Finance Consultant

Scope of Work

Introduction

Mercy Corps Nepal is implementing BHAKARI program from October 2020 to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks along the Karnali river basin (KRB). BHAKARI is a multiyear emergency programming program funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs (BHA). The program is implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla). The sectoral programmatic intervention includes agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, emergency response to multiple (localized) shocks with GESI – first approach that emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, reaching to the most vulnerable segment of the society with integrated multi-sectoral approach.

Title: Finance Consultant

Consultant to support Mercy Corps/BHAKARI Partner Organization on management of financial risk internally making sure that systems are in place to ensure regular monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the program.

LOCATION: BHAKARI Partner Office at Dullu, Dailekh (with frequent travels to other BHAKARI working districts)

DURATION OF CONSULTANCY: 3 Months

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY: Function of the consultancy would be supporting the partner organizations of BHAKARI Program for effective internal control mechanism, to effectively support day to day operations, monitor and control funds provided under the subawards. Ensuring that the organization's documentation standards are adequate to meet the prime donor’s requirements. Reporting and follow-up on suspicions of violations of anti-corruption and other ethics policies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ensure that adequate internal controls are in place to provide reasonable safeguards over subaward funds.
• Ensure that the organization’s documentation standards are adequate to meet the prime donor’s requirements.
• Effectively monitor the program activities under the subawards through documents review and field visits, follow-up on suspicions of violations of anti-corruption and other ethics policies and continuously report to Mercy Corps.
• Follow-up and support to ensure that all findings identified in financial monitoring are appropriately corrected by the organizations on a timely basis.
• Support in finalizing sub-recipient’s monthly fund requests and quarterly financial reports for accuracy and tracking against the subaward budget.
• Assist in procurement procedures and make sure that they comply with the Partner’s, Donor’s and Government of Nepal’s policy requirements.
• Work to improve the financial management capacity of local partners specially focusing on Tax and VAT compliance.
• Conduct/assist and participate in Monthly BvA meetings and report to Mercy Corps.
• Assists in effective Human Resource Management like maintaining personnel files, leave records, etc.
• Support finance and operations functions including financial supporting documents.

Others:

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps.
• Travel cost as per the actual basis & a flat rate of Rs. 2,000 (Including 15% Tax) will be provided per day as per Food & Lodging Cost.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in management
• At least 2+ years of experience in financial monitoring of INGOs
• At least 2+ years of experience in working with USAID Projects
• Audit Background preferred
• Sound knowledge on Microsoft Office package and accounting software FAMAS
• Experience in account reconciliation

DELIVERABLES:

After completion of the service, the consultant should submit the following deliverables:

• Trip reports of financial/field verifications and others periodic reports (if required)
• Timesheet along with the detailed report of tasks performed monthly and
• Final report after completion of the consultancy.

SUPERVISOR: Subaward Officer, Surkhet Cluster

Reports to: Subaward Officer, Surkhet Cluster and Deputy Chief of Party BHAKARI

Required Documents for Submitting Proposal

Qualified individual consultants can send their application to np-procurement@mercycorps.org with the subject line “FINANCE Consultant”  and the following documents by 6th December 2022.

• Per Month Rate
• CV
• Relevant Past Experience
• Scan copy of Pan Card

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

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 team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging 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.