Finance Associate x4

• Attractive local package
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• 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 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 Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – Finance Associate will provide technical accounting support to divisions, programme financial reporting, reconciliations and high-level processing.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Accounting, general ledger and jobs ledger

• Identify and post general ledger transactions for projects and programmes in line with corporate accounting rules regarding income, expenditure, accruals, grantees, recoveries, management fees and other GL areas.
• Perform monthly reconciliations for any number of balance sheet accounts. Clear reconciling items in a timely manner.
• Perform periodic analytical review and maintenance of general ledger and project ledger information, including complex accounting areas such as flagships, grants, and recoveries.
• If requested by divisions, perform financial reports for projects or programmes for donor reporting and audit preparation.

Treasury and bank

• Perform bank reconciliations in the financial system for bank accounts each month. This includes ensuring that reconciling items are kept up current, and unusual transactions are investigated and reported on if necessary.
• Maintain cashflow controls over the main operating bank accounts, ensuring there is always sufficient liquid funds to cover operational requirements. Make recommendations to a financial controller or finance manager on fund movements.
• Process payments in accordance with finance guidelines on control checks and timing. Take follow-up and corrective action where necessary.

Vendor reconciliations and customer invoicing

• Perform monthly reconciliation of the vendor ledger balance to vendor statement before payments. Clear all reconciling items with suppliers in a timely manner. Liaise where appropriate with programs/section on their invoices.
• Perform reconciliation between vendor sub-ledger and general ledger each month. Review aging report of vendors each month and ensure non-current balances are investigated and cleared in a timely manner.
• Ensure the outstanding purchase order / commitments ledger in Navision is kept up to date. Liaise with programs/section in a timely manner to clear old items.

Monitoring, compliance, and audit facilitation

• Review and write user business rules for key Navision finance process areas as may be directed by a financial controller or finance manager.
• Conduct training sessions for Navision users on business rules or systems for the purpose of ensuring compliance.
• Support coordination of all project audit exercises in consultation with divisions. Provide explanations to auditors of transactions or SPC and rules as may be required. Provide same support to the financial controller(s) for the corporate audit also.
• Document instances of internal control weaknesses for reporting to the finance team leader. Include recommendations for improved processes. This includes instances of non-compliance with policies and processes.

Shared services and other tasks

• Actively participate in shared service programs and activities. This includes finance pooling initiatives and deployments.
• Work collaboratively with divisional finance staff in all respects.
• Take a team-oriented approach by proactively assisting others in the central finance team.
• Co-manage the finance helpdesk with other finance team members.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Diploma in accounting, finance or business administration, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 3 years' experience and demonstrated competence in the same field.
• Financial analytical ability.
• Experience using an accounting software.
• Sound collaboration and team working 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 – 30 June 2028 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Finance Associate is band 7 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a commencing taxable salary range of FJD 2,402-3,002 per month, plus local staff benefits. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews.

Benefits – SPC provides medical and life insurance 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).

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 – 13 July 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000089

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.

Only Fijian citizens are eligible to apply for this role.

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. Describe your experience working with a computerized accounting system – what module did you use?
2. Based on your experience, describe the challenges normally faced with vendor payment processing and how you overcame it.
3. Describe your experience in data processing and managing vendor and receivables. How do you ensure accurate processing of data?