Budgeting & Financial Analysis Lead - Syria

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, and 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 works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

General Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Finance, the Budgeting and Financial Analysis Lead provides general guidance and leadership in the management and co-ordination of all budgets and budget related matters to Whole of Syria Programs, in co-operation with relevant stakeholders and the senior financial management team. In addition, s/he is responsible for enhancing/improving budget-monitoring systems, policies, processes and ensuring compliance with awards’ conditions and donor rules and regulations. S/he collaboratively works with program teams to develop systems and tools that ensure that resources are used efficiently, and a wide range of operational needs of the country program is met.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• In close coordination with programs, awards and other stakeholders, lead development of planning and budget processes, including development and periodically enhancing internal budgeting guidelines, templates and tools for annual budgeting, grant proposal development and budget modifications.
• In close collaboration with Operational Team, HR and Program Teams, lead the development of Country Master Budget and provide regular analysis on country cost coverage including any identifiable gaps and provide sustainability analysis and recommendations to the Finance Director and Senior management team.
• Responsible for the provision of regular financial reports and analysis for the Finance Director and senior management team that forecast and reflect trends on budget performance and grants financial position.
• In collaboration with different stakeholders in WOS, lead the deployment of award specific budgets, ensuring the appropriate cost recovery and cost sharing mechanisms that are in line with Donor Flexibility Requirement and internal MC Policies and Procedures.
• In close coordination and support with MCG and MCE, develop accurate BVA and pipeline report that can accommodate complex program needs. Oversee regular update/analysis of the BvAs and pipelines.
• Responsible for monthly review of transactions for compliance and eligibility under grants and provide reasonable assurance that expenditures are valid and allowable; mitigate and assess risks of disallowance and over / underspending; identify corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Responsible for development and maintenance of a reliable records-keeping system that is easily accessible to users and support in the consistent and correct usage of budget codes.
• Work with different stakeholders in country on monitoring grant performance for all donors. Liaise with budget holders to ensure that key processes and systems are in place to manage grant risk assessments, donor financial compliance and reporting process.
• Work with various stakeholders in country on updating and aligning the forecasts in the BVA and aligning them with the most updated program plans as per the MC internal guidelines.
• Lead processes and communications with all program/department budget holders to monitor and revise budgets throughout the year and life of projects. Work with programs and grants units to streamline internal processes to deliver more efficient, more effective, and more useful reports and analysis.
• Develop and maintain templates and SoPs related to budget management and expenditure review, etc.
• Propose improved policies and systems regarding spending guidelines, cost saving, cost allocation and annual planning.
• Serve as an in-country resource for grants compliance and donor rules and regulations, and liaise with HQ Compliance Unit as required. Create reference document for program and finance teams summarizing compliance rules and regulations applicable to each grant agreement and institutional donor.
• Assist Finance Director and senior management team on special projects requiring financial analysis.
• Provide training to staff on budget management processes, systems and best practices.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career

development.

• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach

objectives.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback
• Informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Strategy & Vision

• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment of empowerment.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to country-wide strategy development.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Budgeting and Financial Analysis staff (2 staff) with the dotted lines budgeting staff in the field.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Finance Director

Works Directly With: Syria program Finance and Compliance Unit; field finance teams; Program and Operations Managers, Grants Unit, HQ Regional Finance Officer, HQ Compliance unit and other

Knowledge and Experience

• A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive financial management experience, including supervisory experience
• 3-4 years of budgeting, financial reporting and financial systems work experience, preferably in nonprofit sector
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting and budget planning including development of annual and grant budgets, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Demonstrated experience and skill with financial reporting preparation and presentation and proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Thorough knowledge of major donor rules and regulations and implications on budgeting and budget monitoring
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft excel and experience with financial systems integration
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to find creative solutions
• Proven ability to prioritize projects and initiate and follow through, with meticulous attention to detail
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Excellent oral and written English skills required
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

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. S/he will be able to support programmatic objectives with timely and meaningful financial information, have a demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. An impeccable professional standard of finance and procurement ethics and the willingness and ability to enforce compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures is essential. The Finance Manager must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. 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 Budgeting And Financial Analysis Manager is based in Amman and is required to travel to the field locations up to 5-10% of his/her time. It is a secure location with access to main medical and other amenities. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. The location is accompanied.

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.