SUBAWARD FINANCE ASSISTANT

Position Description

Location: Ramallah, Palestine

Position Status: Full-time Regular Employee

Salary Level: 2A

Duration: One year with a possibility of extension

Current Team Member: N/A

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps and International Youth Foundation (IYF) are implementing a 5-year USAID-funded Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) activity, a multi-sectoral youth program designed to address the challenges of Palestinian youth in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Through a selected group of national partner organizations and community-based organizations (CBOs), PYE will support marginalized youth aged 10-19 at risk of social marginalization by improving education, health, employment, community engagement,\ and other needs identified through diverse, community-supported assessments. By increasing opportunities for Palestinian youth to realize their potential and to effectively contribute to social and economic development, vulnerable youth will be able to transform into productive, contributing citizens who are connected to and engaged in their communities.

Program / Department Summary

The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Palestine, 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 Country Director and the Program team 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 the Grants Compliance and Finance Manager, the Finance Assistant will ensure Mercy Corps Sub-Grantees (Partners) Financial monitoring, control and reporting are implemented in line with Mercy Corps and USAID/ Other donors Regulations.  

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Essential Job Responsibilities

FINANCE SECTION

• Assist in conducting the Sub-Grantee pre-award assessment documentation collection.
• Assist in reviewing the Sub-Grantee's Financial Reports and verify original supporting documents.
• Ensure that supporting documentation of costs charged to MC is in line with the USAID/Other Donors rules and regulations and are submitted on time.
• Conduct quarterly visits and spot checks to Sub-Grantees during the project implementation under the supervision of the senior finance officer.
• Conduct regular meetings with Sub-Grantees to ensure that issues identified during the implementation period of the project, or issues that may arise, are dealt with in a timely and correct manner under the supervision of the senior finance officer.
• Ensure that Sub-Grantees do not overspend or underspend, as this will have an impact on MC’s overall reporting to the donor.
• Responsible for the electronic and hard copy archiving of all Subgrantee agreements documents, narrative and financial reports, and receipts in accordance with the Field Finance Manual.
• Conduct additional technical assistance to sub-grantees as necessary to maintain high standards of compliance.
• Assist in maintaining the Sub-Grantees cards in the Navigator Financial System.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Enter transactions to the accounting software under the supervision of the senior finance officer whenever required.
• Scanning all Finance documents & making sure that all financial documents are properly uploaded to SharePoint & Google Drive.
• Assist the Finance Department in responding to audit inquiries.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Finance Officer.

Works Directly With: Finance and Compliance team in JR, WB, and Gaza

Knowledge and Experience

• Two or more years of general ledger accounting or auditing experience is required.
• A university degree in accounting or auditing is required.
• One Year experience in the Finance Department of an international NGO or Audit firm is preferred.
• Strong computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.

Success Factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national staff members and partners is required.  A demonstrated ability to multi-task and meet deadlines. A high professional standard 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 Finance Assistant must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.             

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 and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 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 eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Qualified persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online HERE no later than Monday, 7 August 2023.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Please apply separate applications for each position you are interested in.