Finance and Compliance Officer at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

• The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Nigeria, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting, and grant financial management and compliance.
• The Mercy Corps Finance Department ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures. In its role as a support to the Program Department, the Finance Department provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the Program team to ensure that financial resources used efficiently and effectively.

General Position Summary

• Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Senior Roving Finance Officer, the Finance & Compliance Officer will assist the Ngala office to ensure the accuracy and completeness of financial and accounting records and will have primary responsibility for managing the monthly accounting cycle and the routine daily accounting tasks and payments.
• The Finance and Compliance Officer will assist in reviewing and analysing records, reports, and management practices to ensure adequate internal controls are in place to mitigate risks in compliance with laws, regulations, donor requirements and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Assist the Senior Finance Officer to enhance the efficiency of the existing control system and ensure any identified compliance gaps are corrected.
• Enter transactions into the accounting software accurately.
• Ensure the accuracy of all Navigator recorded transactions by following Navigator entry procedures and by referencing coding against standard chart of accounts and coded budgets.
• Performs AAM review of transactions with supporting documentations within the direct purchase threshold matrix.
• Prepare and reconcile the banks and cash accounts.
• Ensure compliance with GAAPs standard accounting practices.
• Daily print out of payment vouchers for onward attachment to supporting documents by the archivist.
• Ensure proper archiving of all documents.
• Maintain the field AAM file with up-to-date signature specimen.
• Give maximum support towards successful month and year end process.
• Always imbibe the culture of audit readiness.
• Make sure all income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and other taxes are withheld and paid accordingly.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Assist in the training of support and program staff on Finance related matters and give any financial operational support needed.
• Submit accurate and timely financial reports to Maiduguri on a weekly and monthly basis and follow up with other departments for any corrective actions required.
• Ensure document safeguarding and proper archiving.
• Prepare Voucher Reconciliation Activities Reports on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and new assignments as requested from time to time.
• Any other duties assign by the supervisor or designee.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: Senior Finance Officer
• Works Directly With: Finance and Compliance department, Program, and Operational teams in Norther East Nigeria.

Knowledge and Experience

• A University Degree in Finance, Accounting or equivalent is required.
• Two or more years of finance and accounting experience is required.
• Two years’ experience in the finance and compliance department of an international NGO is preferred.
• Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• Fluency in Hausa and local languages is preferred.

Success Factor:

• A clear understanding of finance, accounting, organizational skills as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The ability to interact effectively with international and national staff members is required. A demonstrated ability to work quickly and accurately, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
• The successful candidate will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
• The successful candidate will be willing to travel to other deep field locations and LGAs of Northeast Nigeria based on program needs. That will mean sometimes staying and working in stressful environments with very basic living conditions, strictly always following security protocols and sometimes working long and irregular hours).
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
• We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.