Senior Finance Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Biu, Borno

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 are used efficiently and effectively.
• The consultant will be expected to ensure proper re-filing of procurement records in Mercy Corps Nigeria Abuja in line with the Field Procurement Manual to ensure that all procurement files are stand alone and in a manner that will make retrieval easy.
• This consultancy will run for a maximum of three months from the date of engagement.

General Position Summary

• Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Field Finance Manager, the Senior Finance Officer will ensure the accuracy and completeness of Mercy Corps accounting records and will have primary responsibility for managing the monthly accounting cycle.  
• The consultant will be working mainly with the procurement team to scan, enter file records on excel sheet, replace file on the appropriate shelve as well as communicate missing to procurement staff and ensure procurement documents are complete in all files.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Team Management:

• Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
• Supervise and lead a diverse team of direct and indirect reports in field offices and conduct timely performance reviews and establish development plans.
• Contribute to field office team-building efforts; build constructive internal relationships; help team members identify problem solving options and ensure integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Support the finance team to develop their technical finance skills through routine coaching and guidance.
• Daily management of the assistant finance officers.

Accounting:

• Ensure all the operational and travel advances cleared on time.
• Generate Navigator Advance reports and shared with the fields offices on weekly basis.
• Ensure Status by Funds reports and other navigator reports generated checked against all staff timesheet on monthly basis.
• Oversee daily cash count with the assistant finance officer
• Manage the month end accounting close process, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the ledger and all supporting documentation in all country offices.
• Primary responsibility for maintaining the general ledger software files, including set up and maintenance of new project accounts, regular back-up of files, etc.
• Review and upload data to the general ledger and Field Connection
• Receives all monthly field projections and prepares revenue recognition entries and other final closing journal entries
• Enter, post and maintain filing of monthly journal entries and prepares month end balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Oversee the maintenance of all accounting records, ensuring that records are complete, accurate and safeguarded
• Assist in the training and support staff in the field office including answering daily questions, training new hires, making field visits, etc.
• Monitor cash and bank balances and coordinate monthly cash flow requests
• Assist the Finance Manager in responding to audit inquiries at the field level
• Conduct monitoring plan to lessen financial and compliance risks at beneficiary sites
• Maintain tracking as well as financial files in accordance with the Field Finance Manual.
• Process payments and reconcile financial tracking to general ledger reports.
• Assist in reconciling all payable accounts in Navigator, and ensure payments are made on time to the respective authorities or vendors

Reporting:

• Assist in reviewing the re-class journal entries to the navigator.
• Assist in reviewing other navigator journal entries for approval and review.
• Managing Month end closing package file, and upload all necessary documents to the file exchange on monthly basis.
• Assist in the month end balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Assist in the month end accounting close process, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the ledger, navigator and all supporting documentation.
• Coordinate the preparation and ensure the on-time submission of the monthly reporting package to the main office.

Others:

• 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
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Experience

• Four or more years of general ledger, accounting experience is required.
• A university degree in Accounting is required.
• Two years’ experience in the Finance 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

Success Factor

• 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 Damboa and other Borno LGAs 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.