Many international NGOs outgrow the way their finance, grants and support functions are organised. Spreadsheets, local workarounds and disconnected systems make it harder to meet donor requirements, report reliably and grow responsibly. KGS helps organisations move from that reality to processes, governance and systems that work together.
Questions organisations bring to us
- Our country offices work with a lot of autonomy. How do we agree on a shared foundation, while leaving room for local ways of working?
- We want to replace or upgrade our ERP or grants system. What do we actually need, and how do we choose?
- Our new system is live, but people still work around it. How do we get real adoption?
- Who owns which part of the grant lifecycle, and how do programme and finance work together on it?
- How can we use AI to save time without creating new risks for donor and personal data?
Our transformation approach
1. Diagnose
Map the current situation: processes, roles, systems, controls, risks and pain points, based on evidence from documents, data and the people who do the work.
2. Design
Design future end-to-end processes, governance and responsibilities, and translate them into clear functional requirements.
3. Translate into systems
Turn requirements into ERP and grants system choices: configuration principles, chart of accounts and dimensions, workflows and reporting needs.
4. Guide implementation
Support decision-making, testing, data migration and roll-out across offices, and keep finance, programmes, IT, vendors and users aligned.
5. Embed and evaluate
Training, procedures, coaching and clear ownership at headquarters and in country teams, followed by a review of what works and what needs adjusting.
Our role: the bridge
KGS is not a software vendor and does not sell licences. We work independently of any platform and act as the bridge between the organisation and the technology: we make sure donor requirements, compliance, processes and the needs of users are translated correctly into the system, and that technical partners build what the organisation actually needs.
AI as an accelerator
AI can speed up document review, budget checks, reporting and analysis. We help organisations apply it responsibly: starting from clear use cases, with attention to data protection, donor confidentiality and human review of the results.
Ways of working together
- Quick scan: a short assessment of processes, systems and risks, with a prioritised roadmap.
- Requirements and selection: functional requirements and support in choosing a system or partner.
- Implementation support: a business lead role alongside the technical implementation partner.
- Embedded transformation lead: two to three years as part of your organisation, leading the change with your teams until it runs on its own.
- Post go-live review: checking adoption, controls and reporting, and fixing what holds people back.
Frequently asked questions
Are you tied to a specific ERP or grants system?
No. KGS is independent and does not sell licences. I have hands-on experience rolling out Sage Intacct across multiple country offices, and help you choose what fits your needs.
Do you work alongside our software vendor or implementation partner?
Yes. My role is to make sure donor requirements, compliance and user needs are translated correctly, so technical partners build what your organisation actually needs.
How long does a systems transformation take?
A quick scan takes a few weeks. A roll-out across several country offices usually runs over one to three years, which is why I also offer an embedded role.
How do you involve country offices?
Country teams help design the solution. We agree on a shared foundation of processes and controls, and leave room for local ways of working.
Can we use AI safely with donor data?
Yes, if you start from clear use cases, protect personal and donor data, and keep human review of the results. I help set this up responsibly.
Let’s talk
Planning a change in your finance, grants or support systems? A short conversation is often the best start.