✓ ❖ Conducted rigorous oversight and periodic review of benefits administration
processes to maintain high standards of efficiency and accountability, enhancing
organizational effectiveness.
✓ ❖ Prepared and submitted periodic fund requests on time, ensuring consistent
financial support for organizational operations and project implementation, which
facilitated timely project delivery.
❖ Child Development Project Director
✓
✓
✓
✓
08/2007- 03/ 2011
Compassion International, Ethiopia - West Showa- Inchine
Directed all project planning, budgeting, and monitoring activities, ensuring
alignment with organizational and donor objectives, which significantly enhanced
project impact and effectiveness.
Cultivated strong relationships with beneficiaries and donors, effectively managing
fund adjustments and resource allocations to support program goals, resulting in
increased stakeholder satisfaction and project success.
Led compliance assessments and evaluations, advising on procurement, logistics,
and team operations, which improved project implementation efficiency and
reduced operational bottlenecks.
Ensured financial transparency and adherence to regulatory standards through
detailed project assessments, maximizing project effectiveness and reinforcing donor
trust.
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References
❖ Berhanu Benti Program
Senior Director
--
❖ Terefe Disasa Operation
Director --
❖ Dr. Giram Abera
Technical Director
--
Contributed to the development of work plans and budgets, guiding strategic resource
allocation and ensuring fiscal responsibility, leading to optimal utilization of financial
resources.
Conducted strategic planning, directing, monitoring, and evaluating all project activities to
ensure alignment with project goals and objectives, culminating in the preparation of
comprehensive physical and donor financial plans.
Cultivated a harmonious relationship between beneficiaries and sponsors, fostering mutual
trust and collaboration, which enhanced project outcomes and community engagement.
Proactively identified issues related to donor fund adjustments and proposed appropriate
program modifications, ensuring effective resource utilization and timely project delivery.
Accountable for project budget preparation and revisions, maintaining financial
transparency and adherence to donor, government, legal, and organizational requirements,
which ensured compliance and accountability.
Provided guidance, monitoring, and support to the program and project team, ensuring
smooth project implementation through effective procurement and logistical support, and
maintaining office inventory
EDUCATION
❖ MBA in Finance -
Ambo University School of Business and Economics
❖ Bachelor’s in accounting and finance-:
Ambo University School of Business and Economics
❖ Bachelor’s in management -:
AUC- University
Languages: Oromo: native speaker
Amharic: native speaker
English: fluent (C2)
Certificate/ competency- training
❖ Contract Administration including Donor Contracts -International Law Institute of
Georgetown University, USA
❖ Financial management and disbursements training -WORLD BANK GROUP
❖ Fundamentals of Financial Reporting- 365 Financial Analyst
❖ Financial Management for Civil Society Organizations - EU and GIZ
❖ Introduction to nature, Business and Finance- UNDP
❖ Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis- 365 Financial Analyst
❖ HR for Non-HR Professional -Ethiopian Management Institute (EMI)
❖ Introduction to Financial Planning- EU and GIZ
❖ Data Analysis Fundamental- UDACITY
❖ Advanced Microsoft Excel- 365 Financial Analyst
❖ Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation-Compassion International Ethiopian
❖ Communication Skills - Compassion International Ethiopian
❖ Psychosocial Support for OVC and Vulnerable Children- Care Ethiopia
