Senior Sub-Award Compliance Officer (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the link provided)

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.

Program / Department Summary

The Mercy Corps Sub-award and Compliance Department supports all financial and compliance aspects of subgranting.  In its role as a support to the Regional Program Department, the Sub-award and Compliance Department is responsible for ensuring subrecipients are compliant with donor regulations as well as Mercy Corps’ internal policies and procedures.  It supports the Program team to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently and effectively.  The Department is involved in pre-award and due diligence processes, contracting, financial report support, reviews, and approvals,  payments, capacity development, compliance reviews and audits, close-out.   The Department is also a main actor in ensuring Sub-award strategy is embedded in programming, by providing on-the-job and ad-hoc support to Partners on all finance and compliance related issues in order to ensure compliance and also importantly to build the financial and compliance capacity of partners.

General Position Summary

The Senior Sub-award Compliance Officer will assist the Sub-award & Compliance Coordinator to oversee, ensure and facilitate the compliance with Mercy Corps policies and procedures, donor regulations and requirements for partners The successful candidate will work with team members and implementing partner(s) to ensure smooth, efficient and effective sub-granting process that adhere to Mercy Corps’ policy and donor regulations.  The Senior Sub-award Compliance Officer will support the efforts of capacity development of local organisations to meet finance and compliance requirements and develop professional processes and/or systems. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

SUBGRANT MANAGEMENT

• Assist the Sub-award & Compliance Coordinator to ensure that partnership compliance processes and guidelines are followed.
• Support with the review of financial due diligence documents during the identification and selection of partners which will receive sub-grants.  
• Assist with preparing and reviewing subgrants and modification of subgrants in accordance with relevant donor requirements and Mercy Corps policies.
• Support with the financial monitoring and verification process of subgrants, to ensure compliance, including reviewing Partner Monitoring Plans and Financial Reporting packages. 
• Support with the development and maintenance of a toolbox for subgrants.
• Support and maintain trackers in the course of the subgrant process, in relation to particular donor compliance matters.
• Assist the Finance and Program teams with assessing and understanding partner capacity development needs, so that the subgrant process strengthens the ability of local organizations to meet Mercy Corps and donor standards. 
• Support with aspects of audit preparation for Mercy Corps and partners audits

COMPLIANCE

• Carry out research into donor rules and regulations as required and develop guidance notes for use by Mercy Corps team and partners.   
• Support with procurement guidance, processes, and verification. 
• Support with the identification of compliance risks in projects.
• Develop and maintain a partnership compliance tracker / issues log.

TEAM SUPPORT & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Support with guidance and training for partners and MC team (including written guidance notes and compliance training sessions and workshops). 
• Provide tailored capacity development support to partners in relation to compliance matters in conjunction with other team focal points.
• Assist in any other task or duty assigned by the supervisor.

GENERAL

• 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

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

Reports Directly To: Sub-award & Compliance Coordinator

Works Directly With: Sub-award Finance Coordinator, other Finance staff, Program and Administrative Staff, HQ Finance Team, All Mercy Corps departments and staff as well as staff from partner organizations.

Knowledge and Experience

• University Degree or Higher, ideally in field relating to law, business, finance (or other related subjects).
• 3 or more years of experience working in Non-Governmental Organisation, ideally focused on humanitarian relief.
• Desired demonstrated expertise in working with sub-grants, small grants, and/or contracts.
• Good understanding of structure and processes in NGOs. 
• Working understanding of procurement, administration and finance systems.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members. 
• Effective verbal and written communication and good organizational skills.
• Commitment to local capacity building and past experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the MS Office software (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Commitment to high level of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Arabic and English language written and spoken is essential; Excellent written English is desired.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have proven experience of compliance-related matters and of working and communicating effectively with team members and others of varied work styles.  S/he will have demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, and meet deadlines and a proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results.  The successful candidate will be able to work independently or collaboratively as part of a team and with partners.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures and values at all times and venues, in such a manner as to bring positive recognition to Mercy Corps and to not endanger Mercy Corps’ humanitarian mission.