Alumni Talent Pool: Finance Lead Roles (Open to former Mercy Corps Employees)

About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact. 

The Program 

Mercy Corps has created an Alumni Talent Pool to support emergency response, transitions and complex program start-up, by fast-tracking Mercy Corps alumni into temporary Senior Finance roles. The initiative focuses on matching qualified team members with urgent country-based needs, for short-term placements (3 months on average). This is an opportunity for senior managers that offers more professional and personal flexibility and access to diverse experiences.   
  
The Role  

Mercy Corps alumni (employed within the last four years) qualified to fill senior Finance Roles (Emergency Finance Lead, Finance Manager, Subaward Manager) will be eligible to join the Alumni Talent Pool. Once selected into the Pool, members will have access to exciting, short-term opportunities in countries where Mercy Corps operates. Between assignments, members will enjoy continued engagement with Mercy Corps and optional professional development and networking opportunities. Responsibilities and supervisory structures will vary depending on the type of assignment, including but not limited to: 

Emergency Response Finance Lead  

• Develop and implement a strategy for operational startup to support a rapid, high quality emergency response.
• Work closely with Program, Administration, Security and Operations on the set up of new offices, partnerships and financial systems.
• Assess the operating environment in the emergency and adapt ways of working in compliance with Mercy Corps’ policies and procedures.
• Set up financial and internal control systems to support rapid program delivery.
• Develop and manage country portfolio budgets in coordination with the country leadership.
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of fiscal plans and country budgets, including forecasting and reporting, in coordination with Program Managers.
• Recruit, onboard and train team members to fill critical functions on the finance team.
• 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 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. 

  Finance Manager  

• Guide and oversee the overall financial operations in the country, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies. 
• Implement financial and internal control systems to support rapid program delivery. 
• Develop and monitor annual fiscal year budgets with the Country Leadership. 
• Develop and implement award budgets and forecasting systems with Program Managers.  
• Plan, manage and monitor country cash flow requirements to ensure the smooth implementation of Mercy Corps programs. 
• Provide timely financial reports to stakeholders, including internal management reports and periodic reporting to headquarters. 
• Work collaboratively with Program, HR and Operations teams to maintain efficient financial support services and proactively address challenges. 
• Supervise a diverse team, proactively coaching and training team members for high performance. 

  Finance Manager – Accounting: 

• Ensure smooth and effective financial accounting operations in the country in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies. 
• Manage country-wide accounting functions including the timely recording of financial transactions, cash management, banking, receivables, and payables. 
• Oversee the annual and monthly accounting cycles, including the running of monthly processes in Mercy Corps Financial system and other integrated systems. 
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to headquarters including general ledger files, account reconciliations, expenditures by project, and required sub-grantee reporting. 
• Work collaboratively with Program, HR and Operations teams to maintain efficient financial support services and proactively address challenges. 
• Supervise a diverse team, proactively coaching and training team members for high performance. 

  Subaward Manager 

• Guide and oversee the overall subaward financial monitoring strategy in the country, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies. 
• Assist Program Managers in managing subawards during the award cycle: setting up coded budgets, monitoring spending, reviewing budget forecast, requesting budget modification (if needed) and advising on subaward closeout. 
• Work collaboratively with Program, HR and Operations teams to maintain efficient financial monitoring of all subawards and proactively address challenges. 
• Provide guidance and support to other team members to maintain high organizational subaward compliance standards. 
• Supervise a diverse team, proactively coaching and training team members for high performance. 

  SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work  
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members  
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options 

When on assignment, members will be eligible for competitive salary and benefits. The eligible salary ranges and a description of all benefits associated with these short-term positions (including health care and insurance) will be provided for informational purposes to candidates meeting minimum requirements for the role.     

The Process  

Applications will be accepted and reviewed bi-annually. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview process and to provide professional references; through which we will assess each candidate’s competencies and qualifications. Case study or scenario questions may be asked of the candidates as part of the panel interview. Those meeting the minimum qualifications and demonstrating competency in the priority areas will be invited to join the Alumni Talent Pool. Once selected into the Alumni Talent Pool, members will provide information about their professional experience, qualifications, availability, and preferences. Pool members will then be matched to specific temporary employment opportunities (on average 3 months) as hiring managers request support from the Talent Pool. Pool members will manage their own time and availability and will have the option to accept or decline any particular assignment.  
  
For more information about the opportunity, you may consult our Frequently Asked Questions in English, Spanish, or French.  
 

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders 

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

 Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills  

• BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required. 
• At least 3 years of field experience in international relief and development operations, including overseeing financial operations and budget management functions. Prior team management experience required. 
• Prior experience with Mercy Corps within the last four years (with at least one year of Mercy Corps work experience.) 
• 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.  
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills. 
• Good oral and written English skills required. Professional level proficiency in at least one other Mercy Corps’ working language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian) is a plus. 
• Willing and able to deploy internationally at short notice for assignments. 
• Able to work effectively in a highly stressed and potentially physically challenging emergency response set up in early and later stages of responses. 
• Availability to work non-standard hours as needed, especially when supporting an active emergency or critical incident response. 
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment. 
• Experience leading teams, managing performance of supervisees, and coaching/ mentoring staff. 

Success Factors  

Successful Talent Pool members are self-starters who are ready to dive into an assignment on short notice. They have a positive attitude, are adaptable to changing circumstances, and are focused on problem solving. They have good self-awareness and understand their personal strengths and development needs, which they continuously work on between assignments. Talent Pool members understand it is a privilege to work in this sector and bring this enthusiasm to all their Mercy Corps assignments. 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions 

Living conditions will depend on the location of assignment but may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing will depend on the assigned post and will be specified in the position description. 

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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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.  

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).