NGO JOBS

A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places – places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Haiti – with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives.

Resource Development (RD) staff work in three main areas: 1) raising private funds and cultivating and maintaining relationships with private donors; 2) defining the agency’s brand, raising our public profile and sharing stories about our work by engaging with the media, the public, and our supporters and producing a wide range of online and offline communications; and 3) teaching visitors to our Portland Action Center about issues of global poverty and engaging them in efforts to end it.

The RD team includes several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of skills. We are database managers, web developers, internet marketers and public relations experts. We are writers, designers, photographers and teachers. We are fundraisers with expertise in direct response, online, community, major gift and corporate giving. We are specialists in fundraising analysis, stewardship, prospecting and customer service. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps’ mission and dedicated to supporting our worldwide team that’s improving the lives of 19 million people in 36 countries.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assistant Finance and Administration Officer manages the RD team’s annual budget and planning process in coordination with the Director of Development Operations, handles RD expenses, including travel plans and accounts payable with the Finance department, monitors spending and assists RD team members with vendor contracts, procurement processes and other critical administrative functions.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work closely with the Director of Development Operations, prepare annual RD budget, manage budget process.
• Code and approve all RD-related expenses and obtain the proper signatures and back-up documentation for submission to Finance for payment.
• Provide timely budget and financial reporting on a monthly and as needed basis for the Director of Development Operations, RD department Team Leaders and the Finance department. Such reporting includes, but is not limited to, actual vs. budgeted expense and income figures and monthly income reports for the Finance department.
• Interface with Finance department to reconcile income reports with bank statements and ensure accurate organizational tracking of RD-generated income and expenses and to facilitate mutual reporting requirements.
• Complete all necessary paperwork for annual state registrations and coordinate with Mercy Corps vendor to ensure that Mercy Corps remains in compliance and retains the right to fundraise in all states. Assist satellite offices with local registrations as needed.
• Work with the Director of Development Operations to generate revenue and expense forecasts and analyze revenue trends in comparison to historical performance.
• Assist all RD staff with financial policy and procedure compliance. Train new staff in policies and procedures. Liaise with Finance on behalf of RD staff.
• Assist RD team members in preparing consulting agreements and serve as RD point of contact with Finance/HR for these agreements.
• Serve as liaison to MC General Counsel for legal issues, primarily contract-related.
• Collect and process timesheets to ensure accurate allocation of salaries to cost centers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards 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.

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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Development Operations

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Chief Communications and Resource Development Officer, RD Team Leaders, other RD team members and Corporate Finance

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• College degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite in general, advanced Excel skills.
• At least 2 years experience with financial data, especially accounts payable and related analysis experience.
• 2 years experience in a non-profit setting; understand the difference between unrestricted & temporarily restricted.
• Extremely detail oriented; excellent proofing; highly accurate and precise in complex multi-step processes.
• Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining documentation for routine procedures.
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills.
• Good written and spoken communication skills.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful candidate will be a versatile multi-tasker with the proven ability to organize and prioritize many urgent tasks, follow procedures, and meet deadlines. He or she will be committed to getting it right every time, creating procedures and documentation to replicate success with complex processes repeatedly. S/he will be interested in fundraising and its relation to financial accounting. S/he will have a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles, to work independently, and demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. A proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative and be accountable for results are important as well as an ability to understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, an even temperament, a good sense of humor and an awareness of and sensitivity to multi-cultural international development work.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Position is based in Portland, Oregon at Mercy Corps Headquarters.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of 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.

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.