Finance and Compliance Manager

COUNTRY FINANCE & COMPLIANCE MANAGER

Position Description

Location Bangui, CAR

Position Status Full-time

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operational in the Central African Republic (CAR) since September 2007. With offices in Bangui, Bouar, Bambari and Berberati, Mercy Corps works to integrate short-term humanitarian assistance with programs to strengthen community resilience and support market-led economic development, with a cross-cutting accent on governance and gender. Mercy Corps takes a sustainable approach to its programming, seeking to change behaviors and create institutions to foster long-term development in the sectors of protection and gender-based violence, civil society capacity building, water/sanitation, social cohesion, and socioeconomic activities. Funding has come from a range of donors including USAID/ BHA, the European Commission, OCHA, AFD and private foundations. By addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of sectors, Mercy Corps CAR takes an integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact

The Position

The Finance Department ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures. This deployment is to oversee the running of the finance department through providing support to ensure monthly finance close out to enable the CAR CO to meet deadlines in terms of reporting and HQ package submission; support with new business development and reporting and ensuring that Mercy Corps’ processes and policies are in place. The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Bangui, CAR including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting, and grant financial management and compliance. The incumbent will also provide management support to field offices in Bambari, Berberati and Bouar.

General Position Summary

The Finance & Compliance Manager is a member of the senior management team and part of the Mercy Corps Finance Department, and as such is responsible for all aspects of financial management of the country programs, working collaboratively to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. S/he works under the direction of the Country Director and is responsible for all financial functions in CAR, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. The Finance & Compliance Manager, in support of the Program Department, provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the Program team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment of empowerment.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and

Financial Operation

Ensure timely and accurate management of Mercy Corps CAR finances including but not limited to

the following responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage daily countrywide accounting and finance functions including the timely recording of transactions, cash management, banking, tax obligations, payroll, inventory, receivables, and payables.
• Plan and implement systems for financial operations in both the main country office and in 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.
• Provide financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders and payment requests to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures and project budgets.
• Review month end sub journals to ensure clarity of descriptions, exchange rate and correct coding of expenses.
• Prepare allocation tables and complete Journal Entries for allocations monthly.
• Ensure monitoring of advance accounts and accrual and suspense accounts ensuring they are cleaned on a regular basis.
• Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
• Provide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by fund code/project, required subgrantee reporting in tandem with the Country Director, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps procurement policies and procedures for all goods and services.
• Develop and maintain local office policies and procedures and provide training for all issues related to local financial matters.
• Develop annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.
• Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Admin. Department to protect Mercy Corps

Grant Management and Compliance

Ensure accurate planning of existing and proposed activities and on budget and in-compliance

spending of funded initiatives through (but not limited to) the following activities:

• Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Annual planning in coordination with the Country Director of multiple grant budgets to ensure that all costs, including office expenses and staff are covered by incoming donations, budgets and implementing projection systems with Program Managers.
• Review and monitor partners’ financial reporting and compliance. Provide additional technical assistance to partners as necessary to maintain compliance standards.
• Provide monthly financial management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including budget vs actual reports of expenditures by fund code/budget line per project, and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner. Complete follow up actions based on Program Manager Review and outcomes of grant meetings.
• Lead budget development for new initiatives ensuring realistic and complete budgets in the required format

Program and Financial Compliance

• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.
• Ensure that audit recommendations are applied across all departments

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback informally and formally through regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• 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.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary

Influence and Representation

• Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
• Communicate with our partners, to verify their systems and that they understand and follow all appropriate procedures and archiving.
• Participate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies.
• Consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Comply with safety procedures and policies determined by local authorities and ensure compliance by team members.
• Proactively ensures that team members work in a safe environment and are aware of local policies.

Commitment:

• Conduct themselves professionally and personally in a manner that brings honor and credibility to Mercy Corps and does not compromise its humanitarian mission.
• Be accountable to program participants.
• Any other responsibilities that may be assigned as required

Professional Development:

• As part of our commitment to professional development and based on our understanding that organizations that continually develop are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to contribute 5% of their time to learning/professional development activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to recipients:

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

Genre:

• Mercy Corps recognizes that our programs are most effective in alleviating suffering, poverty, and oppression when women, men, girls, and boys are equally engaged as active players in all aspects of the work we undertake together. We expect all team members to commit to the principles of gender equality and to use gender-sensitive programming and gender mainstreaming to achieve our mission and vision for change.

Supervisory Responsibility

All Finance department staff (at least 5 direct)

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: Country Director, Program Managers, Grants and Program Support Manager, Operation Manger, Consortium partner teams, HQ & Regional Finance Teams, donors, NGO partners.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 4-7 years of progressive financial management experience, including supervisory experience required.
• At least 4 years’ experience in grants management as well as an understanding of US Government,
• EC, UN regulations required.
• At least 3 years’ international experience required; international NGO/PVO field office experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting reparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in French is required.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Previous experience in insecure environments.

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, and be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in the region. S/he will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal, relationship and cross-cultural communication skills especially in high stress environments are essential for success. S/he will be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps; have the ability to creatively problem-solve, to juggle multiple priorities under tight deadlines and to calmly and diplomatically deal with unexpected and sudden events impacting program operations with patience, dynamism, tenacity and a good sense of humor.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bangui, Central African Republic and will require up to 25% travel to field offices to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. This position is unaccompanied for spouses and/or children. The security situation in CAR can be very volatile with pockets of violent outburst in various areas of the country. Bangui is generally more stable; however, carjacking and targeted looting do occur on occasion. Hospitals and access to quality health care are very limited. Malaria is prevalent. It is estimated that 7-8% of the population may be HIV positive. Suitable group housing is available. Electricity, clean water and internet can be at times subject to shortages.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. 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.

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.

Mercy Corps Careers – Finance and Compliance Manager (jobvite.com)