About this opportunity
Mercy Corps Ethiopia is inviting applications for the position of Finance and Subaward Specialist BSP. The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with regular travel to programme locations and partner offices, including Bahir Dar and Yabello.
The role is part of Mercy Corps’ Border Security Programme (BSP) and focuses on financial management, subaward oversight, partner financial monitoring, compliance, budgeting, forecasting, and financial risk management.
Job Summary
The Finance and Subaward Specialist will provide country-level financial management and subaward oversight for the Border Security Programme in Ethiopia.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring sound financial planning, budget monitoring, forecasting, accounting, donor compliance, and effective management of the financial aspects of subawards with implementing partners.
The position will work closely with programme, finance, grants, compliance, procurement, operations, and partner teams to ensure that programme funds are managed responsibly and in accordance with Mercy Corps policies, donor requirements, and applicable Ethiopian laws and regulations.
According to the vacancy announcement, the position reports directly to the Ethiopia Country Lead – BSP and has a technical reporting line to the Mercy Corps Ethiopia Head of Finance. The position also works closely with the Regional BSP Finance Director.
Position Information
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Finance and Subaward Specialist BSP |
| Organization | Mercy Corps Ethiopia |
| Programme | Border Security Programme (BSP) |
| Job Category | Programming |
| Duty Station | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Travel | Regular travel required |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
| Work Arrangement | On-site |
| Number of Positions | 1 |
| Requisition Number | FINAN007130 |
| Experience Level | Mid-level |
| Application Deadline | October 8, 2026 |
| Deadline Time | 4:00 PM |
| Languages | English and Amharic |
| Application | Online through Mercy Corps recruitment portal |
The vacancy was posted on September 29, 2026.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian and development organization working in countries affected by crisis, poverty, conflict, and other challenges.
Mercy Corps has operated in Ethiopia since 2004, working with government institutions, private-sector organizations, civil society, communities, and other partners to support resilience and sustainable development.
Its Ethiopia programmes cover areas including livelihoods, food security, social cohesion, governance, water and sanitation, and responses to climate- and conflict-related challenges.
About the Border Security Programme
The position is part of the Border Security Programme – Ethiopia.
The programme is an FCDO-funded regional programme designed to address organised immigration crime and contribute to safer borders and communities.
The programme works across four broad outcome areas:
- Evidence and analysis
- Strengthening law-enforcement capability
- Community engagement, reporting and early warning
- Witness support and protection
In Ethiopia, the programme works with government institutions, consortium partners, civil-society organizations, specialist partners, communities, and other stakeholders across relevant border and migration corridors.
Key Responsibilities
1. Programme Financial Management
The Finance and Subaward Specialist will provide oversight of the programme’s financial performance.
Key responsibilities include:
- Monitoring programme expenditure and financial performance.
- Preparing and reviewing financial forecasts.
- Monitoring cash flow and financial requirements.
- Conducting budget-versus-actual analysis.
- Identifying significant financial risks and funding pressures.
- Coordinating activity budgets and budget revisions.
- Reviewing financial records and supporting documentation.
- Ensuring correct financial coding and documentation.
- Monitoring compliance with Mercy Corps policies and donor requirements.
- Supporting regular budget reviews with budget holders.
- Identifying financial variances and supporting corrective actions.
- Promoting value for money.
- Maintaining audit-ready financial records.
- Supporting donor reviews, audits, and other assurance activities.
2. Subaward Management
A major component of this position involves overseeing the financial and compliance aspects of subawards to implementing partners.
Responsibilities include:
- Supporting partner selection and financial assessment.
- Reviewing partner budgets.
- Participating in pre-award assessments and due diligence.
- Identifying and following up on financial risks before awards are issued.
- Supporting preparation and administration of subawards.
- Reviewing financial provisions and budget modifications.
- Maintaining complete subaward documentation.
- Maintaining subaward trackers.
- Reviewing partner financial reports.
- Reviewing payment requests and advances.
- Checking settlements and supporting documentation.
- Ensuring partner expenditures are aligned with approved budgets.
- Coordinating financial close-out of subawards.
- Ensuring final reports and outstanding balances are properly addressed.
The specialist may also coordinate with regional and consortium colleagues where downstream partner-finance arrangements affect the Ethiopia programme.
3. Partner Financial Monitoring and Capacity Building
The successful candidate will help strengthen the financial management capacity of implementing partners.
Key duties include:
- Developing risk-based financial monitoring plans.
- Conducting partner financial monitoring visits.
- Performing desk reviews of partner financial records.
- Reviewing accounting records and procurement documentation.
- Checking payroll and supporting documentation.
- Assessing internal financial controls.
- Reviewing partner budget management.
- Monitoring compliance with subaward terms.
- Tracking findings and corrective actions.
- Escalating significant or repeated financial issues.
- Providing practical coaching to partner finance and grants personnel.
- Supporting training on budgeting and financial reporting.
- Strengthening documentation and internal controls.
- Helping partners address identified financial capacity gaps.
4. Compliance, Risk Management and Audit Readiness
The Finance and Subaward Specialist will also help ensure compliance with donor and organizational requirements.
Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring financial arrangements comply with the FCDO award.
- Applying Mercy Corps financial and operational policies.
- Ensuring compliance with applicable Ethiopian financial, tax, and regulatory requirements.
- Identifying financial and fiduciary risks.
- Supporting required approvals and waivers.
- Helping resolve audit findings and questioned costs.
- Addressing weaknesses in internal controls.
- Communicating financial compliance requirements to programme staff and partners.
- Escalating suspected fraud, conflicts of interest, misuse of funds, safeguarding concerns, or serious irregularities through established channels.
5. Technical Supervision and Team Support
Although the position does not have direct reports, the specialist provides technical supervision and guidance to BSP finance staff.
The role includes providing technical support to BSP Finance Officers in Bahir Dar and Yabello.
This includes guidance on:
- Accounting
- Payment processing
- Bank and account reconciliations
- Budget monitoring
- Financial documentation
- Partner financial follow-up
- Compliance requirements
- Resolution of technical finance issues
6. Coordination and Programme Support
The specialist will work across several Mercy Corps teams and partner organizations.
The position collaborates with:
- Ethiopia Country Lead
- Mercy Corps Ethiopia Finance team
- Regional BSP Finance Director
- Grants and Compliance teams
- Programme teams
- MRELA teams
- Operations
- Procurement
- BSP Finance Officers
- Consortium partners
- Ethiopian implementing partners
The role will also provide financial analysis and inputs for programme reports, workplans, management reviews, and partner performance discussions.
Educational Requirements
Applicants should have a:
Bachelor’s degree in one of the following or a related field:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Business Administration
- Economics
- A related field
The vacancy specifically emphasizes relevant financial, grants, and subaward-management experience in addition to academic qualifications.
Required Professional Experience
Applicants should have:
- At least 5 years of experience in finance, grants, or subaward management with an international NGO (INGO).
- At least 2 years of direct experience in subaward management or partner financial monitoring.
- Experience with institutional donor compliance.
- Knowledge of financial monitoring and partner capacity strengthening.
- Strong understanding of Ethiopian financial and tax requirements.
- Experience with budgeting and forecasting.
- Experience with cash-flow management.
- Strong budget-versus-actual analysis skills.
Practical experience with FCDO requirements is specifically preferred.
Technical Skills
The position requires strong financial and analytical capabilities.
Applicants should have:
Microsoft Excel
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Ability to analyze financial information.
- Ability to prepare and review budgets and forecasts.
- Ability to perform financial and variance analysis.
Financial Management
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Cash-flow management
- Financial reporting
- Accounting
- Internal controls
- Financial risk assessment
Grants and Subawards
- Subaward management
- Partner financial monitoring
- Due diligence
- Financial compliance
- Award modifications
- Financial close-out
- Audit preparation
Compliance
Applicants should understand:
- Institutional donor requirements
- FCDO compliance
- Ethiopian financial requirements
- Ethiopian tax and statutory requirements
- Internal controls
- Financial documentation requirements
Language Requirements
Strong written and spoken communication skills in:
- English
- Amharic
are required.
The role involves working with programme staff, finance teams, implementing partners, government stakeholders, and other organizations, making clear communication an important part of the position.
Duty Station and Travel
The position is based in:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
However, the position requires regular travel to programme locations and partner offices.
The vacancy specifically identifies Bahir Dar and Yabello among the locations associated with the programme.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to travel as required for financial monitoring, partner support, programme coordination, and other work-related activities.
Employment Type
Full-time, on-site
Number of vacancies: 1
The position is listed under Mercy Corps’ Programming category.
Who Can Apply?
The position is suitable for professionals with experience in areas such as:
- NGO finance
- INGO finance
- Grants management
- Subaward management
- Partner financial monitoring
- Donor compliance
- Financial management
- Accounting
- Budget management
- Programme finance
Candidates should be able to combine technical financial skills with strong communication, organization, compliance, and partner-support capabilities.
Mercy Corps states that it is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified female and young candidates to apply.
Important Deadline
Application deadline: October 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews, according to the vacancy announcement.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Mercy Corps recruitment portal.
Apply Here
Mercy Corps – Finance and Subaward Specialist BSP
Apply Online – Mercy Corps Recruitment Portal
Deadline: October 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Applicants should carefully review the official vacancy announcement and provide the information and documents requested through the application portal.
Key Takeaways
If you are considering this position, pay particular attention to the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or related field.
- 5+ years of relevant INGO finance, grants, or subaward experience.
- 2+ years of direct subaward management or partner financial monitoring experience.
- Strong donor-compliance knowledge.
- FCDO experience is strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of Ethiopian financial and tax requirements.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial-analysis abilities.
- Excellent English and Amharic communication skills.
- Willingness to travel regularly.
- Ability to work with implementing partners and multidisciplinary programme teams.
Job ID/Requisition Number: FINAN007130
Organization: Mercy Corps Ethiopia
Position: Finance and Subaward Specialist BSP
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Deadline: October 8, 2026, 4:00 PM