FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER

FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER 

Position Description 

Location: Surkhet & Jumla (please mention your preferred location)  

Position Status:  Full-time, Regular   

Salary Level: O1  

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. Mercy Corps has been operating in  Nepal since  2005,  implementing programs in food security,  agriculture,  market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal. 

Program / Department Summary 

Mercy  Corps is expected to begin a  new program to enhance food and nutrition security,  reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal, on or around October 1, 2020. The program will be a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area.  The new program, called “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (Bhakari)”, is somewhat built upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response. It includes program components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach. 

General Position Summary  

Working in the  Finance  Department under the supervision of the  Senior  Finance and  Compliance  Officer (Kathmandu office), the Finance and Compliance Officer will be responsible for the accounting and documentation of all financial transactions for the Bhakari Project in the Surkhet/Jumla field office in compliance with both Mercy Corps organizational procedures (including MC Nepal Bank and Cash Management policy) and the Bhakari grant agreement conditions. 

Essential Job Responsibilities  

The specific duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Conduct financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure there is adequate supporting documentation, approval and compliance with MC procedures, grant agreement conditions and project budgets. 
• Process cash and bank payments, record payment vouchers daily in the MC accounting system and ensure they are recorded properly in the appropriate batches and are properly and fully documented. 
• Review staff travel and operational expense reports for accuracy and adequate supporting documents and approval in accordance with MC Approval Authority Matrix 
• Continuously monitor staff open advances and follow up with relevant staff on the long outstanding advances. 
• Maintain custody and control of field office cash funds. 
• Conduct weekly cash count and forward to MC Kathmandu office. 
• Prepare and submit the monthly reporting package (including end of month cash count and bank account reconciliation) to MC Kathmandu Office. 
• Monitor field office bank balances and coordinate monthly cash flow requests with MC Kathmandu Office. 
• Timely deposit the TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) into the Tax Office, government tax deposit timeline should be followed.  
• In coordination with the MC Sub Award Officer, provide technical finance support to partner finance staff.  
• Monthly submission of VAT invoices to MC Kathmandu office to process VAT refund  
• Coordinate with the MC Sub Award Officer, collect VAT invoices from partner office  
• Other tasks as assigned by the supervisor. 

SECURITY  

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.  
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies. 

ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS 

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participating 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.  

OTHERS  

• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities.  
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.  
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.  
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and or Country Director.  

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A  

Reports Directly to: Senior Finance and Compliance Officer (Kathmandu office) 

Works Directly with: Senior Finance and Compliance Officer, Sub award Officer, Admin & Logistics Officer and Bhakari program staff.   

Knowledge and Experience  

• Bachelor degree in Accounting/ Business Administration/Finance 
• Minimum  2-3  years’  experience  working  with  I/NGOs,  and/or  private  sector  organizations  in Accounts/Finance position with double entry accounting/ book keeping system 
• Strong computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel 
• Familiar with computerized, double-entry accounting software  
• Strong organizational skills as well as attention to detail 
• Good written and spoken English  
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.  
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members. 

Success Factors  

A  clear understanding of finance and procurement ethics as well as the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.  The ability to interact effectively with international and national staff members is required.  A demonstrated ability to work quickly and accurately, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. 

The most successful 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. 

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. 

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. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse 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, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, 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. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. 

Applying Procedure: Interested candidates are requested to submit their application at https://merojob.com/employer/mercycorps/