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Finance Director - DRC

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, and now works in the sectors of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and livelihoods, Economic Recovery, Environment and Good Governance. The Mercy Corps DRC staff is comprised of over 120 members who work in North Kivu and Orientale Provinces, including the national office in Goma, with a representation office in Kinshasa.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Working in Goma, in eastern DRC under the direction of the Country Director, the Finance Director is responsible for all financial functions in the DRC country program, including accounting, payments and banking, payroll, budgeting, financial reporting, grants financial management and financial analysis. The Finance Director ensures compliance with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures, and provides timely reports, advice and assistance to the Country Director and the program team to ensure that financial resources are planned and used efficiently, effectively, transparently and accountably.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategy and Vision

  • Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment of empowerment.
  • Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Personal Leadership

  • Consistently demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances.
  • Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Representation

  • Interface with the (donor) representatives to convey information about programs as appropriate.
  • Communicate with our partners (name), as well as (name any sub-grantees), to verify their systems and that they understand and follow all appropriate procedures and archiving.
  • Participate in sharing best practices with NGOs and governmental agencies.

Team Management

  • Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
  • Supervise and lead a diverse team of direct and indirect reports in field offices.
  • Contribute actively to country team-building efforts; build constructive internal relationships; help team members identify problem solving options and ensure integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Operations – Financial

  • Ensure effective, transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
  • Maintain banking relations and plan and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs.
  • Maintain appropriate local insurance coverage in coordination with the Admin. Department, to protect Mercy Corps.
  • Provide monthly standard accounting submissions to Mercy Corps Headquarters, including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by cost center/project, required subgrantee reporting, as well as other financial information in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Provide monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by cost center/project, subgrantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Develop annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Director and develop and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers.

Accountability:

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.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Finance Department staff based in Goma, and technical supervision of finance staff in field offices.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Deputy Country Director, HQ Finance Officers, Regional Finance Advisor, HQ Program Officers, Logistics Manager, Administration/HR Manager, DRC Program Managers/Advisors, DRC Heads of Office.


KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

  • At least 7 years of progressive financial management experience is required.
  • BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
  • At least 4 years of experience in grants management as well as an understanding of donor regulations is required (particularly USAID and EC).
  • At least 3 years of international experience is required; international NGO/PVO field office experience is preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
  • Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
  • Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
  • Prior management experience and strong organizational skills.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills required.
  • Fluency in French required.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Finance Director will have the ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity and be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information. S/he will have demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, work under pressure, and process information in support of changing program activities as well as an impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and a willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. A willingness to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites, an interest in the DR Congo and Mercy Corps’ programs as well as patience, diplomacy, tenacity and good humor are critical for success.


LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

While some conditions in the country are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Variable levels of insecurity in Mercy Corps’ program areas exist, depending on location (Goma vs. field sites). Years of conflict, neglect and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure, and air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. There are virtually no telephone land lines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Mercy Corps' national office in the DRC is in Goma, along the country's eastern border with Rwanda. Goma is a provincial capital of approximately 600,000 inhabitants, with access to many goods in the shops and markets, restaurants etc. Basic health and education facilities are available.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.