Finance Officer- Field Location TBD (Open to Ugandan Nationals Only) | - 2015

PROGRAMME/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Uganda, 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 Corps’ internal policies and procedures. In its role as a support to the Programs and other Departments, the Finance Department provides timely reports and assistance to all departments, senior management and HQ to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Working in the Finance Department under the direction of Senior Finance Officer and Finance Director, the field finance officer is responsible for assigned field office finances, compliance, budget monitoring, reporting, resources management, coordination with others, etc. He/she is also responsible for updating and tracking all assets and finance files. He/she is responsible to make sure that all AAM, segregation of duties and policies and procedures are respected as per the FFM, procurement manual, assets mgt and other manuals/policies and procedures. Tracks contracts, leases and procurements for the office.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

§ Follow all Mercy Corps policies, procedures, grant compliance and documentation requirements.

§ Implement and Make sure all Mercy Corps FFM, procurement, assets mgt, HR policies and procedures are implemented.

§ Implement and Make sure all respective donors and local Gov’t rules and regulations are respected.

§ Ensure compliance with GAAPs, Ugandan and US law and standard accounting practice.

§ Responsible for monitoring costs as per the available grant and budget details and monthly budgets vs actual reports.

§ Provide on-going orientation, training and support to all Mercy Corps program and finance staff on Mercy Corps and respective donor’s rules and regulations.

§ Review and track all grants/budget purchases and contracts and other commitments for the office.

§ Provide financial review for all advances, purchase requests, quotation analysis, purchase orders, expense reports, payment requests and others within his/her limit.

§ Code all expenditures following the standard chart of accounts, coded budget and record to the accounting software or recording system and send to main office for review and posting every week.

§ Match invoices with GRN and other required documents.

§ Prepare weekly and monthly cash requirement for the office, send to main office and make sure sufficient cash is available for the office.

§ Manage cash and bank payments, record them and reconcile with bank statements and cash counts.

§ Make surprise, weekly and monthly cash counts and document them as per the current MC policy.

§ Reconcile bank balances with bank statement, all advances and send to main office with month end transactions and report.

§ Make sure all field level income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and other taxes are withheld and paid accordingly.

§ Collect all staff timesheets, review them, prepare summary and send them to main office every month.

§ Participate in preparation of operating and grant budgets.

§ Make frequent site visits and work with the program team for physical check and to ensure payments are being made accordingly and procurements are properly made whenever necessary.

§ Maintain all donor files and ensure they are well labeled, fully updated with all contracts, submitted reports, governing clauses and all other relevant documents.

§ Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and new assignments as requested from time to time.

§ 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.

§ Assist other finance functions and offices when ever need arises.

§ Any other tasks to be assigned by the supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

§ A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance is required.

§ 4years experience in grants and financial management and accounting.

§ Adequate understanding of donor rules and regulations is required.

§ Three years international NGO/PVO experience is preferred.

§ Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.

§ Demonstrated experience and skill with financial reports preparation and presentation and proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.

§ Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and accounting software experience.

§ Prior management experience and strong organizational skills preferred.

§ Excellent oral and written English skills

§ Willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps and sub grantees field offices and project sites approximately 50%.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

§ Ability to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information is essential.

§ A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.

§ An impeccable 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.