Finance Assistant-Nairobi

Nairobi

  • Organization: Mercy Corps
  • Location: Nairobi
  • Grade: Administrative support - Administrative Services and Support - Generally no need for Higher Education
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Administrative support
    • Banking and Finance
  • Closing Date:

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.
The Program / Department / Team
The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Nairobi, Lodwar, Maralal, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit, and Garissa Offices, 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 are used efficiently and effectively.
The Position
Working in the Finance Department under the direction and support of the Senior Finance Officer - Nairobi - and will assist in the processing and recording of payment transactions in the accounting system, proper filing and archiving. 
Essential Responsibilities
Financial management
  • Prepare cash payment vouchers and ensure that all cash transactions are fully and properly documented in relation to batch assigned in the Finance System.
  • Perform daily cash count with the Finance Officer, Snr Finance Officer or other person assigned.
  • Record payment vouchers daily in the cash sub-journal for the batch assigned.
  • Maintain the uncleared cash advance file and prepare past due advance report for the Finance officer or Snr Finance Officer on monthly basis.
  • Support Finance officer/Snr Finance Officer to record payment vouchers daily in the bank and cash sub journal assigned.
  • Responsible for gathering transaction documents required for donor reporting.
  • Assist with audit related requirements (timely documents retrieval, filing after audit completion, proving additional assistance as necessary)
  • Assist with scanning, copying, printing, and uploading of financial documents on relevant folders including monthly payments and vouchers for posting by the main office.
  • Any other duty may be assigned.
  • Filing & Archiving
  • Responsible for filing all cash and bank vouchers and maintaining voucher filing system such that files are updated, complete and safeguarded. Ensure all finance documents are properly labelled, filed and stored in a clear and easily accessible manner following Field Finance Manual
  • Assist with Sub-grant management and organizing sub-grant files.
  • Tax
  • Support Finance Officer/Snr Finance Officer with processing of withholding VAT and withholding tax as per KRA regulations including scanning copies to the main office on weekly basis.
  • Security
  • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
  • Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
SAFEGUARDING
  • 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.
Supervisory Responsibility
N/A
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Finance Officer
Works Directly With: Country Finance/Grants Teams.
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
  • A potential Degree in accounting or a relevant business field is desirable.
  • A minimum of CPA 2 or equivalent.
  • Computer skills in accounting software and MS Office programs, particularly Excel 
  • Accuracy in the processing of cash transactions, mathematical aptitude and attention to detail
  • Good oral and written English skills
Success Factors
The Finance Assistant should have the ability to communicate and interact effectively across diverse program teams and support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful information. A high professional standard of finance and procurement ethics as well as a willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Kenya, and Nairobi and may some travel to field offices. 
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.
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.
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
Team Engagement and Effectiveness 
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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 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).
We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
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