Job Description

Position Title:  Subgrant Compliance Officer

Location: Baidoa-Somalia (with assignments for coverage duties in other country offices on need basis)

Position Status:  Full-time

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 (Program / Department Summary)

Mercy Corps has been a fixture in Somalia since 2005, implementing projects that target hundreds of thousands of vulnerable households. Their work focuses on improving access to basic services and overcoming vulnerabilities caused by civil conflict and natural disasters. They achieve this through interventions in four key sectors: water security, peace and governance, economic and food security. Their programs are designed in an integrated manner, incorporating new methodologies like Emergency, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction), and Resilience frameworks. Mercy Corps' operations in Somalia are firmly rooted in a robust framework of socio-political analysis and risk management systems, ensuring compliance with Somali Federal Government (FGS) laws, internal accountability standards, and donor requirements. Mercy Corps Somalia has over 100 field staff-based field operations in Mogadishu,  Hargeisa, Kismayo, and Baidoa with programs funded by multitude of donors including USAID, FCDO, SIDA, SDC, AFD and the UN.

General Position Summary

Mercy Corps is seeking a Subgrant Compliance Officer for the Enter Energy project in Baidoa funded by FCDO and implemented in close collaboration with the Baidoa Municipality, the energy company (BECO), IOM and Power Africa that is supporting the electrification of the Barwaqo/ northern Baidoa

The Mercy Corps Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions in Baidoa and the entire Somalia, 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 Subgrant Compliance Officer is responsible for subgrants and subgrantees to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the subgrant agreement.  The Subgrant Compliance Officer is also responsible for tracking subgrants and subgrantee requirements and for maintaining all subgrant master files.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

STRATEGY:

• Support the Finance and Compliance Manager/department in successful implementation, adherence, and common understanding of Mercy Corps Subaward/finance Policies in all Mercy Corps Somalia offices.
• Work with the Finance and Compliance Manager/ team to build a strong, collaborative and motivated office culture in Somalia; arranging team training and team-building initiatives

Job Functions:

• Assist the Finance and Compliance Manager in conducting subgrantee pre-award assessments.
• Provide on-going training and support to subgrantees in Mercy Corps subgrant financial procedures and assist in conducting formal subgrantee training workshops.
• Review subgrantee financial reports for correctness and completeness and ensure that reports are submitted on time. – it depends on the kind of subaward as per Subaward management policy
• Assist in subgrantee site audits and prepare site visit reports.
• Follow up on all subgrant compliance issues and audits and document resolutions.
• Maintain subgrant tracking sheet as well as financial files in accordance with the Subaward Manual.
• Process subgrantee payments and reconcile subgrant financial tracking sheet to general ledger in Navigator. It depends on the kind of subaward as per Subaward management policy
• Assist in subgrant close-outs ensuring that all requirements of the subgrant agreement have been met and that subgrant funds have been properly settled.
• Work with sub-grantees in Cost Share/Match reporting and keeping a tracking sheet.
• Maintain filing system for Cost Share/Match vouchers reported by sub-grantees.
• Entering local sub-award cards in Navigator
• Entering local sub-award financial reports in Navigator. It depends on the kind of subaward as per Subaward management policy
• Conducting financial monitoring visits to subgrantees as well part of Joint monitoring visits
• Continuously updating subgrantee master files. It depends on the kind of subaward as per Subaward management policy
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.

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.
• 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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A   ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports Directly To: Finance and Compliance Manager

Works Directly With: ALL Finance team, Operations, HR and Programs

Experiences and Qualifications

Knowledge and Experience:

• Three or more years of finance experience, including Partners management and subawards, grant management or auditing.
• A university degree in finance, accounting or a related business field is required. 
• Two years’ experience in the Finance Department of a non-governmental organization
• Good understanding of major international donor rules and non-profit accounting
• Prior experience with computerized general ledger software
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel and Access. 
• Strong analytical skills coupled with a solid understanding of financial and procurement systems; Prior auditing experience is considered a plus.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.

  Success Factors

• The ability to effectively monitor subgrantee compliance as well as to provide support and training for subgrantee personnel is critical.

• The Subgrant Compliance Officer must be willing to travel to Mercy Corps field offices, subgrantee offices and project sites.

• A high 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.
• The ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel is required.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities is necessary.
• The successful candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills, strong oral and written communications skills and should be an excellent listener. S/ he must have excellent analytical skills, good reasoning abilities, and sound judgment.
• Previous work experience in Subaward/subgrantees or finance departments will be an added advantage.

.

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.

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 the 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 professionally, respect local laws and customs, and always adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all the times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Skills Required

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