Country Finance and Compliance Manager

**The position is local open to national applicants only

Location: Bamako, Mali

Position Status: National Position**,** Full-time, Non-exempt, Regular

Salary Level: Mali Local Salary Scale Level

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.

The Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been working in Mali since 2012 supporting vulnerable and at-risk Malian women, men, and youth to cope with food security and conflict-induced shocks and stresses, restore peace and stability, and address humanitarian and development structural challenges. Our programming consists of humanitarian response (food distribution, WASH, Shelter), building resilience (livelihood support) and social cohesion. With a rapidly growing portfolio of funding and programming from FCDO, USAID, Sida, EU and others, Mercy Corps Mali is implementing an integrated humanitarian, development, and conflict-prevention response to create a sustainable and impactful improvement in the human security of some of Mali’s worst conflict-affected areas. Mercy Corps is currently expanding its portfolio of programs across Mali to better support communities in preventing the further spread of violent conflict through several multi-year programs aimed at supporting human security, justice, and stabilization, as well as a combined humanitarian response in the center of the country that has supported the food, water, hygiene, shelter, and livelihood needs of over 100,000 persons in the last 18 months. The Finance and Compliance Coordinator is expected to hugely contribute to this progress.

Position Summary

The Finance and Compliance Coordinator 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 Manager 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 and Compliance Manager, in support of the Program Department, provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Manager and the Program team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Essential 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.

· Coordinate the JASS Program financial management in both Mali and Niger and submit consolidated financial reports.

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

Ensure timely and accurate management of Mercy Corps Mali 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.

· Coordinate the JASS program financial management in both Mali and Niger by providing consolidated accounting and financial information for the JASS program as a whole.

· 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 sub grantee reporting in tandem with the Country Manager, 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 Manager and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.

· Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Human Resources & Administration Department to protect Mercy Corps.

GRANT MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensure accurate planning of existing and proposed activities and on budget and incompliance 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 Manager 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 Manager and Programs Managers/Directors, 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 the outcomes of grant meetings.
• Perform internal audits and reviews as required to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
• 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 & 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 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.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

· Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

· Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

· Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

All Finance Department staff including (Senior Finance Officer Sub-award, Senior Finance Officer Payment & Training, Finance Assistant)

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Country Manager

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.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

· 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, FCDO, other bilateral donors, key private foundations and UN agencies’ regulations required.

· 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 French skillsrequired; proficiency in English is a plus.

· 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 demonstrated ability to multitask, 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 are essential. The Finance and Compliance Coordinator 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. 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 always 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy 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.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).