GRANTS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Company information

Company

HST Careers

Division

Corporate Services

Province

KwaZulu-Natal

Job Specification Information

Title

GRANTS AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Description

The Health Systems Trust (HST) seeks to appoint a qualified and experienced Grants and Compliance Officer to support the effective implementation of HST's programs and projects. Based in Durban, the role will provide grants, contracts, compliance and internal assurance support across the organisation. The incumbent will monitor compliance with funder requirements, applicable legislation, contractual obligations, and HST policies and procedures; support risk-based assurance activities; and assist with the drafting, review, administration, and monitoring of contracts and legal agreements. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring compliance and adherence to funder requirements, HST policies, standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and best business practice within the Grants and Compliance Office of HST. The role requires a strong focus on internal controls, financial oversight, risk management, audit readiness and donor accountability, ensuring full transparency, compliance, and value for money in a donor-funded environment.

Key Responsibilities

Client and Stakeholder Perspective • Monitor adherence to contractual, technical, financial and compliance requirements applicable to programs, projects, grants and sub-awards. • Build and maintain professional relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders. • Manage challenges and escalate risks to the Grants and Compliance Manager. • Work with Compliance, Finance and Program/Project Managers to capacitate and monitor contractors • Conduct site visits to contractors when required • Represent Compliance at relevant governance structures, such as the Damage Committee and Procurement Committee meetings • Maintain a contract review and approval workflow in accordance with HST’s Delegation of Authority. • Verify that agreements accurately reflect the approved scope, budget, deliverables, payment terms, performance measures and reporting obligations. • Monitor key contractual dates, renewals, deliverables, variations, expiry dates, insurance requirements and other ongoing obligations. • Maintain a register of contractual risks, deviations from approved templates and required approvals. • Support contract variations, extensions, amendments, notices and close-out processes. • Translate key contractual and donor obligations into compliance checklists for responsible departments. • Provide contract management and compliance support and identify matters requiring escalation. Complex, high-risk, contentious or non-standard legal matters must be referred to through the Grants and Compliance Manager for appropriate internal approval and, where necessary, external legal advice. • Monitor implementation of legal or contractual advice and maintain supporting records. Financial Perspective • Perform daily reviews of a sample of uploaded payments, verifying that payments are reasonable, allocable, allowable, adequately supported, and compliant with HST policies, procedures and SOPs. • Identify and recommend the rejection or suspension of payments that appear non-compliant, irregular, inadequately supported or potentially fraudulent, and escalate such matters in accordance with HST procedures. • Review contractor and sub-recipient audit reports for ineligible and/or questioned costs and escalate findings for final determination. • Conduct financial monitoring of sub-recipients, resolving queries and identifying and disallowing unallowable costs • Conduct pre-award assessments and site visits for sub-recipients. • Monitor contractor payments and budgets to ensure that contractors are paid timeously against valid, accurate and authorised supporting documents, and that no contractor is paid without a valid contract in place. Organisational Processes • Assist with internal, external and funder-specific audit processes, ad hoc investigations and other tasks as assigned from time to time. • Perform risk-based internal audits of business cycles in accordance with the annual Compliance Plan and ad hoc assignments. • Report on findings of non-compliance, irregularities or weaknesses in internal controls, and follow up to ensure that corrective action plans are implemented. • Design, establish and maintain appropriate internal controls and reporting systems. • Work with relevant departments to review and improve internal controls, policies, procedures, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and monitor adherence. • Monitor and update the risk register, reporting risks and mitigation actions to the Senior Grants and Compliance Manager. • Conduct assigned procedures relating to whistle-blower investigations and report on findings and conclusions. • Draft, review and quality-assure contracts and legal agreements, including service-level agreements, consultancy and independent contractor agreements, grantee and sub-grantee agreements, teaming agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), using approved templates, and coordinate signatures once approved. • Review contracts and agreements to identify risks, gaps and non-standard terms, raise queries and implement agreed amendments following review. • Ensure the appropriate archiving and maintenance of information repositories, including a well-maintained contract register Training/Capacity-building • Conduct training for HST staff and stakeholders, including sub-recipients.

Key Attributes

• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal and influencing skills, combined with the ability to liaise effectively with people at all levels, both internally and externally. • Excellent report-writing skills, including the ability to prepare information for both professional and non-professional audiences. • Strong contract drafting and review skills, with keen attention to legal detail and a sound understanding of contractual risks. • Effective planning and organisational skills, supported by the ability to multitask, balance competing priorities, and operate effectively in high-pressure environment. • A dynamic demeanor, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as function effectively within a team environment. • High levels of integrity, ethical conduct and attention to detail. • Excellent computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel, and other relevant accounting packages used within HST. • Ability to think critically and creatively. • Commitment to equity and cultural diversity. Additional Requirements • A valid driver's license and a willingness to travel and work beyond normal office hours when required. • Willingness to undergo reference checks and verification processes. • Requirement to sign confidentiality and conflict-of-interest declarations • English language proficiency, both verbal and written, is essential.

Education Required

Matric

Qualification Required

• A relevant National Diploma or degree in Law, Commerce, Accounting, Auditing, Risk Management, Governance, Compliance, or a related field. • An LLB, BCom Law, recognised paralegal or legal studies qualification, or demonstrated equivalent experience in contract drafting, review and administration, will be strongly preferred. • A recognised professional qualification or designation in compliance, internal audit, risk management or governance, such as CPrac (SA), CIA or an equivalent credential, will be an advantage. • Training or certification in contract management, grant management, governance, or donor compliance will be an advantage.

Experience Required

• At least five years’ relevant experience in grants compliance, regulatory or organisational compliance, internal audit, risk management, contract management, or a related assurance function. • Demonstrated practical experience in drafting, reviewing, administering and monitoring contracts and agreements, including service-level agreements, consultancy or independent contractor agreements, grant or sub-grant agreements, teaming agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). • Experience in identifying contractual risks, deviations from approved templates, gaps in obligations, non-standard terms, deliverables, payment conditions, termination provisions and compliance requirements. • Experience in monitoring grants, contractors and subrecipients, including financial monitoring, due diligence, pre-award assessments, audit follow-up and corrective action monitoring. • Experience in a donor-funded, public health, government or non-governmental (NGO) organisation environment will be advantageous. • Sound understanding of internal controls, donor accountability, risk management and audit-readiness requirements. • Experience in liaising with external legal advisers and preparing the requisite documentation for matters escalated for legal review will be advantageous.

Remuneration

A salary package commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications and in line with HST’s job grading system will be offered.

Other Job Details

APPLICATIONS/ENQUIRIES • Interested applicants must complete their application online at: https://jobs.hst.org.za/careers/ • Applicants must ensure that their online applications are completed in full and that a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) is uploaded as part of the online application in order to be considered. • Applicant's CVs must be saved using a filename that reflects their name and surname. • No applications sent via email will be considered during the recruitment process • Only applications submitted through the online application process using the link provided will be considered. PLEASE NOTE: • Preference may be given to suitably qualified candidates residing in KwaZulu-Natal. • All personal information collected will be processed lawfully in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). • Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of their qualifications, driver’s licence and identity document, and will be required to undergo a psychometric assessment. • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. • Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates. • The successful candidate will be subject to reference and credential checks. • If you have not been contacted within 30 days of the closing date of this advertisement, you should accept that your application has been unsuccessful. • HST reserves the right not to fill this position. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 02 October 2026, at 16h30. Health Systems Trust subscribes to diversity and inclusivity, which is informed by the Company’s Employment Equity Plan. Based on this, African males, African females and people with disabilities who meet the job specifications (including but not limited to the required skills, knowledge and education), are encouraged to apply.