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 Geoscience Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are four (4) areas of scientific programming within this division:

1. Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.

2. Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.

3. Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.

4. Earth and Ocean Observation Services – Promoting spatial data and systems analysis and capacity to improve decision-making to improve resilience and sustainable resource management.

The role – Programme Accountant will be responsible for effective financial management, including financial risk assessment, monitoring of internal control, and ensuring the adherence to relevant accounting policies and procedures in the division.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Financial planning, monitoring and reporting

• Provide support to the Finance Team Leader with the development of annual budgets and allocation of available resources through integrated programming, business planning and project management processes.

• Coordinate all aspects of financial management of allocated programme portfolio in the division, including forecasting, monitoring of project executions, pipeline and financial analysis

• Design and implement financial monitoring and reporting across all income and expenditure streams to meet SPC and donor audit requirements.

Divisional, project and program financial management administration support

• Provide appropriate coordinated support to divisional staff, working across programme areas on donor requirements in programme planning, delivery and financial administration of all donor-funded projects.

• Liaise with Team Leaders, development partners and donors to maintain reporting schedules, financial acquittals and arrange for timely disbursements in accordance with signed funding agreements.

• Deliver briefings on Finance and Procurement policies and procedures for users within the Division.

Compliance, risk management and business process

• Ensure and maintain the accuracy, integrity and compliance of the division’s project finance information across all systems.

• Support audit exercises and ensure maximum level of compliance, risk management, and strengthening internal controls.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders where instances of internal control weaknesses are found in order to strengthen these.

• Contribute to the division’s risk management processes, including in the work-planning process, as it pertains to financial and compliance risk, identifying potential risks, such as, irregular expenditures not approved in work plan.

Procurement, grants and administration services

• In collaboration with other Programme Accountants and Finance Team Leader, ensure all procurement, grants and contract management processes undertaken by the division, comply with SPC and donor policies and procedures.

• Assist, monitor and update the division’s annual procurement plan, and contribute to the corporate SPC procurement planning process for the allocated programme portfolio.

• Support project managers in resolving procurement, finance, and contract-related issues, ensuring timely and compliant disbursements.

• Monitor all procurement and grants actions using key databases and workflows to ensure efficiency, completeness, availability of up-to-date information, and to allow effective follow- up action.

People management

• Create a team environment that fosters and develops effective working relationships and high performance.

• Manage staff performance and supports training and development

• Conduct fair, consistent, timely performance planning and review meetings and encourages open communication to discuss performance.

• Monitor the performance and workloads of staff members and service providers to ensure that objectives are met.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in the same field.

• Experience in financial reporting, compliance, and business processes for donor funded projects.

• Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting and monitoring budgets and cash flows for medium to large organisations.

• Analytical ability and demonstrated ability to achieve efficiencies with attention to detail.

• Extensive knowledge and experience with computerized accounting systems.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written) with a working knowledge of French being an advantage.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

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

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Programme Accountant is a band 9 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 2,399‒2,998 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 7,220–9,025 (USD 3,190–3,988; EUR 2,938–3,672). 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. 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 Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Suva –SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,500–5,200 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 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 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.

How to apply

Application procedure

Closing Date: 9 October 2025 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: TT000134

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. Based on your experience with donor funded projects, identify three key financial management lessons learnt that would assist you in this role.

2. The role will have oversight of expenditure acquittals of funding provided to beneficiaries in other Pacific Island countries. Identify two challenges that might arise and describe how you would address these challenges.

3. 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.