Finance and Project Officer

• Suva-based position (Fiji)
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organization in the Pacific region

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Human Rights and Social Development Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles.The work of this Division includes work previously undertaken by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in the area of human rights and the Social Development Programme (SDP) in the areas of gender equality and social inclusion, culture and youth development.

In line with its vision, the work of the Division will encompass the following focal areas:

• Objective 1: Pacific institutions are strong, transparent, and responsive for upholding and promoting human rights and implementing inclusive, gender sensitive and culturally respectful development.
• Objective 2: Pacific Civil Society understand and can advocate for their rights and uphold cultural values.
• Objective 3: Pacific culture is protected, preserved, and promoted and culturally relevant and appropriate knowledge and systems are integrated across all work.
• Objective 4: All PSC programs and operations are grounded in people centered approaches and consider the rights and cultural values of diverse groups including women, children, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Objective 5: HRSD Division teams work collectively, coherently, and efficiently and to a high standard to achieve shared success for Pacific societies.

The USD 20 million donor-funded ‘Promoting Just, Engaged, Civic-minded and Transparent Governance in the Pacific Project’ (‘PROJECT Governance’) is focused on strengthening democratic institutions and promoting sound, just, and responsive governance in the Indo-Pacific region. PROJECT Governance is anchored by the commitments made by the Pacific Island Forum leaders in the 2000 Biketawa Declaration and reaffirmed in the 2018 Boe Declaration.

The role – Finance and Project Officer will support all aspects of financial and grants management for HRSD’s Project Governance.  This will include project accounting, audit, budgetary controls, and monitoring of financial performance/progress in compliance with SPC and Donor policies and procedures. The position will also support procurement for approved activities across the HRSD  program, contracts and project assets, and the disbursement of funds. The position will provide the program staff with financial advice, support the completion of assigned project and donor reporting, manage audit functions, and assist with the administrative and coordination duties associated with the project.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Budget preparation, monitoring and financial reporting

• Prepare project and programme financial budgets, including work plans, operational costs, and specific activities. Work closely with programme team leaders and grant partners in the budget design and preparation.
• Monitor the overall program budget and forecasts, including against the following specific areas: Program plan or annual workplan; Outputs and outcomes; Commitments and project executions; Project acquittals.
• Prepare timely multi-purpose project and programme financial reports for SPC, donor, and any external project committee or board, technical working groups and others. Reports could include the following: Actuals against budget; Costed activity or outcomes against workplans; Project executions and related risks; Cash management; Audit issues.

Project accounting, audit, and compliance  

• Facilitate all preparations for any project audit and support any external review or evaluation on financial and grant matters. Liaise with auditors to provide required documentation in a timely manner.
• Ensure all aspects of a project’s financial information including accounting transactions, are accurately captured in the SPC financial system, with any discrepancies corrected in a timely manner.
• Monitor project cash receipts, income, and expenditure to ensure that the project has sufficient funds for the implementation of activities.

Oversight and reporting of project grants activities

• Maintain a grants register and regularly update based on project progress and discussions with project team, grantees and other stakeholders. Develop action plans with project staff to deal with poor performing grantees and manage through the register.
• Assist with facilitating regular grant management meetings with program managers to track and monitor budgets, expenditure, required training and support, risks, ongoing capacity assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Assist with the development, review, and finalization of budgets to incorporate into SPC grant agreements, in line with SPC and donor financial and procurement policies.

Overall administrative support

• Contribute to the SPC Finance and Procurement shared services agenda which includes knowledge sharing, process refinements / reviews and increasing collaboration.
• Ensure that all financial acquittals are provided on a timely basis and support documentation is sufficient and adequate
• Liaise directly with PICTS and other stakeholders on project administration issues, country specific financial policies and financial reporting matters.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or business administration. 

Technical expertise

• At least 5 years of experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrated understanding of project budgeting, financial reporting, donor reporting, audit requirements and financial management of grants.
• Experience with the use of financial management information systems.
• Sound coordination, administrative, networking, and collaborative skills.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – Until 31 December 2025 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Finance and Project Officer is a band 8 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,044‒2,555 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 6,091–7,614 (USD 2,719–3,398; EUR 2,534–3,167). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.

Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,350–3,000 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a matching contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles – SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

Application procedure

Closing Date: 31 March 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000591

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. What do you think are the key stages in a grant management cycle and important considerations for an organisation such as SPC?
2. Briefly explain why compliance with organisational and donor procurement policies and procedures is critical for organisations such as SPC and describe three basic guiding principles or best practice requirements you would follow in undertaking procurement or grant processes.
3. Provide examples of actions you have taken to ensure project finance and procurement activities are completed on time and are compliant with organisational and donor policies and procedures.