Job Title: Regional Finance Director, Africa
Date Posted: 07/07/2026
Job Type: Full Time
Employer: Mercy Corps
Industry: Finance
Salary: Open
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline: 21/07/2026
Looking
for a finance job in Kenya? Mercy Corps is hiring a Regional Finance Director
skilled in financial management, regional budget oversight, compliance
monitoring, and strategic leadership.
The Position
The Regional Finance Director serves as a member of the International Finance team and the Africa regional office, supporting the financial management function for the regional portfolio and overseeing the financial management of initiatives led by the Africa regional team.
The Director plays a key role in advancing strategies and initiatives within the region, ensuring alignment with Mercy Corps’ internal policies, procedures, and donor regulations. Reporting to the VP of International Finance and the Deputy Regional Director (DRD), Operations, this position collaborates closely with the Regional Controller to optimize the use of financial resources across programs and departments, fostering efficiency and effectiveness.
Responsibilities
Financial
Management Oversight
- Collaborate with Finance Directors & Managers across the region
and with the Regional Controller to support award implementation and
financial management, ensuring consistent use of Mercy Corps’ financial
management best practices.
- Conduct periodic support visits to the country programs following an
approved scope of work.
- Monitor the financial performance of the regional portfolio.
Identify weaknesses, strengths, risks, and opportunities across the Africa
portfolio, and develop strategies to strengthen financial management
systems and practices. Promote a culture of problem-solving and continuous
improvement.
- Monthly Reviews of the financial health and risk identification
shared with the Regional Senior Leadership Team and VP of International
Finance for action.
- Oversee and strengthen risk management processes, ensuring robust
performance oversights are in place and developing mitigation strategies
to safeguard financial integrity and compliance across country
programs
- Proactively identify potential risks and develop mitigation
strategies with the Regional Senior Team
- Develop an expertise and maintain current on the rules and
regulations of all donors and provide guidance in the area of donor
compliance.
- Contribute to discussions on financial policy issues including the
maintenance and development of the International Finance Manual.
Awards Financial
Management Support
- Support regional and country teams during start-up, closeout, and
other major events. Including the development of master budgets, subaward
budgets and the development of financial monitoring tools and systems for
sub-recipients.
- Analyze and support the country program’s financial forecasting
process to enhance effective Budget vs. Actual (BvA) management and ensure
accurate forecasting, as needed
- Deploy to country offices and field sites within the region to
provide on-the-ground support and oversight.
- Support Business Development efforts with reviews and input to cost
proposals as needed. Perform the final financial review of the
proposal document before approval and submission to the donor.
- Oversee regional initiatives as needed.
- Ensure compliance with internal financial policies, procedures, and
donor regulations across all projects managed by the region.
- Review audit reports and support country offices in solving audit
issues with the collaboration of the regional
controller. Internal/External Audit closure and corrective action
plan development and tracking
Strategic
Planning and Support Functions
- Provide financial information which supports the Regional Senior
Management Team in making business decisions in line with Mercy Corps,
Regional & Country Program strategies.
- Participate in regional SMT with strategic thinking, risk analysis
and other engagement as needed
- Provide analysis on the overall financial health of the country
programs to the DRD operations and HQ Finance and collaborate across the
regional teams and with country programs on corrective actions and support
plans.
- Contribute and provide feedback to the development of Country
Programs, Strategic Annual Plans and annual operating budgets
- Support the financial management of the regional department
resources, including but not limited to the annual planning and budgeting,
and the management of indirect and unrestricted resources throughout the
fiscal year.
- Present complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders
and provide financial advisory to the regional team, enabling informed
decision-making and strategic planning on financial matters.
- Collaborate with the Regional Controller, regional leadership, and
other Global Support teams to solve financial management challenges.
- Support the rollout and adaptation of new finance procedures and
strategic initiatives for the region. Support the development and review
of local policies
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including
donors, partners, and government agencies, to ensure effective financial
coordination and communication
Recruitment, Capacity
Building and Team Management
- Support the recruitment and onboarding process for Finance leads
across the region.
- Provide day-to-day management, coaching, and performance support to
International Finance regional team members, including analysts and
managers, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, and alignment with
regional and departmental priorities.
- Build the capacity of IF regional team members through structured
onboarding, regular feedback, mentoring, and targeted development plans
that strengthen financial management, analysis, and business partnering
skills.
- Support effective workload planning and coordination across the IF
regional team, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and consistent
delivery of high-quality support to country and regional
stakeholders.
- Support the development of finance capacity within the regional and
the various country office teams, including training and mentorship of
staff in financial management and accounting practices.
- Provide training and capacity building for finance and program staff
on financial management, policies, and procedures
Safeguarding
Responsibilities
- Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work,
including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of
work.
- Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity
and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
- Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team
members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting
mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
Minimum Qualification &
Transferable Skills
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance – Master’s Degree, CPA or
equivalent a plus.
- At least 10+ years of international level progressive financial
management experience within an INGO at field level/overseas level
experience, including supervisory experience required.
- Experience working in complex and fast-paced environments, with the
ability to deploy to emergency locations.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to
effectively manage and motivate teams.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and
build strong relationships.
- Proven experience in managing multi-country financial operations and
donor-funded projects
- Proven knowledge of US Government and European Union regulations
highly desirable, including with US Government contracting
- Commitment to humanitarian principles and the mission and strategy
of Mercy Corps.
- Fluency in English and French required. Proficiency in
relevant regional language(s) is highly desirable.
- This position requires frequent travel (up to 25% of the time)
- Proficiency with MS Office software required (Outlook, Word, Excel,
PowerPoint).
How to Apply
