Finance & Subgrants Manager at Mercy Corps

The Position

The Finance and Subgrants (F&S) Manager works under the guidance and supervision of the Finance & Compliance Director and with close direct interaction with the Jobtech Alliance Director, partner start-ups, and Mercy Corps Finance Teams in up to 10 countries across Africa.  Key roles are project Financial management, monitoring and reporting and subgrants management with up to 20 start-ups. The F&S Manager is an integral part of the Jobtech Alliance Project Management Unit, and helps to create systems that are efficient, secure and effective in achieving the results of the program.

Key Responsibilities

FINANCE

• Support the Programme Team Lead in managing all financial operations of the project, including accounting and reporting, cash management, and budget management.
• Manage financial operations and financial reporting of the Jobtech Alliance.
• Provide monthly management reports to the Jobtech Alliance Director and Deputy Regional Direct and Finance Director, including expenditures by fund and country, subgrantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Lead annual budgeting process and budget revisions.
• Ensure that the project financial operations are in compliance with all CFYE and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure that monthly transactions are reviewed and entered in the General Ledger accurately and on timely basis
• Review payment documents and other supporting documents related to program costs, ensuring their compliance with the local laws, donor regulations and MC Kenya internal policies.
• 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.
• Prepare monthly cash flow projections and request funds from the country office.
• Provide financial advisory on overall strategic programme decisions.
• Review and track expenses and proper documentation as per Mercy Corps procedures and donor requirements for record keeping and accountancy.

GRANT AND SUBGRANT MANAGEMENT

• Oversee and coordinate management of subgrant agreements and financial management of subgrants.
• Provide direct oversight of subgrants and finance team including staff of consortium partners.
• Responsible for processing of subgrants and issuance of payments, transfers and transactions between country teams and partners.
• Oversee pre-award and post-award activities include asset control, timely reporting and contract fulfilment to check against payment.
• Work with Jobtech Alliance programme team to verify and track budget and expenditures vis-à-vis subgrant awards and ensure proper reporting, documentation and overall deliverables are reviewed by Senior Management and signed off on prior to issuance of payment.
• Provide regular reports on Jobtech Alliance, issues, recommendations that need to be considered for operational adjustment.
• Work with Mercy Corps team members and subgrantees management teams to conduct ad-hoc audit review of Jobtech Alliance field operations.
• Coordinate Jobtech Alliance expenditure verification and project audits.
• Other financial and subgrant tasks as required.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting

• Work with the Jobtech Alliance Senior Management, M&E and finance team members to ensure that Jobtech Alliance deliverables are aligned with value-for-money objectives and that financial milestones are proportionate to programme milestones.
• Provide financial perspective in management and decision-making to enhance Mercy Corps’ adaptive management.

Program Support Operations:

• Ensure that Jobtech Alliance 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.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional accounting certification CPA(K).
• At least seven (7) years of demonstrated professional experience managing grants, subcontracts, procurement and compliance with donor regulations, preferably Donor-funded projects.
• Strong accounting skills and experience in management of the general ledger, journal entries, payables and balance sheet.
• Demonstrated experience applying clauses and negotiating without heavy management oversight including developing amendments and modifications as a result of negotiations.
• Experience providing capacity-building training to staff and local organizations.
• Proven abilities in analytical, excel and reporting skills.

Required competencies and skills:

 Grants Administration

•  Knowledge and application of best practices in grant management.
•  Demonstrated knowledge of financial and management systems, regulations and reporting requirements. Evidence of ability to be creative and flexile within those requirements.
•  Analytical capabilities with accounting procedures and processes for structuring projects.
•  Knowledge of grants management software and information technology skills.

Management and Communications

•  Ability to communicate technical, budgetary and program details to staff, grantees and applicants.
•  Ability to design and implement effective workflow processes and procedures.
•  Capability to foster an atmosphere which recognizes and respects cultural and individual differences.