Finance Assistant at Mercy Corps

Location: Maiduguri - Borno

Program/Department Summary

• With the insurgency affecting North East Nigeria and displacing millions of people, Mercy Corps is expanding its humanitarian programming to support the conflict-affected population in Borno.
• In response to the ongoing crisis, Mercy Corps is scaling-up food security, non-food items, nutrition, protection, livelihoods, and water sanitation hygiene (WASH) activities in Dikwa, Ngala, and Jere Local Government Areas in Borno State to address emergency needs.

General Position Summary

• Under the supervision of the Senior Finance Officer, the Finance Assistant handles various reconciliations at the field, and systematically follows all financial documentation for payment procession and maintains the appropriate finance records for the work performed.

Essential Job Functions

• Follow all Mercy Corps policies, procedures, grant compliance and documentation requirements.
• Prepare and maintain filling records of all program activities and other related financial documents.
• Implement and make sure all Mercy Corps Field Finance Manual, procurement, assets
• Receive requests for funds from teams within program sites for activities, check and process requests.
• Prepare payment authorizations. Follow-up on timely disbursement of funds to the staff in these regions.
• Receive, reconcile and submit financial returns from the sub field office to Field office -finance office for account registration purposes.
• Identify and follow up on outstanding obligations.
• Receive, check and submit travel advance claims from field based
• Check and follow up on settlement of personal telephone and sat phone bills for staff.
• Keeps record of all cash, bank, advances and regularly updates
• Carries out weekly cash counts and whenever requested by the Senior Finance Officer, Prints off all payment vouchers and matches with the documents to be filed.
• Pays or receives authorized bank payments and receipts.
• Makes sure all required documents are attached; calculations are correct, appropriate approvals and reviews made per the AAM before payment of any cash or bank payments.
• Enters transactions to the accounting software under the supervision of the Senior Finance Officer whenever required.
• Ensure compliance with GAAPs, Nigerian, US laws and standard accounting practice.
• Code all expenditures following the standard chart of accounts, coded budget and record to the accounting software or recording system daily and ensure weekly review and posting.
• Match invoices/receipts with payment vouchers, GRN and other required documents.
• Prepare cash, bank and advances reconciliations and submit for review/approval every week and monthly.
• Make sure all income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and other taxes are withheld and paid accordingly.
• Keep all finance documents and reports are properly filed, labeled and stored in a clear and easily accessible manner following FFM.
• Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and new assignments as requested from time to time.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Any Other duties as assigned

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Diploma or advanced certificate or equivalent in Accounting or Finance is required. 
• 1 years’ experience in handling cash and accounting.
• Any Finance experience is preferred.   
• Accounting skills and experience in general ledger, journal entries, payroll, cash/bank mgt.
• Computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and accounting software experience.
• Excellent oral and written English skills
• Willing to travel to Mercy Corps offices and take temporary assignments..
• Ability to communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English Hausa, and preferably also in Kanuri

Success Factors

• 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.
• In particular, the successful candidate will be willing to travel to locations such as Dikwa and Ngala according to the needs of the Mercy Corps program. This will mean sometimes staying and working in stressful environments with very basic living conditions, strictly following security protocols at all times and sometimes working long and irregular hours.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.