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Mercy Corps is starting a new program implementation in Mauritania called Nafoore. The Nafoore program office will be based in Nouakchott – with smaller hubs proposed in Ayoun El Atrous and Néma - with travel to field sites anticipated. The CoP is based in Nouakchott. The location is secure but unaccompanied. Housing will be group accommodation with limited freedom of movement beyond the house/office and city center.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is launching its first program in Mauritania, the USAID-funded, five-year Nafoore program. The purpose of this program is to conduct youth programming in Mauritania that contributes to strengthening the capacity of youth in order to build their assets, agency, contribution and resilience through a youth-inclusive approach. The start-up of this program will require the coordination of numerous operational, programmatic, and security logistics, particularly in a context where there is no established country presence.

General Position Summary

The Finance and compliance manager is a permanent position to help orient the Mauritania team to Mercy Corps’ finance and compliance policies and procedures and provide regular management after the start-up. S/he works under the Chief of Party in collaboration with other team members deployed in Mauritania, the HQ Regional Finance Officer and Assistant Finance Officer, and Mercy Corps International Finance Officer, and consortium partners, to ensure effective orientation and start-up. Given the ongoing start-up process the position is opened to external candidates, internal who have familiarity with complex systems/processes and need limited time for training.

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 specific to finance and compliance.

Team Management

Assess current and anticipated finance department team position needs and appropriate structure.

Participate in and/or lead recruitment, hiring, and training of finance department staff depending on position level (potentially ranging from finance assistant to finance officer level). Review PD and coordinate with HQ for the Navigator Training.

Handover with Mauritania Finance STA Advisor.

OPERATIONS - FinancIAL

Participate in assessing the NGO regulatory environment in the country, assisting with the contracting of and engagement with local legal, audit, and other experts as necessary. Actively disseminate important information to Mercy Corps HQ.

Oversee Approval Authorities Matrix updates, dissemination and filing (hard- and soft-copy).

Review Program Team members’ expense reports (travel expense reports and operational expense reports) for accuracy and completeness.

Ensure that national and local tax and labor laws are well understood, communicated to HQ, and documented.

Lead/oversee the development of a national staff payroll plan and accounting template.

Lead the process of establishing a Field Connection in Mercy Corps’ Navigator finance software system in coordination with HQ finance and Mauritania FM.

Develop strategy and processes to receive and access funds to finance operations until bank accounts are established.

Establish a cash-flow projection process.

Assess banking environment and currency options; share recommendations; participate in bank selection and account setup.

Initiate and see through the establishment of internal controls and local finance policies & procedures (e.g. segregation of duties matrix, cash handling and banking/payment procedures, cost allocation special circumstances, Navigator mapping etc).

Lead interaction with international and local sub-recipients from finance perspective (i.e. sub-award pre-award assessments, program budgeting, funds transfers, financial reporting, reconciliation, and financial monitoring).

Develop and maintain a country support budget and estimated support cost allocation.

Provide training to non-finance staff on finance and compliance policies and procedures.

Lead field role in developing proposal budgets in coordination with field and HQ teams.

Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.

Train and handover to the finance team, once hired.

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.

Ensure that the finance office fits required safety standards.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise Finance officer and assistants, subgrant and compliance officer and any other new position under his department.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: The Chief of Party

Works Directly With: All other MC team members supporting the start-up in Mauritania, Deputy Chief of Party (if applicable), HQ Regional Finance Team; other members of MC Finance in Mauritania (when recruited), Regional and global Operations Teams, Mali Finance team (when needed), and regional leadership team.

Knowledge and Experience

A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.

At least 5 years of progressive financial management experience, including staff supervision.

International NGO/PVO field office experience is strongly preferred, with particular weight given to experience with NGO country main/field office.

Strong budget reviewing and planning experience with USAID rules and regulations

Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables, and balance sheet.

Serenic Navigator and/or similar software experience required/ Filed Connection.

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 and English skills required.

Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

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 strengthen the start-up of the finance and compliance systems in Mauritania. 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 and Compliance 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 Nouakchott, Mauritania with travel to project areas in the country, security permitting. The position is unaccompanied, and housing is provided. Nouakchott spreads inland about three miles (5km) from the coast and has few high-rise buildings. The city is laid out in a grid pattern with important streets near the city center named after famous personalities, such as Avenue de Gaulle and Avenue Kennedy. Avenue Abd an-Nasr is the main road and runs from the city center to the airport; it is lined with hotels, restaurants and some offices. The Grand Mosque (also known as the Mosque Siddique) is a prominent landmark in the city center. The affluent quarters of the city are located in the Tavragh Zayna and Las Palmas areas, which are also near the city center. The Port de Peche is one of the city's main ports and is popular with tourists. The old city area is called Ksar. Nouakchott is the country's administrative and political center. It is a small city that suffers from infrastructural deficiencies, which are common in West African cities. The city is safe for business travelers in most circumstances, with petty crime being the most common security problem.

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 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

This vacancy is archived.

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