Finance Officer

Finance Officer

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Position Status: Full-time, Regular

About Mercy Corps

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 build 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 Officer and Senior Finance and Compliance Manager, the Finance Officer will support cash and bank operations, accounting and compliance, as well as partnership financial reporting and monitoring functions of the finance department.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance, and environmental compliance are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs, the Finance Officer is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices, and environmental compliance are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Job Functions

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Finance Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  Maintain custody and control of Country Office cash funds. Conduct weekly/month-end cash count or as required.
• Review and clear the petty cash expense reports submitted by Administration.
•  Review payment requests, EER (Employee Expenses Report) for accuracy and completeness and ensure that all cash and bank transactions are fully approved and documented. Prepare and process the checks and online transfer requests based on fully approved documents.
•  Manage bank-related correspondence including signatory updates and other communication, provide orientation on S2B to the new users.
• Conduct day to day data entries (Bank & Cash) into Accounting Software Navigator, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with applicable policies and guidelines.
• Prepare monthly Cash and Bank Reconciliations and get them approved and filed as required.
• File all cash and bank vouchers, support proper maintenance of finance-related file archive, assist Senior Finance Officer in preparation and update of yearly file archive for HQ and set up of the finance file warehouse.
•  Prepare and coordinate Pro-Source invoice reconciliation.
• Coordinate ETDS submission to vendors and share transaction/payment details with the staff and vendors.
•  Prepare SSF and Tax reconciliation, forward it to all regional offices, and ensure timely deposits with respective authorities. Assist in the timely deposition of CIT, SSF, and Tax monthly, adhering to government regulations, including E-TDS verification.
•  Manage VAT reconciliations, compile reimbursable bills, enter data in the IRD site, follow up on refunds, and handle VAT invoice retrieval and filing, including rejected invoices.
•  Review partner/sub-recipient monthly and quarterly financial reports submitted by the field office for accuracy and compliance with the conditions of the subaward agreement and upload them to the Navigator system.
•  Review partner/sub-recipient Fund Transfer requests and reconcile with partner financial reports and Navigator data. Support field offices in financial forecasting, budgeting, and cash flow of partners.
•  Review partner financial monitoring visit reports by the field team, support timely resolution of identified issues and advise Senior Finance Manager on possible resolution to safeguard partners from possible fraud and breach of ethics.
• Prepare photocopies, scans, and other required supporting documents for internal and external audits, monthly reporting packages to HQ Finance, and support audits by ensuring efficient presentation and filing of documentation. Assist in the annual organizational review at 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:

• 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: Other Finance, operations and program.

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Position Description; Senior Finance and Compliance Manager, Finance Team, Country Director, National Staff Policy Handbook; Code of conduct and Mercy Corps policy and procedures.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor or equivalent in accounting/ financial management or a relevant business field.
• Two or more years of accounting or bookkeeping experience, including experience with double-entry accounting, working experience 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

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Finance Officer 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 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.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
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 adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Valid through: December 5, 2023