Emergency Response Finance Director - International Finance Team - US, UK

Location: United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands

Position Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt

Salary Level: 

• US Starting Salary for this role will be USD $90,000 to $110,000 commensurate on experience.

• Based on local benchmark for candidates outside the United States.

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.

About International Finance (IF) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT)

International Finance supports Mercy Corps’ operations in award financial management, financial reporting, accounting, and compliance with internal policies and procedures. Strong International finance support is key to the success and delivery of quality programs. The VP of International Finance, in close collaboration with the Global Emergency Response Team (ERT), regional leadership, country leadership, and country operations management team, will focus on developing and supporting a high standard of supply chain excellence to maximize Mercy Corps emergency responses in a compliant and efficient way.

The Position

The Emergency Response Finance Director is a key member of the Global Emergency Response Teams (ERT’s) deployable team for emergency response, the role supports the financial management function for Emergency Response start-ups or response pivots and oversees the financial management of emergency response programming in field responses. The Director plays a key role in advancing strategies and initiatives globally, ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps' internal policies, procedures, and donor regulations. Reporting via a joint management line to the Vice Presidents of International Finance and Emergency Response, this position collaborates to optimize the use of financial resources across programs and departments, fostering efficiency and effectiveness. This is a deployable role, and the team member will have multiple assignments throughout the year in support of or to lead financial management related to the emergency response. The role may also support assignments related to preparedness efforts. 

Essential Responsibilities   

Operations Setup

• Strategic Leadership in Payment Systems Development: Spearheaded the strategic planning, development, and maintenance of payment systems, including the establishment of banking relationships, managing petty cash, and other essential systems to ensure the effective execution of Mercy Corps’ emergency response operations.

• Accounting System Oversight: Lead the setup and continuous improvement of the accounting system, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and donor compliance. Provide strategic direction for adapting the system to evolving operational needs.

• Policy Development and Implementation: Drive the formulation, implementation, and periodic update of local financial and accounting policies and procedures to ensure robust financial management and internal control within all operations.

• Global Coordination and Compliance: Act as the principal liaison with global support teams and local authorities, ensuring all financial and accounting systems meet organizational standards and comply with regulatory requirements.

• Integration with Programmatic Activities: Collaborate with emergency response teams to ensure the seamless integration of finance functions with programmatic activities, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.

• Field Leadership in Crisis Situations: Lead on-the-ground financial operations during crises, providing strategic support and direction in emergency locations as required.

Accounting, Financial Management and Reporting

• System Development and Management: Oversee the development and management of accounting and financial reporting systems, ensuring they meet the needs of emergency response programs and adhere to donor timelines and requirements.

• Financial Reporting and Analysis: Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to headquarters, donors, and other stakeholders. Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including variance analysis and strategic recommendations.

Cash and Treasury Management

• Strategic Cash Flow Management: Direct cash flow planning to ensure liquidity and financial stability during emergency operations.

• Banking and Disbursement Oversight: Oversee banking relationships and the management of cash disbursement processes, ensuring efficiency and compliance with organizational policies.

• Cash Advances and Liquidation Management: Ensure robust management of cash advances and liquidations, mitigating risks associated with emergency financial operations.

Budgeting and Forecasting

• Leadership in Budgeting: Lead the budgeting process for emergency response initiatives, working closely with ERT, country, and regional teams to develop realistic and strategic financial plans.

• Strategic Forecasting: Provide financial forecasts and scenario planning to support strategic decision-making and operational readiness.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Regulatory Compliance Oversight: Ensure compliance with internal policies, donor regulations, and local laws across all financial operations.

• Internal Controls and Risk Mitigation: Implement and maintain robust internal control systems to safeguard organizational assets, identify financial risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Grants and Subaward Management

• Financial Management of Grants and Contracts: Oversee the financial aspects of grant and contract administration, ensuring expenditures align with budgets and donor requirements.

• Subaward Management and Capacity Building: Lead the financial management of subawards, including the development of budgets and monitoring of subrecipients, ensuring compliance and strengthening their financial management capacities.

Recruitment, Capacity Building and Team Management

• Strategic Team Development: Lead the recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of Finance staff involved in emergency response. Mentor and develop the finance team, fostering a high-performance culture.

• Training and Capacity Building: Provide strategic leadership in training and capacity-building initiatives for finance and program staff, ensuring adherence to financial management best practices.

Coordination and Communication

• Serve as the main point of contact for financial matters within the Emergency Response team.

• Collaborate with program, operations, and headquarters finance teams to ensure cohesive financial management.

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

Other duties

• Strategic Problem-Solving: Collaborate with ERT leadership and global support teams to identify and solve complex financial and operational challenges, providing strategic support to enhance financial management across the organization.

• Financial Support and Strengthening: Provide strategic financial support to countries, regions, and initiatives as needed, contributing to the overall strengthening of Mercy Corps' financial management capabilities.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None currently, though there may be potential supervisory responsibility for the field finance team during deployments.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Dual Reporting – VP International Finance & VP Emergency Response Team

Works Directly/Closely With: Finance Managers/Directors of regional or country programs, Country Directors and senior management colleagues at field level while on assignment, International Finance colleagues, and the ERT leadership and team members

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

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of international level progressive financial management experience within an INGO at field level/overseas level experience, including supervisory experience required.

• Demonstrated success as an emergency finance leader across all disciplines including planning, budget development for new programs/proposals, financial systems-set up, financial & accounting management and reporting. Experience in a global environment is required.

• Broad knowledge and experience in emergency response financial management strategies.

• Experience working in complex and fast-paced environments, with the ability to deploy to emergency locations for extended periods.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to effectively manage and motivate teams.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and build strong relationships.

• Must have proven project management skills and experience, excellent communication skills, the ability to find solutions and achieve results, the ability to analyze and resolve complex issues during the emergency responses and the ability to motivate team members working with. 

• Strong collaborator and influencer with effective interpersonal and analytical skills who can work seamlessly across countries, cultures, and organizational units.

• Able to work effectively in a highly stressed emergency response set up in early stage of responses. 

• Strong financial management and budgeting skills.

• Commitment to humanitarian principles and the mission and strategy of Mercy Corps.

• Excellent oral and written English skills required. Fluency in a second language (French, Spanish or Arabic) a plus.

• Ability to travel up to 50-60 percent of the time including emergency response deployments.

• Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Success Factors

This role will require exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills in setting up and implementing Mercy Corps financial systems, policies and procedures and ensuring compliance. Organizational skills and ability to prioritize will be critical while on assignment due to the number of priorities and urgency to get emergency operations operational.

The successful candidate will have an ability to interact effectively across international and national program and finance teams successfully, both in a managerial as well as training capacity. They will be able to support regional and International Finance objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information. An impeccable professional standard of finance and accounting ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The Emergency Response Finance Director is based in the current Mercy Corps US/Europe location. This role requires up to 60% of time spent on assignment, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Base location requires ability to deploy within 72 hours, dependent on visa, and connectivity to enable remote work from home.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside 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.

This position requires obtaining medical clearance through the successful completion of a medical assessment by an external third party prior to deployment and following any medical evacuation if applicable. If you are not medically cleared and Mercy Corps cannot reasonably accommodate a medical condition if required, you may not be able to deploy for/return to this position.

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). 

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees 

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization. 

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities. 

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.