Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve.
Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following positions.
Finance and Administration Manager, PROGRESS Programme - Nairobi
Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Finance and Administration (F&A) Manager will play a critical role in the successful implementation of a proposed multi-year project as part of DFID’s BRACED initiative (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters).
Mercy Corps anticipates a programme award under BRACED to implement the “Programme for Resilient Systems” (PROGRESS).
The Kenya-based F&A Manager will play a key role in implementation of the entire program.
General Position Summary: The F&A Manager will provide leadership in management of the PROGRESS financial portfolio encompassing both Kenya and Uganda, and including the accountancy and financial reporting for the Mercy Corps PROGRESS field teams, as well as consortium partners.
The F&A Manager will ensure regular review of program costs and operations to evaluate performance for value for money and recommend adjustments.
The Finance and Administration Manager will be responsible for programmatic compliance with Mercy Corps standard operating procedures as well as compliance requirements with donor rules and regulations.
Essential Job Functions:
Program Implementation: The F&A Manager works under the guidance and supervision of the PROGRESS Programme Director and with direct interaction with the PROGRESS Programme Managers, Consortium Members and the Mercy Corps Home Office Finance Team.
The F&A Manager is expected to be an integral part of the senior management team in-country and work closely with the management, technical and operations field and country teams in Kenya and Uganda.
- Support the PD in managing all financial operations of the project, including accounting and reporting, cash management, and budget management.
- Provide direct oversight of the PROGRESS Grants Coordinator and finance team.
- Manage financial operations and financial reporting of PROGRESS.
- Ensure that the project financial operations are in compliance with all DFID and Mercy Corps policies and procedures
- Ensure monthly transactions are entered in the General Ledger accurately and on timely basis
- Review and process procurements, vendor invoices, consultant agreements for payment
- Be prepared to respond to any budgetary and financial inquiries from the donor, consortium members and Mercy Corps senior management within East Africa and home office in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Review semi-monthly payroll, ensuring direct accurate transfer to employee’s checking accounts and remitting payroll deduction to the correct government agencies.
- Process and oversee advances issued in the Field Office for field activities and staff travel, ensuring proper process for disbursement of funds, correct documentation and settlement of advances in a timely manner that is in accordance with Mercy Corps procedures.
- Manage the timely submission of the monthly field office expenses to the home office
- Analyze and reconcile the banking account into accounting system, following up outstanding items
- Prepare estimates of projected expenditures and request financial resources from the home office.
- Assist in overall management and inventory recording of all DFID property including procurement review and valuation.
- Provide financial advisory on overall strategic program decisions.
- Work with Mercy Corps Senior Finance Directors to conduct ad-hoc audit review of PROGRESS field operations
- Other financial and administrative tasks as required and assigned by the PD
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting: Work with the PROGRESS Senior Management, M&E and finance staff in Nairobi and home office to ensure that PROGRESS deliverables are aligned with value-for-money objectives and that financial milestones are proportionate to program milestones.
Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building: Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of personnel at all levels. Implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback. Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff do the same. Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Program Support Operations: Ensure that PROGRESS financial systems are efficient and are based on smooth-running infrastructure that facilitate timely and efficient program implementation. Provide regular review of field operations to ensure cost-effectiveness and provide guidance on improved operational practices for value-for-money.
Security: Work with field office management teams to establish financial reporting and management systems that ensure the safety and security of PROGRESS financial resources including cash assets and records.
Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.
Supervisory Responsibility: Direct supervision of Sub-Grants Coordinator and Sub-Grants Officer.
Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.
Reports Directly To: Programme Director based in Nairobi, Kenya
Works Directly With: Kenya and Uganda Country Directors and finance teams, Kenya and Uganda PROGRESS Programme Managers, Sub-Grants Coordinator and Sub-Grants Officer, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Master’s Degree (desirable) in Accounting, Business Administration, or other relevant field
- Professional accounting certification highly preferred
- At least eight (8) years of professional experience managing financial and administrative aspects of large international development projects, preferably DFID-funded projects
- Significant experience managing and supervising financial and administrative personnel
- Commitment to excellence in financial systems and management, and commitment to identifying and combatting fraud and corruption, and ability to train staff in the same
- Computer fluency including QuickBooks and Microsoft applications
- Strong analytical and computer skills, with emphasis on budget and financial analysis
- Fluency in the English Language, excellent communications and interpersonal skills
Success Factors:
The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:
- A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
- Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
- Excellent analytical and information management skills.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
- Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
- Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
- A focus on building staff capacity.
NB: All the positions are pending approval of our PROGRESS program by the donor.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before October 27th, 2014 containing a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before October 27th, 2014 containing a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org