Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are included and supported to deliver on the mission of the organisation. People come to Mercy Corps to do the most impactful work of their lives. This is a place where you get to bring your full self. Curiosity, kindness, collaboration, optimism, courage, creativity — these are some of the qualities that define our culture. We seek team members with different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. Diversity is how we tackle the world’s toughest challenges. We believe our values and behaviours encourage inclusion so that everyone feels they belong at Mercy Corps.

The Department

In this role you will be part of the Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) Finance team whilst also enjoying benefits of working alongside the MCE People Partnering team. These teams work together ensuring Mercy Corps employees are treated fairly and equitably, delivering world class compensation and benefits programme.

Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organisation; driving talent management to support team members achieve their highest potential, delivering great practices that promote the organisational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on developing all colleagues; enhance everyone’s experience with HR services, keep the organisation focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment

The Position

The Compensation and Benefits Officer will be primarily responsible for the leading of monthly compensation and benefits in six jurisdictions (Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, France and Switzerland) and ensure compliance with appropriate legislation, regulations, policies and procedures and act as a first point of contact for team members on Compensation and Benefits issues. The position will work closely with the People team and internal/external stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely exchange and provision of information for processing compensation and benefits to stakeholders in all jurisdictions.

You will be asked to promote our Mercy Corps values and behaviours and role model these with all those you connect with in your role. There will be opportunities for you to lead and manage projects which prioritise compensation and benefits of our people. We want you to be a problem solver, who can respond quickly to challenges in the workplace and the wider external regulatory environment; anticipate potential barriers and find opportunities to overcome these which meet the needs of the business.

You will be our champion of global initiatives across Europe promoting consistency of systems and processes in support of our people. We are looking you to be innovative, be curious and challenge our current ways of working to continuously improve the way we work.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy Planning

• Support HR Director to review and update Compensation and Benefits strategy, aligned to global approach and systems.

Payroll Management

• Manage the preparation and processing of the monthly payroll from start to finish for team members located in the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, France and Switzerland, in coordination with the payroll external stakeholders.
• Hand off to Finance processing to set up and process monthly payroll and benefits payments.
• Serve as the primary contact and manage relationships with payroll external stakeholders in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Ireland.
• Manage periodic reconciliation and statutory year-end returns processes with the payroll external stakeholders.
• Tax and other payroll related liabilities reporting, coordination with the payroll external stakeholders and national authorities, as necessary.
• In coordination with payroll stakeholders monitor statutory changes in the countries under their jurisdiction to ensure MCNL remains compliant with national regulations.
• Review and process payroll and benefits related invoices ensuring they are compliant, correctly approved, authorised, filed and booked.
• Reconcile monthly vendor invoices.
• Coordinate with the People team to ensure changes and updates, including starters, leavers, contract and salary changes, variable payments, etc., are processed accurately and on a timely basis.
• Work with the Finance team to develop procedures and processes, bringing operational efficiencies where needed.
• Manage the filing systems efficiently filing all the payroll related internal and external paperwork in the most appropriate manner throughout the processing process.
• Manage and resolve queries from employees relating to payroll.
• Ensure Mercy Corps remains a living wage employer and our pay scales/ salaries reflect this commitment on an annual basis.
• Support the bi-annual commitment to benchmark pay bands and salaries to ensure staff salaries and benefits remain competitive with the market.

Benefits Management

• Be point of contact for internal queries relating to benefits available to staff.
• Manage external stakeholder relationships; manage communication between external and internal stakeholders, maintain processes and systems, effective and efficient working practices.
• Manage regular review of benefits offering, make recommendations to senior leadership of proposed changes to maintain an industry competitive benefits offering.
• Collaborate with internal global rewards and benefits team to ensure alignment of European offering with Global offerings.
• Keep up to date and ensure compliance with all statutory requirements in Mercy Corps’ European jurisdictions.
• Coordinate the administration of the European benefits portfolio.
• Ensure all staff in all European jurisdictions have access to the Mercy Corps benefits as well as meeting legal compliance requirements for all employees in their jurisdictions.
• Introduce new innovations around benefits to remain a leading employer of people in Europe.

HR Collaboration

• Collaborate with HR People Operations team to ensure support to team members in Europe incorporates necessary local regulations and context.
• Work with the HR Director of Europe People team, maintain all Europe-specific processes and policies.
• Collaborate with US-based colleagues to ensure a consistent benefit and compensation approach to support international team members hired from across both locations. Coordinate with finance to ensure payroll is processed for each European jurisdiction in a timely manner.
• Develop, coach and mentor HR team members across Europe

Supervisory responsibility: None

Accountability

• You will report into the Finance team Europe, with a dotted line into HR.
• You will work collaboratively with the global HR people team; Finance & Compliance; Corporate Accounting; regional and country- level leadership; other internal stakeholders.

Minimum experience, expectations for this role

• Bachelor’s degree (or HBO+ for the NL) in People (HR), Accounting, Management, or equivalent qualification at degree/postgraduate level.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in a fast-paced office environment working as a Compensation and Benefits Analyst/ Accountancy Officer /Business Analyst.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and cooperatively with team members and the ability to take direction as well as work independently.
• Multi-tasking, organisational, and prioritisation skills.
• Proven track record of managing internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent computer skills required, including familiarity with MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint; comfort with IT functions a plus.
• Experience with payroll administration and bookkeeping processes.
• Experience with accounting procedures and software.

Desired Experience

• International experience in a not-for-profit/charitable organisation, and/or commercial private sector.
• Experience working with organisations in Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France and/or Ireland.
• A Dutch, or French speaker preferrable.
• Knowledge of local regulations/legislation across different EU jurisdictions.

Success Factors

You should apply for this role if you are a curious learner, self-directed, innovative and action orientated. We need you to be able to work independently, manage your deliverables as priorities in the business change. You will be empowered to speak up and share when you need additional support.

You will thrive in a fast-paced environment prone to rapid change and be willing to increase your responsibility over time. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a positive approach, a strong commitment to teamwork and personal accountability and the ability to be flexible and ensure that effective communication is a priority in all situations. You should be comfortable managing queries and complaints, resolving conflict effectively.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in either Edinburgh or Netherlands office and can be expected to travel for small amounts of time to the UK and Europe. Although international travel will be limited in this role, all Mercy Corps team members should be comfortable to travel to areas with limited access to medical facilities and amenities.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in 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.

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 prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. 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.