Country Finance and Compliance Manager - Mali

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.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been working in Mali since 2012 in response to conflict and food security crises by supporting vulnerable people to meet immediate. While providing needed humanitarian assistance, we strengthen the capacity and resilience of vulnerable and conflict-affected communities to overcome chocks and stresses and strive for long-term development. With funding from USAID, UNHCR, the European Commission, the Global Affairs Canada, and private donors, we work closely with public and private partners to jointly address humanitarian and development needs, with a focus on timely humanitarian response, rebuilding livelihoods, increasing financial inclusion, promoting opportunities for women and girls, promoting employment opportunities for youth, and supporting peace-building and conflict resolution. Through these interventions, we have supported more than 500,000 households to recover from conflict and climate shocks and to rebuild more productive, secure and just futures. The Finance and Compliance is expected to hugely contribute to this progress

General Position Summary

The Finance 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 Mali, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. The Finance 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 contribute to country-wide strategy development.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• 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.

Team Management

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

OPERATIONS - FinancIAL

• Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
• Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Admin. Department, to protect Mercy Corps.
• Provide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost center/project, required subgrantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Provide monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by cost center/project, subgrantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Develop annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.

Influence & Representation

• Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
• Communicate with our partners (name), as well as (name any sub-grantees), 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

PERSONNAL LEADERSHIP

• Consistently demonstrate leadership, 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 in the diverse and multicultural environment.
• Demonstrate an awareness and responsibility of his/her own strengths and development needs.

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.

Supervisory Responsibility

All Finance Department staff (at least 5 direct)

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Director

Works Directly With: HQ Regional Finance Officer (with authority for technical financial matters); members of Operations (including logistics and Human Resources), Program Managers, TSU team members

Knowledge and Experience

• A 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, Global Affairs Canada, other bilateral donors, key private foundations and UN agencies' regulations required.
• At least 3 years' international experience required; international NGO/PVO field office experience is preferred, especially in West/Central Africa, is preferred.
• Demonstrated 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.
• 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.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required; proficiency in French is
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Previous experience in insecure environments and travels to remote locations is desirable.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across international and national 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 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.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Bamako, Mali with travel to project areas in the country, security permitting. Bamako is served by an international airport with daily flights to European and African destinations. Restaurants and shopping options are available almost everywhere in Bamako. Health care services exist but for more serious conditions, medevac to Dakar, Senegal, the Maghreb or Europe may be required. There are international schools and Bamako is an accompanied family post. While the city has been mostly secure, recent attacks against foreigners underscore the fluidity of the situation and may require expatriate staff to adhere to strict security policies, such as restrictions on movement.

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 MC's 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.

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