Finance Manager

Mercy Corps Europe 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 Europe, formerly known as Mercy Corps Scotland, has been operational in Sudan since 2009 and currently leads humanitarian assistance efforts in conflict-affected South Darfur, South Kordofan, Gedaref, White Nile and Khartoum States, supporting IDPs, returnees, refugees and host communities. Mercy Corps’ current areas of programming include food security and livelihoods, including market systems development; WASH; health; nutrition; peace building and protection.

General Position Summary The Finance Manager is critical 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 Finance Director and is responsible for all financial functions in Sudan, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. The Finance Manager, in support of the Program Department, provides timely reports and assistance to the Finance 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.

  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.

    Team Management

    • Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
    • Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
    • Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
    • Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
    • Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

      OPERATIONS - Financial

      • Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
      • Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
      • Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Admin. Department, to protect Mercy Corps.
      • Provide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost center/project, required subgrantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
      • Provide monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by cost center/project, subgrantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
      • Develop annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.

        Influence & Representation

        • Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
          • Communicate with our partners (name), as well as (name any sub-grantees), 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.

                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.

                    Supervisory ResponsibilityFinance Team in Port Sudan.

                    Accountability Reports Directly To: Finance DirectorWorks Directly With: Sub awards Team, Operations and HR department, Finance Managers, HQ Regional Finance Officer (with authority for technical financial matters); members of Operations, Program Managers, TSU team members, and others

                    Knowledge and Experience

                    • A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
                    • At least 4-7 years (4 + years for Manager; of progressive financial management experience, including supervisory experience required.
                    • At least 4 years’ experience in grants management as well as an understanding of (USAID, EU, SIDA, ECHO, FCDO, SDC/ World Bank, BHA, UN grants) regulations required.
                    • At least 3 years’ international experience 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.
                    • 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 Arabic is preferred.
                    • Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
                    • Previous experience in insecure environments

                      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 support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. 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 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 Finance Manager is based in Port Sudan and it requires up to (30 %) travel to (field offices locations. The location is unaccompanied and secure). Housing is shared accommodation with limited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Staff have (degree of) access to (services – medical, electricity, water, etc). This position requires (35 % of time) of travel by road transportations to field.

                      Ongoing LearningIn 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 developmentDiversity, Equality and InclusionAchieving 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 OpportunityMercy 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 & EthicsMercy 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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.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 at all times 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 environment.