Job Description

Location Damaturu, Yobe State

Position Status Full-time

Risk Level: ☐ Level 3☐Level 2 ☐ Level 1

(Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.

Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.

Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data.

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. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps has worked since 2012 by focusing its programming on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, conflict mitigation, and humanitarian response.

Program / Department Summary

The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Nigeria, 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 used efficiently and effectively.

General Position Summary

Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Finance Officer- accounting and with close coordination with program team, the finance assistant will assist MCN in adhering to the compliance procedures for financial, procurement, accounting process and ensure adequate internal controls are in place and in compliance with laws, regulations, donor requirements and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Essential job functions

• Assist the Finance Officer to enhance the efficiency of existing control system and ensure any identified compliance gaps is corrected.
• Enter transactions (PIs, GJs etc) into the accounting software accurately
• Prepare Monthly Payroll related statutory remittances (PAYE, Pensions, NHF, NSITF & WHT)
• Ensure accuracy of all Navigator recorded transactions by following Navigator entry procedures and by referencing coding against standard chart of account and coded budgets.
• Prepare and upload payroll register and net pay into the system.
• Performs AAM review of transactions and supporting documentation within direct purchase threshold matrix.
• Prepare Amortizations of prepaid expenses and tracking of prepaid benefits for compliance with policies and procedures.
• Prepare and reconciled the banks for both Naira and USD
• Coordinate with all field offices to collect HQ Monthly, Quarterly and annual packages for onward submission to HQ.
• Ensure compliance with GAAPs standard accounting practices
• Monthly submission of paid pensions and NSITF Schedules to the respective offices, print out proof of submission and make sure all relevant documents and proof of remittance are filled.
• Assist in Mail delivery to banks and other financial institutions, submission of cheques to the relevant government institutions for remittance of statutory returns.
• Ensure timely payments on the bank platform and monitor cash in the safe.
• Daily print out of payment vouchers for onward attachment to supporting documents by the archivist
• Ensure proper archiving of all documents.
• Weekly checking of all MCN Navigators entries against miscoding of LIN, Fund, Office, GL and follow for corrections
• Maintain the AMM file with up-to-date signature specimen
• Give maximum support for towards successful month and year end process.
• Always imbibe the culture of audit readiness
• Make sure all income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and other taxes are withheld and paid accordingly.
• Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and new assignments as requested from time to time.
• Any other duties assign by the supervisor or designee.

Influence & Representation

· Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its mission and values.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country

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.

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree or HND in finance, accounting or equivalent is required.
• Two or more years of compliance and finance experience is required.
• Two years’ experience in the compliance Department of an international NGO is preferred.
• Demonstrated competency with computerized general ledger software
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Prior management experience and strong organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written English skills

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Finance and Compliance Officer

Works Directly With: Finance & Compliance department in Maiduguri/Damaturu, program and operational teams in Nigeria.

Success Factors

A clear understanding of finance, accounting, organizational skills 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.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

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 eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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.