Mercy Corps exists to alleviate
suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive
and just communities.
Mercy Corps is looking for committed
and dynamic individuals to take up the following position.
Senior Finance and Compliance Officer – Nairobi
Program / Department Summary: The
AgriFin Accelerate program will operate in three African countries (Kenya,
Tanzania and Zambia) utilizing a market ecosystem approach, working with
carefully selected partners to build sustainable models, where farm and crop
management tools and financial services are "bundled" in affordable,
unified platforms on mobile phone channels to promote mass uptake commercially.
The
program involves three interrelated components that seek to address low farmer
productivity and capability, and improve institutional ability to deliver
appropriate products and build ecosystems to drive scale.
We work with farmers, banks, mobile
network operators, MFIs, research institutes and other ecosystem players in
well-defined partnerships to sustainably bundle services, leveraging the offer
and outreach of all partners, while increasing the range of services, access
points and value for farmers.
The program works with partners to
identify, prototype, test and scale successful mobile-enabled services for
smallholders, with a key focus on expanding access to financial services, using
a rapid iteration approach to product development and client-centric design
techniques.
General Position Summary: Working
in the Finance Department under the direction of the Finance and Compliance
Director, the Senior Finance and Compliance Officer will ensure the accuracy
and completeness of AgriFin accounting records and will have primary
responsibility for managing the monthly accounting cycle.
Essential Job Functions:
- Daily management of the finance officer(s) and
the assistant finance officer
- Oversee office cash count as required
- Assist in the financial review of purchase
requests, purchase orders and payment requests to ensure compliance with
MC and donor policies and procedures, project budgets and compliance with
donor regulations and local laws.
- Manage the month end accounting close process,
ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the ledger, sub journals and all
supporting documentation in all country offices.
- Primary responsibility for maintaining the
general ledger software files, including set up and maintenance of new
project accounts, regular back-up of files, etc.
- Review journals and upload data to the general
ledger
- Prepare adjusting entries and other final
closing journal entries
- Enter, post and maintain filing of monthly
journal entries
- Prepare month end balance sheet account reconciliations
- Coordinate the preparation and ensure the
on-time submission of the monthly reporting package to HQ
- Oversee the maintenance of all accounting
records, ensuring that records are complete, accurate and safeguarded
- Set up and maintain the Finance Dept.’s grant
files; maintain and distribute current copies of the approved coded budget
to all relevant parties.
- Assist in the preparation, maintenance and
consolidation of office operational budgets and donor budgets.
- Prepare the month end grant spending reports
from the general ledger and HQ data.
- Maintain the match documentation files and
match tracking spreadsheets as applicable.
- In coordination with Finance and Compliance
Director, ensure compliance with local laws, Mercy Corps policies and
donor regulations.
- Assist in the training and support of the
finance officers in AgriFin field offices, including answering daily
questions, training new hires, making field visits, etc.
- Monitor cash and bank balances and coordinate
monthly cash flow requests from sub-offices; prepare consolidated country
cash flow requests to HQ as required
- Assist the Finance and Compliance Director in
responding to audit inquiries
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally
and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to
not jeopardize its humanitarian mission
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility: Finance Assistant / Officer in Nairobi AgriFin
Office.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: AgriFin Finance and Compliance Director
Works Directly With: HQ
Finance Officer, AgriFin field finance staff and provides day-to-day support to
all program and ops staff on AgriFin Program; close coordination with other
Mercy Corps Nairobi finance staff.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Three or more years of general ledger
accounting experience is required.
- A university degree in accounting or relevant
accounting certification CPA, ACCA is required.
- Two years’ experience in the Finance
Department of an international NGO.
- Familiarity with major international donor
rules and non-profit accounting
- Prior experience with computerized general
ledger software
- Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid
understanding of grant management rules.
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office
programs, particularly Excel
- Strong organizational skills
- Excellent oral and written English skills
Success Factors:
- The ability to interact effectively with
international and national personnel is required.
- A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet
deadlines and process information in support of changing program
activities is necessary.
- A high professional standard 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 Senior Finance and Compliance Officer must
be willing to travel to Mercy Corps AgriFin offices and project
sites.
Interested candidates who meet the
above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter,
detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including
a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org on or before Wednesday 25th
February by 4.00pm.
The email subject line must clearly
show the job title and location they are applying for.
Applications without the right
subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do not attach any
certificates.
(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.