The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and leads the Finance Team in Addis Ababa. S\/he is responsible for all aspects of financial management of the country program, working collaboratively to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. The Head of Finance must ensure that systems of internal control are understood and strictly adhered to. S\/he works under the direction of the Country Director and is responsible for all financial functions in Ethiopia, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. The Head of Finance, in support of the Program Department, provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the Program Teams to ensure that financial resources are utilized efficiently and effectively.
\n Position Title: Head of Finance
\n Duty Station: Addis Ababa
\n Open Position: 1
\n Safeguarding Risk Level: High
\nEssential Job Responsibilities
\nSTRATEGY & VISION<\/p>\n
Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
\nSet direction of finance department by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
\nWork with the Country Director and senior management team to grow the program portfolio, formulate strategies and plans.
\nMove from short-term remedial actions to longer term systemic change that will result in enduring change and improvements to the internal controls.<\/p>\n
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION <\/p>\n
Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
\nCommunicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
\nInterface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
\nCommunicate with partners to verify their systems and that they understand and follow all appropriate procedures and archiving.
\nParticipate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies.
\nEstablish high level of credibility and manage strong working relationship with external stakeholders.<\/p>\n
OPERATIONAL \u2013 FINANCIAL <\/p>\n
Plan and implement effective and transparent systems for financial operations in both the main country and 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.
\nDevelop (and keep up to date) annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers\/Directors.
\nWork with the Country Director to ensure budgets are efficiently and effectively managed, allowing identification and follow-up of programming and potential spend out issues (eg under or overspends).
\nEnsure adequate forecasting & recognition of commitments on grants to enable appropriate use & action on BvAs with Program Staff.
\nEnsure timely recording of expenditures by the field Finance teams with accurate expenditure descriptions entered into Navigator
\nEnsure coding errors are kept to a minimum and transaction listings are adequately reviewed to confirm that the right costs were included in the right places.
\nEnsure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. Ensure that Mercy Corps financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth.
\nMaintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
\nAnalyze compensation packages, taxation requirements and human resource policies for local staff to ensure that Mercy Corps\u2019 has adequately accounted for the financial impact of local staff compensation and benefits.
\nProvide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost center\/project, required sub-grantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
\nProvide monthly management reports to the Country Director, COP and Program\/project Managers, including expenditures by cost center\/project, sub-grantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
\nGuide and oversee country Compliance team management process for local and international recipients, from the inception period and pre-award assessment process, to contracting, implementation, financial reporting, budget realignment & management, asset & accounts reconciliations, and closeout.
\nProvide regular review and monitor subawardees\u2019 financial reporting and compliance.
\nAssist internal and external audits and reviews as required to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements. Work with SMT to respond to audit findings that ensure no reiterations from previous audits.
\nProvide training for finance and non-finance staff on financial management and processes (budgets, coding, planning, etc.)
\nEnsure a focus on quality and completeness of documents. Documentation with a clear audit trail in stand-alone files with either all documents attached and\/or a cross-referenced to specific locations.<\/p>\n
COMPLIANCE<\/p>\n
Prepare and ensure timely submission of country-level government reports (statutory audit report, Financial Statements, statutory remittance on the state and federal level, etc.) Ensures that relevant country level tax exemptions and associated requirements are met
\nMonitor and keep Mercy Corps up to date with banking, cash management and other related local government regulations which may impact Mercy Corps Ethiopia operations and programming
\nEnsure close coordination and synchronized approach to partnership\/subawards management by program and Compliance teams
\nProvide additional technical assistance to Compliance team in delivering quality capacity building for subawardees\u2019 to maintain high standards of compliance.
\nHelp identify efficient and effective solutions to issues while ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps\u2019 policies and donor regulations.
\nPerform follow-up and resolutions for internal and external audit recommendations to improve or enhance the internal control environment.
\nPrepare and maintain the Country Office and Complex Programs\u2019 Compliance Trackers and provide inputs into Country Office Risk Register in conjunction with the Country Director, update quarterly.<\/p>\n
TEAM MANAGEMENT <\/p>\n
Lead and develop finance teams in the main office and field offices.
\nCreate and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
\nPromote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
\nProvide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
\nContribute 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.
\nHold finance and Grant and Compliance staff accountable and take ultimate responsibility for performance of the team members.
\nEnsure smooth integration of Grant and Compliance team under the Finance Department
\nProvide oversight, technical support, and mentoring to finance and Grant and Compliance team on ongoing basis<\/p>\n
SECURITY<\/p>\n
Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
\nProactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.<\/p>\n
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Supervisory Responsibility
\nDirectly: Grant and Compliance Manager and Accounting and Reporting Manager.
\nIndirectly: Mercy Corps Ethiopia Finance and Compliance Team
\nAccountability
\nReports Directly To: Country Director
\nWorks Directly With: HQ Regional Finance Officers in Edinburgh\/Portland, HQ Program Officers, Senior Operations Manager, Country HR Manager, DOP, COP, and Program\/Project Managers.<\/p>\n
About You<\/p>\n
Knowledge and Experience <\/p>\n
At least 10 years of progressive financial management experience is required.
\nBA\/S or equivalent in accounting or finance is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
\nAt least 4 years of experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations is required (particularly USAID, DFID and EC).
\nAt least 3 years of international experience is required; international NGO or business
\nDemonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
\nStrong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
\nAdvanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
\nPrior management experience and strong organizational skills.
\nExcellent oral and written English skills required.<\/p>\n
Success Factors
\nThe successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across program and finance teams successfully, both in a managerial as well as training capacity. S\/he will be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The Country Finance Manager must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. 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.
\nSafeguarding & Ethics
\nMercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_promoted":"","_job_location":"","_application":"https:\/\/recruiting2.ultipro.com\/MER1024MERCY\/JobBoard\/7de55979-49d4-4f59-b61b-9c7d0e38d500\/Opportunity\/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=870c50a6-c4f5-44e5-9825-5cf55f5e5b4e","_company_name":"Mercy Corps Ethiopia","_company_website":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_filled":0,"_featured":0,"_remote_position":0,"_job_salary":"","_job_salary_currency":"","_job_salary_unit":""},"job_listing_region":[11],"job-categories":[],"job-types":[12],"class_list":{"0":"post-1505","1":"job_listing","2":"type-job_listing","3":"status-expired","4":"hentry","5":"job_listing_region-ethiopia","7":"job-type-full-time"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-listings\/1505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-listings"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/job_listing"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"job_listing_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job_listing_region?post=1505"},{"taxonomy":"job_listing_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-categories?post=1505"},{"taxonomy":"job_listing_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jobs.dataaxisnode.com\/ethiopia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/job-types?post=1505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}