Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
Department / Team Summary
Mercy Corps Europe has adopted an ambitious growth strategy that seeks to build more strategic partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to increase our income, influence, and programmatic impact. As the organisation expands, we are exploring new partnerships and funding opportunities, and commercial contracts are one of these areas of focus.
The Senior Contracts Finance Manager (SCFM) sits within the International Finance team. The International Finance (IF) team plays a key role in supporting financial operations in Mercy Corpsโ country programmes throughout the world by working collaboratively with country finance staff and providing guidance in budgeting, accounting and other financial functions in accordance with Mercy Corpsโ internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. The department also works closely and collaboratively with regional programme team members in support of country programme objectives.
Position Summary
The Senior Contracts Finance Manager (SCFM) is responsible for Mercy Corpsโ financial management oversight of commercial contracts. This will include involvement in pre-positioning efforts, supporting the bid development process and start-up activities during inception phases, as well as ongoing contract implementation support. He/she will work with colleagues in the Programmes, Compliance and New Initiatives teams, as well as with in-country teams. He/she will also be responsible for developing tools, guidance and institutional knowledge on commercial contract bid development and the financial management processes of such bids. The role will include conducting financial due diligence on these opportunities (and potential partners), and assessing commercial viability and risk on a case-by-case basis.
Essential Responsibilities
STRATEGIC BID DEVELOPMENT
- Lead on new business bid pre-positioning from finance perspective, including attendance at information-sharing meetings on potential opportunities, and participation in any Due Diligence of Lead Contractors or Subcontractors.
- Support the Senior Contracts Manager and Bid Manager with discussions and early stage negotiations, leading on financial negotiations, to ensure that commercial risks are managed through contracting terms.
- Where appropriate, participate in and support bid development workshops, or consortia meetings โ either face-to-face or through conference calls.
- Track new bids and support internal approval processes, including preparation of cash flow, risk and competitiveness analysis.
- Lead on developing Commercial Tenders, including support on development of internal budget, as well as translation into commercial format with fee rates, working with relevant teams to ensure all bids are both competitive and commercially viable.
- Lead on finance sections of commercial narrative including financial plans, financial methodologies and value for money.
CONTRACT DELIVERY & MANAGEMENT
- Lead and oversee HQ finance support in the delivery of contracts, focusing on accurate financial reporting and monitoring with the aim of maintaining a strong financial and commercial position. Support country teams to ensure invoicing and payment processes are effective and timely.
- Input into and participate in contracts portfolio review meetings, leading on finance topics and presenting key metrics.
- Undertake visits to our country teams as necessary to support contract pre-positioning efforts and donor engagement.
- Where partners are unfamiliar with Commercial Contracts, provide orientation, support and guidance on invoicing processes & requirements, reporting, budget templates and due diligence topics.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
- Manage, mentor and develop the contracts finance team members (Contracts Finance Analyst and Contracts Pricing Advisor).
- Monitor individual performance, promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Supervisory Responsibility
This role is responsible for leading the contracts finance team and will supervise two team members - Contracts Finance Analyst and Contracts Pricing Advisor.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Director of International Finance, Europe
Works Directly With: Global support functions such as Programmes, Compliance, New Initiatives & Finance as well as Mercy Corpsโ counterparts based in our country offices.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
โ 5+ years of relevant professional experience working with cross-functional teams to achieve commercially competitive proposals and successful management of the implementation of contracts.
โ Extensive commercial acumen with a detailed understanding of constructing contract fee rates, as well as financial modelling of profit and loss analysis, cash flow and NPV forecasting, planning, budgeting, and management reporting.
โ Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written business English, and strong stakeholder management with the ability to communicate effectively and clearly to staff in different functions and roles across the agency.
โ Extensive experience in developing budget and commercial tender submissions for European institutional donors.
โ Strong negotiation skills and the ability to effectively navigate through complex contract issues, offering recommendation and solutions.
โ Experience leading a team with proven ability to communicate, delegate, and develop team members.
โ Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - with an advanced proficiency in Excel preferred.
โ Experience of computerised accountancy packages is required.
โ Qualified Accountant is desirable.
โ Experience in humanitarian or development aid sector is desirable.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will demonstrate clear empathy with organisations aims and values. They will be highly analytical and have attention to detail. They will be able to build effective and lasting relationships with colleagues and partners and will be able to motivate others while leading with energy. They will be strong in negotiating solutions. They will have excellent organisational, planning and time management skills, will be a self-starter and able to work both independently and as part of a team. They will be able to prioritise in a fast-changing environment while working well under pressure. They have willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in the UK or Netherlands and it requires up to 20% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.
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.
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 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.
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 worldโs 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.