Finance Assistant
Job Description
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.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.
Position Title: Finance Assistant
Duty Station: Afar/Semera
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting, and grant financial management and compliance. The Mercy Corps Finance Department ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corp’s internal policies and procedures. As a support to the Program Technical Department, the Finance Department provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the Program Team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Working in the finance unit, under the direction of the Field Finance officer, the Finance Assistant will be responsible for the day to day routine tasks of the finance Assistant (cashier) role where the details are specified under the Essentials of Job Functions below. She/he is expected to produce reliable, accurate and timely financial report/information for all stake holders involved in. The post holder should be forward looking, self-driven operating under minimum supervision, and critical thinker in the team. Furthermore, considering the various expected systemic changes in future, the post holder should be forward looking, able to develop/train herself/himself easily, change oriented and able to quickly settle in the new system.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
I. Treasury Management (70%)
II. Compliance Monitoring (5% of Time)
III. Customer Focused (20% of Time )
IV. Financial Accounting and Others (5% of Time)
I. Treasury Management (70% of Time)
- At all times, ensure that adequate fund is available for operations. Ensure that the Mercy Corp’s petty cash replenishment system is followed up consistently and ask for replenishment based on the minimum reorder level set for the office.
- At all time, ensure that there is adequate cheque leaf and other payment processing pads are available in the office and put a reorder level system before the cheque leaf or other payment processing documents run out completely.
- Organize with the Support Service team in the office and ensure that the room where the safe box is located is adequately protected and secured enough
- Ensure that the currency notes we are receiving from any legitimate source which includes staff travel or operational advance return are not fake currency notes. On the event this happens, alert the Field Finance officer immediately.
- Ensure that staff are counting the cash they collect over the counter and no further complains are made for the count made outside the Finance Assistant (cashier office) office.
- Ensure that on all payments made we are withholding the relevant government withholding tax for the payments where this is applicable by law
- Ensure that all Mercy Corps policies and procedures are adhered in terms of cash hours, weekly cash count and monthly cash count procedures
- Ensure that all the cash transactions are entered to the Navigator system on a daily basis and ensure the cash balance based on the system information is matching with the physical cash count in the safe box
- Print the GL register from Navigator and ensure it is filed with the original vouchers
- Liaise with the logistics team (Support Service officer) that any missing or insufficient supporting documents are immediately delivered and in the event that this is not delivered, hold the final release of cheque and discuss with the Field Finance officer for further action.
- Perform the routine cash payment based on the complete and authorized documents
- Perform the routine cheque payment based on the complete and authorized documents
- Ensure the safety and security of cash handling as well as cheque handling between the move from/to office and bank.
- Based on Mercy Corps internal procedures, ensure the limits set on the mode of cash or cheque payment is by no means overridden
II. Compliance Monitoring (5% of Time)
- In addition to the financial review done by the Field finance officer, perform sensibility checking that all the supporting documents attached to the voucher are meeting the internal control standards of Mercy Corps, and they are duly signed by the authorized staff members in the office.
- Query any altered document presented for payment. Ensure that all altered document for whatsoever reason and submitted for payment has the signature of the authorized personnel in the office against the place where the alteration has been made.
III. Customer Focused (20% of Time)
- Ensure that all completed documents and presented for cheque preparation or cash payment are done immediately or within a maximum of five working hours.
- Ensure that clients or staff members who are expecting to collect the cheque or cash payment are not lining up unnecessarily and they receive adequate and timely service. Inform the clients or external parties who expect the cheque payment that the payment is ready for collection.
- Depending on the need, maintain log sheet which will reveal the processing time and the actual time the payment is done
- On exceptional circumstances and on the possible delay of payment process, provide ahead feedback to the staff members (mainly Support team) as well as external parties on the possibility of delay in payment and inform the possible rescheduled time to deliver the cheque.
- Provide professional and polite responses to all external parties as well as staff members for any queries that they may raise in connection to the expectation of payments
- Generally, be courteous for all external parties or staff members who may require the support on the payment service
IV. Financial Accounting and Others (5% of Time)
- As required, provide cover for the Field Finance Officer in his/her absence
- Perform double and final check of document authorization that it has been authorized based on the limit set in the Authority Matrix Perform any other similar tasks that may be reasonably assigned by the supervisor in any one of the four components above.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Field Finance officer
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Mainly with the Field Finance officer, Field operation and program team.
Job Requirements
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Three years and more progressive experience in the non-profit organization and mainly experience gained in the INGO is required.
- Experience working with WFP and USAID/DFID grants at least for two years
- Diploma/First Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related discipline. Compensating Education + Experience can be considered.
- Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly in Excel
- Prior management experience and strong organizational skills
- Excellent oral and written English skills
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Must be confident, self-starter, an independent thinker and have strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skill; team oriented
- Good computer skills (especially Microsoft Excel, Work, and Outlook)
- Ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required; demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse group of people
- High professional standard of administration ethics as well as willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral are required.
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility.
- Emotional maturity and physical stamina.
- Demonstrated experience in managing Matrix Reporting
- Willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites , when required
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.
GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)
- Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
- Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.
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.
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. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
How to Apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications must be submitted electronically, including a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.
Only candidates that are shortlisted will be acknowledged and called for interviews.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empowering women and youth.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: October 1, 2023, 4:00 PM
Applicants must fill out their information through the link:
Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and CARM Officer
Duty Station: JijigaOpen Position: 1Program SummaryMercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 and acts on behalf of people who have become disenfranchised and poor. We stand with Ethiopia to find and access opportunities, and to be part of lasting and meaningful transformation in the country. Mercy Corps seeks to be influential with the government and development actors towards a more resilient country where poverty is tackled through the eyes of those who understand it best. This translates into ensuring that the population is financially stable, healthy, nourished, educated & unformed, and that natural resources are accessible, shared and utilized sustainably.Mercy Corps anticipates an 18-month, 10-million-dollar USAID funded initiative focused on: improving short-term food security, nutrition, and WASH outcomes for vulnerable households; sustaining and increasing food production by farmers and livestock producers while fostering a shift to more resilient production practices; and improving female and male youth TOPs capacity to make a successful transition to alternative livelihoods. The program will operate in multiple pastoral regions across Ethiopia.Mercy Corps is looking for individuals who will have responsibility to support technical teams in targeting, lead Community Accountability Response Mechanisms (CARM), monitor activities, check performance, and monitor outcomes.General Position SummaryThe MEL and CARM officer will work with RIPA site team. Mercy Corps is looking for individuals who will have responsibility to support technical teams in target group verification, indicator performance measurement, data collection, analysis, reporting and perform CARM activities.Essential Job Responsibilities1. Support targeting of beneficiaries for project interventions — Working together with the field technical team and government counterparts, the incumbents will participate in the targeting of beneficiaries (including collecting data from said beneficiaries) for the project interventions: nutrition, livestock producers, animal health service providers, job and employment creation beneficiaries, and other project activities.2. The position holder is responsible for uploading all approved Concept Notes (CNs) for the region to the agency measurement system (CNMS), ensuring that all the monitoring data and evidence are collected and stored on the system (TolaData) and ensure registration of institutions to the agency system (IPTS) and managing community and partner feedback mechanisms through the CARM system.3. Ensure all necessary documents for program management are properly filed and kept both in hard and soft copy as per the requirements of Mercy Corps project management standards (PM@MC).4. Manage monitoring of activities — The incumbents will be responsible for establishing and monitoring beneficiaries (individual and institutional) data base in the intervention area, gather pieces of evidence for innovative ways to manage risk, supplemental fund program development gains & policy level impact, achievement of output & outcome level quantitative and qualitative indicators, and performances of challenges encountered in the overall project activities.5. Involved in the development and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems, including indicators, data collection, data management, analysis and reports as required by Mercy Corps, donors, and the government.6. Compile and report community and partners feedback through different community accountability response mechanism channels, database management, standard report formats and sensitization mechanisms.7. Compile presentations and updates on progress, success factors and challenges as required by the managers, donor, and government.8. Ensure appropriate regular monitoring and timely submission of all necessary reports in line with donor, Mercy Corps and government reporting schedules and deadlines.9.Provide timely updates to Crisis Response Coordinator on progress of program areas10. Document and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt.11. Develop and maintain effective information database for the project in the operational areasCapacity-Building12. Identify and recommend areas for specific training and capacity-building, both for staff and target communities to Crisis Response Coordinator.13. Outcome monitoring and evaluation—MEL and CARM officer will be in charge of collecting baseline data from a sample of beneficiaries and following up with them post-intervention.14. 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.15. Be a team player—the crisis response requires more efforts to work closely together, communicate regularly and professionally for smooth implementation of activities.16. Work closely with field CLA and MEL teams to develop and deliver staff and partner trainings, improving capacities in monitoring, evaluation and learning, database management, data collection, entry, verification, and analysis, and other identified needs.17. Follow up on trainings by mentoring staff/partners to develop identified technical skills one-on one.18. Other duties as assigned by the supervisor (Crisis Response Coordinator) and Cluster Coordinator.Link M&E Results to ReportingReview or edit data in reports as requested and requiredProduce analytical summaries: graphs, charts, and tables as requested to fulfil reporting requirementsOther duties as assigned and agreed uponSecurityEnsure 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, evaluation and learning of our field projects.Supervisory Responsibility: NoAccountabilityReports Directly to: MEL Specialist (in Jigjiga)Works Directly with: Crisis Response Team, MEL Manager, Communications Manager, Senior MEL-GIS Advisor, Gender Advisors and Program Specialists.
Job Requirements
Knowledge and ExperienceBachelor’s degree in social sciences, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, international development, communications, or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field.Three to five years relevant field management experience, especially in the areas of monitoring and evaluation and learning and knowledge management;Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.Previous experience working on USAID funded programs strongly preferredDemonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations, donors and other groups for outcomes in the best interest of program implementationEffective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessaryDemonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is requiredStrong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development, writing and editing.Success Factors:Conscientious, with excellent judgmentDisplay an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. We are looking for a motivated individual, who is eager to learn and share knowledge and who can balance working independently and in a team environment.Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving, and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.S/he must have the confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social statusS/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situationsAbility to foster solid working relationships with USAID, host Government, beneficiary communities, and partner organizationsAbility to work as part of a team and coordinate with project personnel.Strong organizational skills.
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.GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)Understand and be aware of the GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute to therealization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute to their execution.)Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.SecurityEnsure 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 LearningAs 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.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.
How to Apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised. All applications must be submitted electronically, including a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.
Only candidates that are shortlisted will be acknowledged and called for interviews.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empowering women and youth.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: September 30, 2023, 4:00 PM
Applicants Must fill out their Information through the link:
