Finance & Sub-Awards Manager

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization founded on the belief that a better world is possible. The organization focuses on providing assistance in times of disaster and hardship, collaborating with communities to implement bold solutions that help individuals overcome adversity and build stronger communities. Mercy Corps promotes good governance and aims to create an enabling environment for inclusive decision-making, effective engagement between communities and local governments, and stable markets. The organization operates in numerous countries worldwide, working to address the underlying causes of conflict and reduce social, economic, and environmental drivers of violence.

Job Overview:
The Finance & Sub-Awards Manager plays a crucial role in the financial management of the COSMA project in Moldova. This position is primarily focused on overseeing sub-grant financial management, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and maintaining audit readiness. The manager will be responsible for implementing strong internal controls, providing accurate financial reporting, and offering financial capacity support to partner civil society organizations (CSOs) and media organizations. The role involves managing a large portfolio of sub-awards, conducting budget monitoring, and coordinating with regional finance teams to ensure effective financial operations. The Finance & Sub-Awards Manager will also contribute to project strategy and vision, ensuring that financial management approaches align with the facilitation model and risk-sensitive grantmaking.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance & Sub-Awards Manager will have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Contributing to project start-up and financial systems design for the Facilitation Unit.
• Advising the Team Leader on financial risks, budget utilization, and adaptive reallocations.
• Leading financial due diligence and capacity assessments of prospective CSO and media partners.
• Reviewing and validating sub-grant budgets for accuracy and compliance.
• Establishing and maintaining cash grant and sub-grant tracking systems.
• Monitoring burn rates and identifying risks of underspending or ineligible costs.
• Supporting the development of partner financial management capacity through coaching.
• Serving as the primary finance focal point for COSMA partners and stakeholders.
• Preparing and analyzing monthly Budget-vs-Actual reports. 1
• Ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps financial policies and SDC requirements. 1
• Supervising and mentoring finance and grants support staff as applicable. 1
• Promoting a culture of compliance, transparency, and accountability within the Facilitation Unit.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, preferably within an international NGO context. They should have demonstrated experience managing large donor-funded contracts with complex budgets and compliance requirements. Proven experience in overseeing high-volume cash grants and sub-grant portfolios is essential, along with strong knowledge of donor rules and regulations, particularly those of SDC, EU, or similar donors. Candidates should also have experience with Budget-vs-Actual analysis, forecasting, and audit preparation, as well as proficiency in Excel and financial management systems.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is required for this position. Professional certification in finance or accounting is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's qualifications.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 5–7 years of relevant experience in finance and accounting, with a strong background in managing donor-funded projects and compliance requirements. Experience in financial management within an NGO setting is highly desirable, particularly in roles that involve oversight of sub-grant portfolios and financial monitoring.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, along with proficiency in Romanian and/or Russian. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Moldova and will focus on regions where social cohesion is particularly at risk, such as Gagauzia and the Northern region. The role is full-time and involves ongoing learning opportunities, allowing team members to dedicate 5% of their time to personal and professional development activities. Mercy Corps is committed to equal employment opportunities and maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment, adhering to strict safeguarding and ethical standards.