Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) has grown rapidly both in terms of the volume of activity and its complexity. With offices in Edinburgh, London and Geneva, we now attract over £80m in income, and employ around 100 domestic and expatriate field team members. The breadth and impact of our programmes makes Mercy Corps a unique and truly rewarding place to work. Our teams are proud of what we achieve in the field and we are always looking for talented individuals who share our passion and commitment.

Position Summary.
The Finance division performs a vital function for MCE, providing meaningful financial information to employees, management, donors, regulators and other key stakeholders such as banks and auditors. Finance includes all MCE headquarters accounting and finance; accounts payable, accounts receivable, annual external/internal audits and financial reporting. The finance division works closely with the International Finance Team who rely on accurate and timely data, enabling monthly budget versus actual reporting to over 40 countries.

This is a key new position within the agency, created as a result of the significant growth of Mercy Corps in Europe. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and experienced Financial Controller to play a role in developing the financial operations that will support our further development, internal controls and expansion.

The Financial Controller will ensure that MCE’s corporate accounting systems, processes and procedures are effective and efficient. They will provide leadership, direction and accountability in managing and coordinating the monthly preparation of accurate and timely consolidated financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards, lead on banking and treasury, and audit matters.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Plan, direct and manage all internal/external/corporate accounting functions, including general ledgers, and financial statement and consolidation.
• Manage flow of information from related entities and subsidiaries to ensure proper reporting.
• Generate MCE’s audited financial statements and other miscellaneous external financial reports.
• Review monthly internal financial reports and summarised reporting for Director of Finance.
• Review and report on legal entities that are either consolidated or included in MCE financials as programme-related investments.
• Own MCE Finance manuals and work closely across departments to provide input on significant policy and accounting impact, internal controls and management issues surrounding strategic business decisions.
• Provide advice on the development and implementation of accounting systems/modules as needed to increase efficiency at HQ and in the field.
• Support the Director of Finance in preparing for the Audit and Finance Committees of the Board.
• Promote the coordination of financial information sharing across the organisation.
• Responsible for the supporting commentary on monthly management accounts and ancillary reports for Executive Director and Director of Finance (MCE & MCNL)
• Lead on FX financial reporting: prepare analysis and guidance for stakeholders. Develop and maintain monthly FX processes: intercompany and international partner revaluations, review and reconcile MCE & MCNL FX gains/losses and follow-up differences
• Lead and co-ordinate with Compliance on the review of International partner and local partner subaward advance payment tracker, and position.
• Main point of contact on auditor queries regarding FX accounting, co-financing, accrued/deferred balances, ICR calculations and structure of monthly accounts.
• Ensure Payroll function is delivered within CF (MCE & MCNL(with HR))
• Deliver on individual projects i.e. VAT, 1FS
• Lead and deliver the MCNL corporate finance function
• Ownership of Annual Report process
• Attend ESLT and associated workstream (strategy, quarterly reporting, team updates)
• Contribute to Board & Committees
• Collaborate with MCG to ensure efficient relationship and operations and input into Global projects
• Collaborate with International Finance to ensure a more efficient relationship and reporting for projects

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

The role will have direct line management responsibility for a small team of analysts and accounts payable and receivable team members.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Finance, Europe

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 Qualifications and Transferable Skills

• Fully-qualified chartered accountant with significant post qualification experience, with evidence of working for an international NGO.
• Demonstrable analytical and report-writing skills.
• Evidential understanding of risk and an ability to manage this effectively.
• Experience of staff management.

Success Factors

• Pro-active, flexible problem-solving approach.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work well under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills – able to communicate complex information effectively across the organisation, and to build strong relationships remotely and across multiple geographies.
• Strong skills of negotiation.
• Passionate and a clear empathy with the organisation’s aims and values.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and it requires up to 20% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

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.

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.

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.

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 elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.