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 has been present in Uganda since 2006, focusing its interventions on economic and agricultural development, maternal child health and nutrition, governance, conflict management and humanitarian response. With funding from USAID, DFID, ECHO, Sweden Government, Swiss Development Cooperation and private foundations including Mastercard Mercy Corps has been
able to work together with communities in Uganda to respond to the needs of our target population, which is focused on youth and more specifically adolescent girls. In 2017, Mercy Corps had an impact on almost 1 million beneficiaries in Uganda through our work focusing on building resilience and enabling economic growth, improving opportunities to attain better health and nutrition, and improving
governance and conflict management. Common themes include community engagement, inclusive development, gender, and working in partnership with local government, the private sector and civil society actors. .
General Position Summary
The Finance Director is a member of the senior leadership country team and leads the Finance Department. S/he is responsible for all aspects of financial management of the country program, working collaboratively to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. S/he works under the direction of the Country Director and is responsible for all financial functions in Uganda, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting and grant financial management and compliance. The Finance Director, in support of the Program Department, provides timely reports and assistance to the Country Director and the Program team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
- Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
- Set direction of finance department by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
- Work with the Country Director and senior management team to grow the program portfolio, formulate strategies and plans.
Influence & Representation
- Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
- Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
- Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
- Communicate with our partners to verify their systems and that they understand and follow all appropriate procedures and archiving.
- Participate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies.
- Establish high level of credibility and manage strong working relationship with external stakeholders.
Operational – financial
- Plan and implement effective and transparent systems for financial operations in both the main country and field offices in accordance with the Mercy Corps Field Finance Manual and donor regulations, including systems for cash flow management, budgeting, consolidation of accounting information, internal controls, financial reporting, financial record-keeping, grant management and compliance.
- Develop ( and keep up to date) annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers/Directors.
- Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. Ensure that Mercy Corps financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth.
- Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
- Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage to protect Mercy Corps.
- Analyze compensation packages, taxation requirements and human resource policies for local staff to ensure that Mercy Corps’ has adequately accounted for the financial impact of local staff compensation and benefits.
- Supervised submission of monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost center/project, required sub-grantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
- Provide monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by cost center/project, sub-grantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
- Ensure review and monitoring of partners’ financial reporting and compliance. Provide additional technical assistance to local partners as necessary to maintain high standards of compliance.
- Assist internal and external audits and reviews as required to ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
- Provide training of non-finance staff on financial management and processes (budgets, coding, planning, etc.)
Team Management
- Lead and develop finance teams in the main office and field offices.
- Build capacity of national team members and build national successor to the role.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
- Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
- Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
- Take ultimate responsibility of performance of finance team members.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
- 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 and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
Directly: Finance Manager and Subgrant Manager.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Country Director
Works Directly With: HQ Regional Finance Officers, HQ Program Officers, Operations Managers, Program Directors, Program Managers
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 7 years of progressive financial management experience is required.
- BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
- At least 4 years of experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations is required (particularly USAID and EC).
- At least 3 years of international experience is required; international NGO or business
- Demonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
- Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
- Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across program and finance teams successfully, both in a managerial as well as training capacity. S/he will be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The Finance Director must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps 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.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Kampala and it requires up to 30% travel to field locations. Security in Kampala is generally good. Housing, health care, water, electricity and consumer goods are all reasonably accessible and there are good international and domestic travel options from Kampala Airport.
Air and road travel is necessary to get to some field locations. Mobile phone services are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices, although might be inconsistent. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There’s reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive. There is good number of school with different education philosophies and curriculum (British, American and French to name the few)
Kampala is an accompanied location suitable for spouse/partner and/or dependents.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Knowledge and Experience
- At least 7 years of progressive financial management experience is required.
- BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
- At least 4 years of experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations is required (particularly USAID and EC).
- At least 3 years of international experience is required; international NGO or business
- Demonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
- Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
- Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
- Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
- Excellent oral and written English skills required.
More Information
- Job City Kampala
