Financial Transformation Modeling & Strategy Partner

Primary Objective Heifer International invites qualified consultants or firms to submit proposals to serve as a Strategic Finance Partner supporting financial modeling, transformation budgeting, and strategic resource alignment. This engagement will: Design a Strategy-Led Financial Framework that enables the organization to: • Understand the true cost drivers of deep organizational change. • Identify where strategic investments in people, systems, and capability-building will accelerate transformation momentum. Embed adaptation. • Align resources with both immediate operational needs and long-term cultural shifts. 3. Scope of Services Phase 1: Retrospective Analysis (Costs to Date) • Baseline Audit: Analyze transformation costs to date to establish a comprehensive baseline. Identify specific variance drivers, spending trends, and investments made throughout the transformation journey. • Cost Segmentation: Clearly distinguish between "Running Costs" (ongoing operational expenses) and "One-Time Scaffolding Costs" (temporary support structures required for change management). • Visualization: Build a dashboard that tells the "Investment Story"—to show how resources have fueled specific capabilities.

Phase 2: Forward-Looking Resourcing Plan • The Scaffolding Model: Develop a financial model that explicitly separates "Scaffolding Costs" (temporary change support) from "Operational Costs" (ongoing run-rate expenses). • Integrated Resourcing Plan & Roadmap Alignment: Collaborate with TSC, finance and other key stakeholders to ensure the financial model links directly to the operational roadmap. If the roadmap shifts based on strategic learnings, the financial plan must adapt instantly.

Phase 3: Strategic Financial Modeling & Visualization • Role Optimization (Interdependence Analysis): Conduct a "Role-to-Value" analysis across Global, Regional, and Country nodes. Identify structural duplication and model potential savings. • Transformation ROI Analysis: Create a "Value Realization" model comparing the Cost of Change against Efficiency Gains. • Unit Cost Analysis: Establish standardized investment requirements for transitioning country offices to the new "Network Node" structure. Define unit costs for change management, training, and system implementation per country. Extension: Model transition costs for Regional Offices and the Network Support Node. • The Donor Investment Case: Translate internal "Scaffolding" and "Unit Cost" models into external-facing "Investment Packages" for fundraising. Create a menu of funding options (e.g., "Fund the Digital Transformation: $200k" or "Sponsor a Country Transition: $150k") that allow donors to fund specific parts of the ecosystem's growth. • Sustainability Projection: Project the long-term financial sustainability of the new operating model, including scenario planning for various growth and funding conditions. • Strategic Dashboards: Build dashboard that maps expenditures to Strategic Focus Areas, with additional recommended visualizations for stakeholder communication and decision support.

Phase 4: Adaptive Budgeting & Learning Loops • Adaptive Budgeting Framework & Learning: Design a review rhythm for "Adaptive Budget Planning." Recommend regular review rhythms that enables agile tradeoff decisions based on strategy and learning. Create a mechanism where funds are released based on validated learning (evidence of success), rather than automatic entitlement. • Adaptive Re-Forecasting: Build the workflow for rapid reallocation.

Phase 5: Knowledge Transfer & Sustainability • Enablement & Knowledge Transfer: Provide capacity building for TSC and key stakeholders to maintain and update models and dashboards independently. Ensure the system remains sustainable and internally manageable after the engagement concludes.

4. Key Deliverables Deliverable Description Transformation Investment Dashboard A comprehensive "Costs to Date" visualization showing variance drivers, spending trends, and scaffolding investments throughout the transformation journey. 18-Month Transformation Resource Plan A strategic resource allocation document mapping financial resources to roadmaps and capability-building outcomes through FY27, with clear separation between Scaffolding investments and Operational expenses. The Scaffolding Model A comprehensive financial model that distinguishes temporary change support costs from ongoing operational run rates, enabling clearer decision-making about transitional versus permanent investments. Network Optimization Analysis & ROI A detailed report quantifying potential savings from eliminating role duplication, with specific recommendations for resource reallocation to maximize organizational impact. Unit Cost Analysis & Business Case A definitive cost model for transitioning Countries, Regions, and Network Nodes, including a consolidated business case comparing Cost of Change versus long-term Efficiency Savings. The Donor Investment Menu A suite of externally-facing "investment packages" with clear pricing for transformation modules, formatted for immediate use in grant proposals and donor communications.

5. Success Criteria By the conclusion of this engagement, Heifer International will have achieved: • Enhanced Transparency & Prioritization: Clear visibility into resource allocation with the ability to make thoughtful, data-backed decisions about investments and priorities. • Strategic Cohesion: Integration between financial planning and organizational strategy, structure, and culture, ensuring resources support strategic objectives. • Shared Stewardship: Demonstrated collective ownership of financial health across teams, with increased engagement in resource planning, management and learning. • Sustainable Capacity: Measurable progress toward building sustainable internal capabilities.

6. Consultant Qualifications The ideal consultant will demonstrate: • Strategic FP&A Expertise: Proven experience transitioning organizations from backward-looking accounting to forward-looking, strategic resourcing and financial planning. • Documentation Excellence: Demonstrated ability to build client-friendly, transparent financial models that are intuitive to update and maintain. • Transformation Experience: Deep understanding of the temporary cost structures ("Scaffolding") required during major organizational change, with experience modeling the financial dynamics of transformation initiatives. • International NGO Experience: Familiarity with country office structures, regional hub operations, and non-profit cost allocation methodologies and constraints.

7. Submission Requirements To apply, please submit a comprehensive proposal by May 1, 2026 including the following components:

1. Professional Background: Current CV or resume highlighting relevant experience with strategic financial planning, organizational transformation, and international development work.

2. Proposed Methodology: Detailed approach for addressing the scope of work, including work plan, key milestones, and anticipated timeline.

3. Work Sample: A de-identified example of a strategic financial model or dashboard you have developed, demonstrating your approach to complex financial modeling and visualization.

4. Budget Proposal: Estimated total cost for a 12-16 week engagement, including breakdown of fees, anticipated expenses, and payment schedule.

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