Finance and Compliance Officer at Mercy Corps Nigeria

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. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Finance and Compliance Officer

Reference Number: MDG/HUMOPS/2018/00046
Location: Damboa, 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, the Finance and Compliance Officer will assist the Northeast Programs in adhering to the Finance and compliance procedures for our programs in Damboa and ensure timely financial and accounting reports.

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.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

Program support:

• Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures Set up and maintain filing systems of all protocols and important documents for the project.
• In conjunction with operations and program departments, review all Vouchers contracts and related financial documents.
• Assist the Field Finance Manager to keep track and reconcile actual and committed program and operational expenditure.
• Conduct compliance orientation trainings for the Mercy Corps Staff as well as vouchers vendors.
• Assist the Finance Manager in responding to audit inquiries at the field level.
• Perform the financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure compliance with MC policies and procedures and donors grants and contracts requirements.

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 cash and bank files, ensuring that all cash and bank information is properly filed and updated
• Ensure all outstanding advances cleared on time.
• Ensure all financial documents are achieved properly.
• Ensure the petty cash count performed on time.
• Make sure that all supporting documentation is prepared and filled according to MC procedures.
• Prepare the monthly bank reconciliations when applicable.
• Assist with month end balance sheet account reconciliations.

Reporting:

• Submit accurate and timely financial reports to Maiduguri on weekly and monthly basis, and follow up with other departments for any corrective actions required.
• Prepare Voucher Reconciliation Activities Reports on weekly and monthly basis.

Influence & Representation:

• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Other:

• Carries out other duties as assigned.
• The Operations Officer will 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.

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:

• Supervisory Responsibility: Finance Assistant
• Reports Directly To: Senior Finance Officer
• Works Directly With: Operations, MEL, Programs, Compliance and Finance teams in Northeast Nigeria.

Requirements, Knowledge and Experience

• Four or more years of compliance and finance experience are required.
• A University degree in Finance, Accounting or equivalent is required.
• Three years’ experience in the compliance Department of an international NGO is preferred.
• Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• Advance Accounting skills are required to support the department of accounting.
• Fluency in Hausa and local languages is preferred.
• Any other duties as assigned.

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 other deep field locations and LGAs of Northeast Nigeria based on program needs. That 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

• The position is based in Damboa, Borno State and it requires travel between field offices in Northeast Nigeria.

Applications Closing Date
1st February 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit no more than 4-page CV and Cover Letter in one document, addressing the position requirements to: ng-recruitment.nigeria@mercycorps.org

Note

• All applications must include the Position Title and Reference Number in the subject line.
• CV and cover letter and should not be more than 4 pages.
• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview and we are an equal opportunity organization so women are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.