Job Opportunities 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 are used efficiently and effectively.

General Position Summary

• Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Senior Finance Officer and Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant will assist in the processing and recording of payment transactions in a timely and accurate manner.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Maintain custody of the office cash fund and make daily payments of approved transactions
• Prepare cash payment vouchers and ensure that all cash transactions are fully and properly documented
• Ensure that cash count and safeguarding of cash is performed in compliance with Country Cash Management Policy
• Maintain the cash advance tracker daily, follow up on advances due for clearance, and ensure advance reconciliation with the general ledger records
• Review expense reports (travel expense reports and operational expense reports) for accuracy and document completeness and ensure that expense reports are fully authorized before payment processing
• Prepare checks or wire transfer requests based on fully approved documents and present to approved check-signers for review and signature.
• Prepare bank payment vouchers and ensure that all bank transactions are properly and fully documented.
• Record cash and bank payment vouchers daily into accounting system while ensuring the accuracy of all entries by following entry procedures, and by referencing coding against the standard chart of accounts and coded budgets.
• Prepare photocopies of vouchers and other supporting documents as required for the monthly reporting package to HQ Finance.
• Assist in account maintenance and reconciliations as part of the month-end closeout process
• File all cash and bank vouchers and maintain voucher filing system such that files are properly labelled, updated, complete and safeguarded.
• Assist with addressing audit-related requests
• Ensure compliance with MC policies, donor rules and regulations and compliance with local laws
• Conduct himself / herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None.

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Finance Officer
• Works Directly With: Mercy Corps Program, Operations and Finance teams

Knowledge and Experience

• One or Two years of bookkeeping, banking or cashiering experience.
• A degree in Accounting or a relevant Business field is desirable.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Prior experience with computerized general ledger software is an advantage
• Accuracy in the processing of cash transactions, mathematical aptitude and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.

Success Factors

• A clear understanding 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.
• A high level of personal integrity, honesty and transparency in all cash handling 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.

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs.
• As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.

General Position Summary

• The Livelihood Program Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of Borno Agricultural Development Initiative (BADI) livelihood interventions in Northeast Nigeria (Borno state).
• Livelihood Program Officer will work closely with the Program Manager, Team Leader, MEL team, and operations staff (including finance and operations) to ensure that activities are implemented according to schedule, budget and required quality.

Essential Job Functions
Strategy and Vision:

• Recognize opportunities to evolve the current humanitarian portfolio into a more effective and impactful portfolio addressing the changing needs of conflict-affected populations.
• Contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Representation and Coordination:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective coordination with relevant working groups, UN, ICRC and colleagues I/NGO agencies.

Program Management - Livelihood Interventions:

• Coordinate with MEL team to map, identify and register program participants.
• Lead in the selection of beneficiaries with support from MEL Team & LG Agriculture Extension workers.
• Lead in the identification and strengthening capacity of village agents on village savings and loan association (VSLA) methodology
• Identify reliable and trusted members locally to be seed multipliers
• Build the capacity of the extension workers on areas of GAP, Farming as a business, Perma and sack gardening and climate-smart agriculture.
• Coordinate the sensitization of beneficiaries.
• Facilitate training of seed multipliers on financial literacy, bookkeeping and smart saving practices.
• Lead the market assessment to ascertain the most profitable skills in the intervention locations.
• Work with operations (procurement) to select a financial service provider (FSP) for cash / voucher disbursement.
• Ensure effective community engagement to create an enabling environment and ownership.
• Submit monthly program update including success stories to supervisor.

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.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• 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.
• Identify any gaps or capacity needs within the team and ensure training and capacity building is incorporated into program planning.

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.

Other:

• 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 by the supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None

Works Directly with:

• Program Manager, MEL Team, Agric Market Systems Officer, Finance, Program and Operation teams

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Social Sciences or relevant field required.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; specifically, in economic recovery.
• Prior experience implementing livelihoods programs is essential, preferably in conflict settings.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders to identify beneficiaries according to criteria required.
• Experience with running assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
• Prior experience working with savings groups especially village saving and loan associations (VSLAs)
• Experience representing the organization and its interests to a diverse range of local and international government officials, local civil society organizations, other international organizations, the media and the public.
• Commitment to renewing and maintaining knowledge of best practices
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience
• Ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required.

Success Factors

• Must be able to work independently and show initiative. Strong leadership, communication, and management skills are essential.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and their application to program implementation is required.
• Ability to supervise, mentor and coach a diverse team.
• Must be able to problem-solve and multi-task on a range of administrative and programmatic issues.
• The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Damboa, Borno State and it requires frequent travel to field offices in and around Damboa and Biu.

General Position Summary

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

Essential Job Functions

• Maintain the bank file, ensuring that all bank information is properly filed and updated
• Responsible for office cash level oversight, coordination of monthly cash needs for the programs and submission of cash flow projection to Abuja office
• Ensure that the official cash management complies with the Country Cash Management Policy
• Monitor the cash advance tracking sheet and prepare past due advance report for the Finance Manager / Director and ensure advance reconciliation with general ledger records
• Process bank payments via online banking, checks or wire transfers.
• Prepare payment / cash vouchers and ensure that all transactions are properly and fully documented and recorded daily
• Review transactions and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness and compliance with MC policies
• Prepare the monthly bank reconciliations
• Assist in balance account reconciliations, preparation of journal entries and prepaid account amortizations as part of the month-end closeout process
• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps policies, donor rules and regulations and compliance with local laws
• Responsible for timely, accurate and fully documented reconciliation of distributions under Cash Transfer Programming as per Mercy Corp SOP and manual
• As required, conduct site visits and provide support to the voucher distribution process
• Prepare photocopies and scans of vouchers and other supporting documents required for HQ and donor reporting
• Assist with addressing audit-related requests
• File all cash and bank vouchers and maintain voucher filing system (hard copy & electronically) according to MC procedures
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None.

Accountability:

• Reports Directly To: Senior Finance Officer or Finance Manager
• Works Directly With: Finance, Operations and Program staff within Mercy Corps Nigeria.

Knowledge and Experience

• Three or more years of accounting or bookkeeping experience, including experience with double-entry accounting
• A degree in accounting or a relevant business field
• Strong computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Familiarity with computerized, double-entry accounting software
• Strong organizational skills as well as attention to detail
• Excellent oral and written skills

Success Factors

• A clear understanding 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.
• 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.