Finance and Sub Awards Manager – COSMA Project - (National only)
Description
Location: Chisinau, Moldova
Salary Level: TBD – National Position
Salary Level: TBD – National Position
Please note this position is contingent on funding.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disasters, in hardships around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
We promote good governance, contributing to an enabling environment for inclusive decision-making, effective engagement between communities and local government counterparts, sustained and responsive service delivery, and stable, accessible markets. Our programmes are designed to help address the underlying causes of conflict while reducing key social, economic. and environmental drivers of violence.
About the Project
The planned Strengthening Social Cohesion through Civil Society and Mass-Media in Moldova (COSMA) project – funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) – aims to strengthen social cohesion in Moldova by enabling civil society organizations and independent media to act as trusted intermediaries between citizens and institutions, promote inclusive dialogue, and reinforce accountability in a highly polarized environment. Through a facilitation unit model, the project supports locally led initiatives that respond to citizens’ priorities, expand civic participation at the local level, and improve the quality, independence, and sustainability of civil society and media actors, with a particular focus on regions and communities where cohesion is most at risk.
General Position Summary
The Finance & Sub-Awards Manager is responsible for day-to-day financial management of the COSMA project in Moldova, with a primary focus on sub-grant financial oversight, budget monitoring, compliance, and audit readiness. The role ensures strong internal controls, accurate financial reporting, and effective financial capacity support to partner CSOs and media organizations. The position manages the financial lifecycle of a large portfolio of sub-awards, supports Budget-vs-Actual analysis and forecasting, and coordinates with regional finance teams responsible for transactional processing and consolidated reporting.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
STRATEGY AND VISION
- Contribute to project start-up and financial systems design for the Facilitation Unit.
- Ensure financial management approaches support a facilitation model and risk-sensitive grantmaking.
- Advise the Team Leader on financial risks, budget utilisation, and adaptive reallocations.
- Support development of annual financial plans aligned with programme workplans and SDC requirements.
SUB-AWARD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
- Lead financial due diligence and capacity assessments of prospective CSO and media partners.
- Review and validate sub-grant budgets for accuracy, eligibility, and value for money.
- Establish and maintain cash grant and sub-grant tracking systems covering commitments, disbursements, and liquidations.
- Review partner financial reports and supporting documentation for compliance with SDC and Mercy Corps rules.
- Monitor burn rates, identify risks of underspending or ineligible costs, and recommend corrective actions.
- Ensure clear segregation of duties between approval, disbursement, and reconciliation processes.
- Support development of partner financial management capacity through coaching and guidance.
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP, COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION
- Serve as the primary finance focal point for COSMA partners and stakeholders in Moldova.
- Coordinate closely with the regional finance team responsible for payment processing, BvA production, and general ledger management.
- Provide financial input to grant selection processes and portfolio reviews.
- Participate in donor meetings and reporting processes as required.
PROJECT PERFORMANCE, BUDGET MONITORING AND REPORTING
- Prepare and analyze monthly Budget-vs-Actual reports for coordination and administered funds, in strong coordination with the Regional Finance team
- Support program forecasting and budget realignments in collaboration with the Team Leader and regional finance team.
- Maintain accurate financial records and ensure timely submission of financial data for donor reporting.
- Track Cash grants and Sub-grant pipeline and disbursement schedules to support cash-flow planning.
- Contribute to financial sections of donor reports.
FINANCE, COMPLIANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
- Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps financial policies and SDC requirements across all programmed expenditures.
- Conduct financial review of procurement requests, contracts, advances, and payments for eligibility and budget alignment.
- Maintain complete and auditable financial documentation at a country level.
- Lead preparation for internal and external audits and respond to audit queries.
- Support monthly and quarterly close processes in coordination with regional finance teams.
- Monitor cash flow needs and prepare projections.
TEAM MANAGEMENT, RISK AND SAFEGUARDING
- Supervise and mentor finance and grants support staff as applicable.
- Strengthen financial controls and fraud prevention measures across the programme.
- Identify and escalate fiduciary, reputational, and operational risks.
- Ensure financial processes align with safeguarding and partner protection requirements.
- Promote a culture of compliance, transparency, and accountability within the Facilitation Unit and among partners.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
Finance/Grants Assistant(s) (if applicable)
ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports Directly To: Team Leader – COSMA
Technical Line: Regional Finance Manager
Works Directly With: Project team, Operations, MEL, regional finance, partners
Technical Line: Regional Finance Manager
Works Directly With: Project team, Operations, MEL, regional finance, partners
ACCOUNTABILITY TO PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme 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.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, preferably with an international NGO.
- Demonstrated experience managing large donor-funded contracts with complex budgets and compliance requirements.
- Proven experience overseeing high-volume cash grants, sub-grant portfolios, including partner due diligence, financial monitoring, and capacity support.
- Strong knowledge of donor rules and regulations (experience with SDC, EU, or similar donors preferred).
- Experience with Budget-vs-Actual analysis, forecasting, and audit preparation.
- Proficiency in Excel and financial management systems.
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field (professional certification an asset).
- Fluency in English and Romanian and/or Russian required
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
These positions will be based in Moldova. The project will have nationwide coverage focusing on regions where social cohesion is particularly at risk, e.g., Gagauzia and the Northern region.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organisations 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
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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 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.
As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).