Finance Officer

• Noumea-based position
• Attractive expatriate package
• Join the principal development organisation in the 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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme (CCES) was established to enable SPC to strengthen and streamline its actions on climate change by bringing together work already undertaken by the organisation under a coherent strategic and technical leadership. In addition, it leads the actions of SPC on climate change and environmental sustainability, works with the Organisation’s regional and international partners and promotes the integration of these issues into all development activities conducted by the Organisation’s divisions.

The role – the Finance Officer will be responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of internal accounting functions in accordance with the relevant accounting principles and standards within the CCES Division. The incumbent will ensure the completion of project and donor reporting for the Loss & Damage project and will oversee and manage audit functions both internally and externally.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Financial Planning, Monitoring and Reporting

• Provide support to the Project Manager and the Divisional Finance Team Leader with the development of annual budgets and allocation of available resources through project management processes.
• Support the Project Manager in all aspects of financial management of the project including : financial reporting, acquittal reviews, forecasting, monitoring of project executions, pipeline, and financial analysis, cash management, project payables and receivable.
• Ensure integrity and accuracy of financial data in the financial system.
• Designing and implementing financial monitoring and reporting tools across all income and expenditure streams to meet SPC and donor audit requirements.
• Support all internal and external financial compliance audit exercises and ensure maximum level of compliance.
• Monitor service delivery and customer responsiveness.
• Ensure systematic filing of all financial and procurement documents.

Project Financial Management Administration Support

• Provide appropriate coordinated support to project staff on donor requirements in planning, delivery and financial administration.
• Liaise with project manager and donors to maintain reporting schedules, finance acquittals and arrange for timely disbursements in accordance with signed funding agreements.
• Work with the Procurement and Finance office to provide support to the Project Manager in resolving Procurement and Finance and contract management issues.

Compliance, Risk Management and Business Process

• Support the Project Manager and Finance Team Leader in the implementation of appropriate system and internal controls within the CCES Division.
• Maintain the accuracy of the project finance information, within Navision and other systems.
• Provide support for the review and implementation of applicable SPC policies as required, including ensuring compliance of the requirements of the policies in the division and taking remedial actions where needed.

Procurement, Grant and Administration Services

• Support the Project Manager with monitoring of procurement and grant actions undertaken and ensure they are in line with SPC and donor policies and procedures.
• Support the preparation and monitoring of the project annual procurement plan.
• Provide advice to Project Manager should there be large variances.
• Assist with the monitoring of all procurement and grant actions using key databases and workflows to ensure efficiency, completeness, availability of up-to-date information and to allow effective follow-up action.
• Provide support with the clearance of grant acquittals.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Degree in accounting and financial management and/or public administration.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years of professional experience and competence in financial reporting, compliance and business processes for donor funded projects.
• Experience in project management, reporting writing.
• Experience in the preparation of budgets and monitoring of cash flows.

Language skills

• Fluency in English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years.

Remuneration – the Finance Officer is a Band 9 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,209–3,915 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately XPF 474,675–579,141 (USD 4,268–5,207; EUR 3,978–4,853). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for international staff employees based in New Caledonia – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. 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 10% 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 22 September 2024 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000267

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.

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 is a common financial risk in a donor-funded, multi-year project, and how can it be mitigated?
2. Briefly provide us with a challenge you have faced when you had to financially report for a project across multiple currencies. How did you overcome this challenge?
3. Provide us with the challenges/issues you have faced when trying to obtain financial documents for grants/acquittals in a timely manner.