Website Mercy Corps
Finance Assistant
Number of Vacant Position:1
Location(s): Mercy Corps Kathmandu office
BACKGROUND:
Mercy Corps is an international, non-governmental humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries and has been present in Nepal since 2005. In Nepal, Mercy Corps works to build the absorptive, adaptive, and transformative potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across the country. Through a systems-based approach to market development, financial services access, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and youth engagement, Mercy Corps builds resilience among target communities.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Nepal, 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 Program Department, the Finance Department provides timely reports and assistance to the Project Managers and the Project teams to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Senior Finance and Compliance Officer and Senior Finance and Compliance Manager, Finance Assistant will assist in the processing and recording of payment transactions in a timely and accurate manner. And be responsible for the accounting and documentation of all financial transactions in a timely and accurate manner.
As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance, and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs, the Finance Assistant is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices, and environmental compliance are integrated into his/her work area.
Description
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The specific duties and responsibilities of the Finance Assistant include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Maintain Cash Custody.
- Review and clear the petty cash expenses report submitted by Administration.
- Review and Transfer payment request, EER (Employee Expenses Report) for accuracy and completeness and ensure that all cash and bank transactions are fully approved before disbursement of check and S2B Transfer and properly documented.
- File all cash and bank vouchers and maintain voucher filing system such that files are updated, complete.
- Day to day data entries (Bank & Cash) into Accounting Software Navigator.
- Assist Finance Officer with file archiving, Finance file warehouse set up, and annual reporting.
- Assist on pulling out the original VAT invoices from vouchers under the USAID project and filing back with copy invoices and stamp and follow up on IRD for VAT reimbursement.
- Assist Senior Finance and Compliance Officer & Senior Finance and Compliance Manager with audit handling documentation and back to file in a coordinated manner.
- Prepare photocopies, scans, and other supporting documents as required for Audit and monthly reporting package to HQ Finance.
- Assist in the timely deposition of CIT, SSF, and Tax monthly as per government regulation including E-TDS and verification.
- Assist Senior Finance and Compliance Officer for VAT professing and follow up with IRD.
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Others:
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
- Ensure proper integration of GESI aspects into sector-specific program planning and implementation working closely with GESI officers.
- Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As MC employees all staff is expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities in such situations.
- Other duties as assigned by the Country Director.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNINGS: 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 towards 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: None
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Senior Finance and Compliance Officer, Kathmandu
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Senior Finance and Compliance Officer, Other Finance teams, Operations staff, and other staff.
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Position Description; Finance and Compliance Director, Finance Team, Country Director, National Staff Policy Handbook; Code of conduct and Mercy Corps policy and procedures.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s or equivalent in accounting/ financial management or a relevant business field.
- 2 years of experience in Two or more years of accounting or bookkeeping experience, including experience with double-entry accounting, and working with I/NGOs is preferred.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Proven ability to solve problems independently without direct supervision.
- Strong computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
- Familiarity with computerized, double-entry accounting software
- Excellent oral and written English skills.
- Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment
SUCCESS FACTORS:
A successful Finance Assistant should have a clear understanding 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. The ability to interact effectively with international and national staff members is required. A demonstrated ability to work quickly and accurately, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. The Finance Officer will have proven experience with diverse teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy a 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.
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.
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. 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 always adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
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.
Application Deadline: Sunday 13th August, 2023
Source: Kantipur Dainik, 5 August, 2023