Finance Roles at Mercy Corps

Reference Number: MDG/HUMOPS/2018/00025
Location: Maiduguri, Borno

General Position Summary

• Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Field Finance Manager, the Senior Finance Officer- Accounting will assist the Northeast Nigeria Programs to ensure the accuracy and completeness of accounting records and will have primary responsibility for managing the monthly accounting cycle and the routine daily accounting tasks and payment.
• The Deputy Finance Manager - Accounting will assist in review and analyze records, reports, financial statements 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 Functions
Strategy & Vision:

• 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.
• Develop and organize activities to secure resources for programs and convince stakeholders to provide support.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

Finance and Accounting Management:

• Assist in perform financial reviews and post into the general ledger
• Prepare month end balance sheet account reconciliations for Maiduguri and other deep field offices.
• Coordinate the preparation and ensure the on-time submission of the monthly/quarterly/year-end reporting packages to Abuja, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the ledgers, and all supporting documentation in all deep field offices of Maiduguri.
• Assist in the training and support of the finance officers in field offices, including answering daily questions, training new hires, making field visits, etc.
• Monitor cash and bank balances and coordinate monthly cash flow requests from sub-offices; prepare consolidated country cash flow requests to Abuja.
• Plan and implement systems for financial operations in both the MDG offices and deep field offices in accordance with the mercy Corps Field Finance Manual and donor regulations, including systems for Cash Flow management budgeting, consolidation of accounting information, internal controls, financial reporting, financial record-Keeping, grant management and compliance
• Assist the Field Finance Manager in responding to audit inquiries
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Assist the Field Finance Manager to enhance the efficient of existing control systems.
• Ensure distribution lists, handover notices, etc. for all program related activities are verified, reconciled and archived properly.
• Assist in developing and maintaining compliance checklist for all grants and ensuring the grants are closed smoothly and all donor’s requirement are met.
• In addition, provide leadership in keeping track of host government compliance requirements for all offices.
• Work with the Finance Manager and other staff to develop Standard Operating Procedures for accounting.
• Lead the team effort in terms of developing and archiving documents.
• Assist in preparation of budget.
• Assist in provide monthly management reports to Program Managers and Directors, including expenditures by cost center/project, subgrantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Security
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

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

• Four or more years of finance experience is required.
• A university degree in finance, accounting or equivalent is required.
• Four years’ experience in finance and/or accounting with NGO or bank at mid/senior management levels is required.
• Strong budgeting and accounting skills.
• Understanding of major international donor (EU, US) rules.
• Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of grants management rules.
• 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.

Desired:

• Knowledge of Hausa.
• Candidate must be willing to travel and work throughout Northeast Nigeria (Dikwa, Damboa, Ngala and Gowza)

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 Damboa, Dikwa, Ngala, Gozwa and other LGAs of Northeast programs based on 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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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Reference Number: MDG/HUMOPS/2018/00026
Location: Gwoza, 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.

General Position Summary

• Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Senior Finance Officer in Maiduguri, the Finance and Compliance Officer will assist in the accounting and documentation of all financial transactions in timely and accurate manner.

Essential Job Functions
Finance:

• Assist in the financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders and payment requests to ensure compliance with MC policies and procedures and project budgets.
• Assist in the preparation of the monthly cash flow projections
• Maintain the bank and cash files, ensuring that all information is properly filed and updated
• Record in the in financial review of transaction entered into the Navigator.
• Ensure all advances are tracked and cleared on time.
• Manage the archiving of all financial documents and follow up with staff for any missing documents.
• Assist in managing month end accounting close process, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the ledger and supporting documentations
• Ensure the petty cash count performed on time (weekly and monthly).
• Assist with month end balance sheet account reconciliations.
• Prepare the monthly bank reconciliations.
• Assist in maintaining the lease and rental agreements file and prepare monthly amortization entries of prepaid accounts
• Assist in the training of support staff on Finance related matters and give any financial operational support needed.
• Assist and ensuring all payments needs further documentation such handover note to the communities, signed beneficiaries list, etc. are tracked.
• Make sure that all supporting documentation is prepared and filed according to MC procedures.
• Deploy to the other field offices when needs are arise.
• In charge of program vouchers reconciliations and payments.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• 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- MDG
• Works Directly With: All operational and program team of South Borno.

Knowledge and Experience

• Three or more years of finance experience, including budgeting and grant management or auditing.
• A university Degree in Finance, Accounting or a related business field is required.
• Three years’ experience in the Finance Department of a non-governmental organization.
• Good understanding of major international donor rules and non-profit accounting.
• Prior experience with computerized general ledger software.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and Access.
• Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of financial and procurement systems; Prior auditing experience is considered a plus.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• Desired: Knowledge of Hausa.

Success Factors:

• The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A high professional standard of finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.
• 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 MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.