International Finance Analyst at Mercy Corps

Position Summary

• The International Finance Analyst (IFA) is the IF Department team member charged with supporting a regional portfolio of countries, and ensuring that the financial reporting and compliance standards for European donor-funded projects are met throughout the region. The IFA is responsible for supporting the country operations in adhering to internal and external policies and regulations through technical financial support in areas such as financial reporting, recruiting and training, communications, compliance, and adherence to budget.
• As well as working closely with Finance and Programme team members, and with various other support office departments including Compliance, the IFA will also liaise on financial matters with external stakeholders including European donors and other NGO partners.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Proposal Development

• Serve as review point for country-led proposal budget development and revisions by providing financial data and correct donor templates as needed and making recommendations regarding budgeting to ensure that reasonable provision is included for appropriate costs which comply with donor guidelines.
• Review and when necessary, create financial narrative justifications to accompany budgets and liaise with donors to ensure that any proposal budget queries are cleared promptly.
• Track and monitor submitted awards/proposals and assist with preparation of requested additional information, including financial aspects of due diligence process, as required.
• Review the financial clauses of contracts received and advise on financial matters as required.

Project Financial Management

• The IFA is the focal point responsible for overall financial monitoring on grants for both external donor requirements and internal Mercy Corps policies and requirements.
• On award of a grant, design and develop coded budgets to meet grant needs and using financial system reporting tools, design and construct Budget versus Actual reports suitable for all stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing monitoring of grants through monthly budget versus actual reports to strict deadlines ensuring that all issues are highlighted and promptly communicated to stakeholders. Coordinate with the implementation team to ensure issues are being addressed on a timely basis.
• Prepare required reports to donor agencies (EC, ECHO, FCDO, etc) along with related supporting schedules and payment requests.
• Review budgets and advise the country team on grant budget modifications required to reflect technical and implementation changes, ensuring any amendments are in accordance with donor requirements.
• Support country team’s adherence to Mercy Corps internal policies and standards as well as adherence to Mercy Corps’ Complex Programs management standards.
• In conjunction with the Compliance Team, maintain effective contact with country offices regarding financial reporting and grant regulations, advising and training.
• Serve on Complex Programme Boards within the portfolio, providing financial and compliance information to ensure issues are being managed or escalated as required.
• Monitor grant-level cash flow and submit funding requests to donor agencies on a timely basis as required by the grant agreement and MC internal procedures.

Audit Assistance

• Assist in preparation for the MCinE annual statutory audit, including input on International Finance issues such as project closures and co-financing and liaising with country offices to ensure sampled transitions are timeously received and submitted documentation is compliant.
• Advise on country-level or donor-specific audits, including providing requested information and responses to audit queries and management letter responses.
• Monitor and support implementation of country action plans in the clearance of external or internal audit findings relating to the implementation of European grants.

Strategy, Planning & Learning

• Coordinate with peers to share knowledge and develop best practices for IFAs and country Finance Managers.
• Identify finance-specific knowledge essential for other teams and develop guidance for IF team, FMs and non-finance staff on relevant finance topics.

Country Office Support and Capacity Building

• Serve as member of the hiring team and provide technical vetting of senior country office finance staff.
• Travel to the countries being supported and provide technical financial support, training and oversight. Review and provide feedback on the country finance operations and MC and donor compliance.
• In relation to MCinE grants, monitor and report on country office finance staff training needs and requirements ensuring areas identified are promptly addressed.
• Assist with the opening and closing of a country programme by providing financial guidance and assistance.
• Provide additional onboarding to new senior finance staff on MCinE grant financial management and policies.

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Senior International Finance Analyst
• Works Directly With: Country Finance and Programme teams, various support office departments including Finance, Programmes, and Compliance, and external stakeholders including European donors and other NGO partners.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• Degree in Accounting or Finance, part-qualified accountant or qualified by experience in a relevant field
• Experience of computerized accountancy packages
• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - with a high proficiency in Excel essential
• Business spoken and written English is required, with proficiency in a relevant second language considered an advantage
• Previous finance or grant management experience preferred
• Experience working in an International NGO preferred

Success Factors

• The International Finance Analyst is a highly analytical individual who can prioritize in a fast-changing environment and able to work quickly and accurately under pressure. They can build effective and lasting relationships with colleagues and external partners and are able to communicate both verbally and in writing to staff in different functions across the agency. They should be able to motivate others and lead with energy. They should have the ability to travel internationally as required. They should have clear empathy with the organizations aims and values. They should proactively support departmental colleagues’ ad have organizational and time management skills. They should have positive approach and are a self-starter who is able to work independently and as part of a team.