Website Mercy Corps
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Finance and Compliance Officer (Jumla) – For 6 Months.
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.
Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps is implementing the BHAKARI 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. The Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity is funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and is implemented in six districts in the Karnali River Basin area (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla). The program components include emergency response, agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, and natural resources management, with 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 Deputy Finance and Compliance Manager (based in the Kathmandu office), the Finance and Compliance Officer will be responsible for the accounting and documentation of all financial transactions for BHAKARI in the 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 a 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 for both clusters Jumla.
- 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.
- Timely deposit the TDS to Inland Revenue Office and update the online TDS.
- 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 of 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.
- Review and monthly submission of VAT invoices to MC Kathmandu office to process VAT refund.
- Coordinate with the MC Sub Award Officer, and collect VAT invoices from the 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 the 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 always 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, DCoP, CoP and/or Country Director.
Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
Reports Directly to: Deputy Finance and Compliance Manager (Kathmandu Office)
Works Directly with: Deputy Finance and Compliance Officer, Sub Award Officer, Admin & Logistics Officer and BHAKARI program staff.
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor’s 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/ bookkeeping 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.
Job Location: Jumla, Nepal
Valid through: February 20, 2023