Senior Finance Officer

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.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps is responding to the Ukraine emergency since the escalation of armed conflict across the country in February 2022 The attacks set off a wave of displacement internally and into the countries along Ukraine’s western borders. Mercy Corps response program will focus on multi-purpose cash intervention and other key sectors, particularly food security, livelihoods, NFIs, and protection. Mercy Corps is also supporting local NGOs and other civil society actors currently supporting displaced populations, as well as those in Ukraine sheltering in place. As Mercy Corps pursues its objectives in the region it will continue to assess the security situation in areas of potential operation, with an eye towards the logistics of possible programmatic interventions and positioning going forward.

General Position Summary

Working in the Finance Department under the direction of the Finance Director, Ukraine Response, the Senior Finance Officer will support Ukraine response programs and operations in establishing financial operations in Ukraine and bordering countries according to program scope and location. The SFO will assist the early upkeep and maintenance of financial operations and systems in Ukraine, and will play a key transitional role in the onboarding of national staff as the program expands. The SFO will have experience in (sub)grant management, the review of key financial documents, helping maintain proper filing and tracking systems to ensure the accuracy and completeness of Mercy Corps accounting records, and providing guidance on the finance and compliance requirements of Mercy Corps and its donors.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Accounting

• Assist with the review of Purchase Orders, Advance Requests, Expense Reports and Payment Requests
• Assist with daily cash management and reconciliations.
• Assist with Navigator entries and archiving.
• Assist with the maintenance of all accounting records, ensuring that records are complete, accurate and safeguarded.
• Support cash management, daily cash count, and cash balance monitoring
• Enter transactions in the accounting system (Payment, payroll, reconciliation…)
• Coordinate submission of monthly cash projections to the Finance Manager for Accounting.

Grants & Budget Management

• Perform financial monitoring of and support to MC Grant recipients.
• Maintain filing and tracking systems of MC Grant recipients.
• Review award BVAs on monthly basis, and provide guidance and support to program and operations staff to help them maintain pipelines and spending plans.
• Perform budget analyses as required.

Compliance Monitoring and Filing

• Serve as the focal point for the review of PRs/contracts/payments related to grant recipient and vendor contracts, maintain necessary files and tracking systems related to these activities, and provide support to program and operations staff on these systems to ensure smooth coordination between departments.
• Support Program and Operations teams in following procedures and assembling paperwork necessary to meet finance review requirements.
• Provide support to the MC Cash programs, including reconciliations and monitoring.
• Assist the Finance Manager on organizing regular Orientation and Training sessions for new hires and non-Finance team.

Other

• Provide task coverage for other Finance team members as needed
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Perform any other similar tasks that may be reasonable assigned by the line manager in any one of the components above*.*

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Finance Officer(s)/Assistant(s)(to be hired)

ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Finance Lead, Ukraine Response

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Officers/Assistants, Operations Officers, HR/Admin Officers, Logistic/ Transport Officers

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven experience with Mercy Corps financial policies and procedures
• Proficiency with Navigator accounting system.
• Two or more years of general ledger accounting experience is required.
• Experience in maintaining budgets, tracking sheets, and BvAs/pipelines.
• A university degree in finance, accounting or a related business field is required.
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel.
• Excellent oral and written English skills, and Russian, Polish, Ukranian language skills strongly preferred.

Success Factors

The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required. A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary. A 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 Officer must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Poland, Krakow. Accommodations are being defined and access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc is in place. This position requires travel to surrounding countries, as security permits. Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

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.