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
In September 2021, Mercy Corps (MC) and Energy 4 Impact (E4I) merged with the goal of increasing access to climate-smart, sustainable energy for communities in greatest need, globally. Against a backdrop where 800 million people globally lack access to energy, 8 in 10 of whom live in “fragile” states, there has never been a more urgent time to help these communities build back better with access to clean, sustainable energy, leveraging our organizations’ collective strengths. The merger unlocks a tremendous opportunity to place sustainable energy at the heart of development, humanitarian, and climate imperatives.
General Position Summary
The E4I Head of Finance, Operations, & Compliance (HFOC) is a member of E4I senior management team and part of the Mercy Corps Finance & Operation Departments, and as such is responsible for all aspects of financial management of the E4I programs, working collaboratively to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. They work under the direction of the E4I Managing Director and are responsible for all support functions (including Finance, Operations & HR) and covering program operations in Africa, including in countries with existing Mercy Corps offices and countries with no Mercy Corps presence, as well as a growing footprint that may expand to other markets. The HFOC provides timely reports and assistance to the E4I Managing Director, E4I SMT and the E4I program teams to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively. The HFOC reports and provides timely assistance to the E4I Managing Director, E4I SMT and the E4I program teams to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Essential Job Responsibilities
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
● Ensure effective and transparent use of E4I financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
● Lead the development of long-term financial plans and forecasts, including informing financial sustainability and growth strategies for the E4I Platform.
● Regularly report to and provide financial insights and recommendations to the E4I Managing Director and senior management contributing to strategic planning and decision-making.
● Oversee development of E4I’s financial reports on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis conducting quality and accuracy checks to ensure compliance.
● Lead development of budgeting on new funding proposals toward expanding E4I’s global programming.
● Develop annual fiscal year budgets in collaboration with the E4I Managing Director, identify any funding shortfalls, and provide recommendations for addressing them.
● Oversee the development and regular updating of E4I’s master budget and personnel level-of-effort tracking tool.
● Ensure that E4I's checks and balances for tracking expenditure and cost center utilization are properly aligned with their intended purposes.
● Timely provide monthly budget reports to E4I Program Managers and SMT, including expenditures by project, partner reporting and other financial information.
● Lead E4I’s project financial risk management and timely communicate to the E4I Managing Director and Senior Management Team.
● Review, approve and reconcile E4I’s project funds, ensuring alignment with E4I’s annual forecast and resource allocation plans.
OPERATIONS & HR OVERSIGHT
● Oversee E4I’s operations ensuring that procurement and logistics systems are appropriate, effective, transparent and accountable.
● Lead sub-granting processes including managing financial relationships with partners and ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps policies and donor regulations in the administration of sub-grants.
● Ensure all existing and new HR policies are researched, written, implemented and reviewed in line with those issued by Headquarters and national Labor Law working in collaboration with the operations and HR global, regional, and country teams.
● Coordinate the revision, implementation and monitoring of specific HR, Procurement, Logistics, and Administration policies, procedures and guidelines for E4I ensuring they are in line with organizational policy and guidelines.
COMPLIANCE
● Lead the review of program contracts, MoUs, and NDAs, in consultation with HQ Compliance, MC country program teams, where appropriate, and E4I leadership.
● Lead E4I’s project audits coordinating and liaising with the program team and audit managers.
● Perform follow-up and resolutions for internal and external audit recommendations to improve and enhance the internal control environment.
● Prepare the E4I Compliance Tracker and provide inputs into Country Office Risk Registers in conjunction with the Program Managers and Country Directors where E4I has programming, updating them quarterly.
● Ensure compliance with local and international tax regulations, as well as other legal and regulatory requirements.
● Support global agency teams with fraud assessment, investigation process and assess the risk associated, with support from the Managing Director, regional management and HQ Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer.
● Help identify efficient and effective solutions to compliance issues while ensuring adherence with Mercy Corps’ policies and donor regulations, yet facilitate the achievement of program objectives; coordinate closely with Headquarter compliance teams in Portland, Oregon USA and Edinburgh, UK.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
● Develop the technical capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with coaching, performance management, mentorship and career development.
● Provide regular and timely feedback on performance and priorities to staff.
● Assist team members with sourcing the information, tools and resources to manage the department effectively.
● Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence and actively engage in decision-making processes.
● Ensure all staff contracts and Human Resources procedures and requirements are in place and up to date.
● Establish leadership and personal credibility with the Mercy Corps team, and implement and create an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility and quality of services.
● Support the recruitment, onboarding and ongoing training of new finance staff on Mercy Corps policies and procedures - coordinate any external training as needed.
● Manage and optimize financial software and systems to improve efficiency and accuracy, and stay updated on emerging financial technologies and tools.
REPRESENTATION
● Interface with donor representatives to convey financial information about programs as appropriate.
● Communicate with E4I partners and sub-grantees to validate their financial and grant management systems and ensure adhere to Mercy Corps procedures and guidelines.
● Participate in best practice sharing with relevant Mercy Corps teams and with NGOs and governmental agencies.
● Ensure representation at relevant NGO and NGO coordination board meetings and forums as relevant to E4I’s operations.
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.
● 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.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
E4I Finance staff including Senior Finance Officer and Finance Officer
Accountability
Reports Directly To: E4I Managing Director
Works Directly With: HQ International and Regional Finance team; Regional Procurement & Logistics Manager; regional Senior Global Human Resources Advisor; E4I Deputy Managing Director; E4I RPT; E4I SMT; Country Managers, Program Managers, TRaQ team members, and others
Knowledge and Experience
● A BA/S/Com or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
● At least 5 + years of progressive financial management experience, including supervisory experience required.
● At least 4 years’ experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations required.
● At least 3 years’ international experience is required; international NGO/PVO field office experience 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, including managing staff in remote locations.
● 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.