Back Finance and Compliance Manager - Mali

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 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 Manager is expected to contribute hugely to this progress.

General Position Summary
The Finance and 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 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 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.
• Work with the Country Director and senior management team to grow the program portfolio, formulate strategies and plans.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.
  • 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 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. 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.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.
      • 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, orient and train new team members as necessary. PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
            • 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.INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
              • Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
              • Manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees and other stakeholders.Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about finance 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.
                • Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
                  Supervisory Responsibility -All Finance Department of 16 staff (at least 3 direct).
                  
                  Accountability
                  Reports Directly To: Country Director.
                  Works Directly With: Operations, Programmes and HR managers, HQ Regional Finance Officer (with authority for technical financial matters), 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 and Transferrable Skills
                  
                • 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, FCDO (former FCO and DfID), 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 required.