Finance Officer Urgently Needed at Mercy Corps in Northern Uganda

Job Title:    Finance Officer
Job Location:      Moroto and Kotido, Uganda

1. Employer:     Mercy Corps

Reports to:     Senior Finance Officer

About Mercy Corps:
Mercy Corps is an International NGO that exists to alleviate poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps has been fully registered in Uganda as an operational NGO. Currently Mercy Corps has an office in Kampala and is implementing Food Security programs which comprises of Water and Sanitation, Livelihood and Agriculture and Conflict Mitigation Management Program in North and North Eastern Uganda.

Job Overview:
The incumbent will be primarily responsible for the assigned Kampala and field office finances, compliance, budget monitoring, reporting, resources management, coordination with others, etc.  He/she is also responsible for updating and tracking all assets and finance files. He/she is responsible to make sure that all AAM, segregation of duties and policies and procedures are respected as per the FFM, procurement manual, assets management and other manuals/policies and procedures. S/he also tracks contracts, agreements, leases and procurements for the office.

Job Duties:

•     Follow all Mercy Corps policies, procedures, grant compliance and documentation requirements.
•     Implement and Make sure all Mercy Corps FFM, procurement, assets management, HR policies and procedures are implemented.
•     Implement and Make sure all respective donors and local Gov’t rules and regulations are respected.
•     Ensure compliance with GAAPs, Ugandan and US laws and standard accounting practice.
•     Responsible for monitoring costs as per the available grant and budget details and monthly budgets vs actual reports.
•     Provide on-going orientation, training and support to all Mercy Corps program and finance staff on Mercy Corps and respective donor’s rules and regulations.
•     Review and track all grants/budget purchases and contracts and other commitments for the office.
•     Provide financial review for all advances, quotation analysis, purchase orders, expense report, payment requests and others within his/her limit.
•     Code all expenditures following the standard chart of accounts, coded budget and record to the accounting software or recording system daily and ensure weekly review and posting.
•     Match invoices with GRN and other required documents.
•     Prepare weekly and monthly cash requirements and projections, make sure sufficient cash is available and provide its use report,
•     Manage cash and bank payments, record them and reconcile with bank statements and cash counts.
•     Make surprise, weekly and monthly cash counts and document them as per the current MC policy.
•     Prepare cash, bank and advances reconciliations and submit for review/approval every week and monthly.
•     Reconcile bank balances with bank statement, all advances and send to main office with month end transactions and report.
•     Make sure all income taxes, withholding taxes, VAT and other taxes are withheld and paid accordingly.
•     Collect all staff timesheets and summaries and enter in to the payroll database for allocation every month.
•     Keep all finance documents and reports are properly filed, labeled and stored in a clear and easily accessible manner following FFM.
•     Maintain all donor files and ensure they are well labeled, fully updated with all contracts, submitted reports, governing clauses and all other relevant documents.
•     Be adaptable and flexible to take new tasks and new assignments as requested from time to time.
•     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.
•     Support other finance functions and offices when ever need arises.
•     Perform any other tasks to be assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements:

•     The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in accounting or finance is required.
•     Four or more years’ experience in grants and financial management and accounting.
•     Good understanding of donor rules and regulations is required.
•     International NGO/PVO experience is preferred.  
•     Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet.
•     Technical and relevant planning, budgeting, monitoring, management and organizational skills and experiences required.
•     Demonstrated experience and skill with financial reports preparation and presentation and proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
•     Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and accounting software experience.
•     Excellent oral and written English skills
•     Willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps and sub grantees field offices and project sites approximately 30% – 50%.
•     Possess the ability to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information is essential.
•     Demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
•     An impeccable 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.
•     Knowledge of Nga a’karimojong and luo  will be an added advantage

Deadline Date: 19/05/2014

How to Apply:
Please send your applications including a cover letter clearly stating your salary requirements, CV (with 3 referees), and copies of academic qualifications/certificates to:
Mercy Corps Field Offices Kotido and to HR/Admin Manager,
Kampala Head Office in Nsambya on Plot 1102 Nsambya Estate Road. Kampala, Uganda.
E-mailed applications with cover letter to: mcuganda@ug.mercycorps.org will also be accepted.

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by Mercy Corps. Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.