This is a call for expression of interest (EOI) in the role Senior Finance and Operations Manager for Australia’s Strongim Bisnis’

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Position Description  

Position

Senior Finance and Operations Manager (SFOM)

Program

Strongim Bisnis and Australia Solomon  Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ)

Location

Honiara, Solomon Islands with  provincial travel

Duration

Full-time, fixed term

Line manager and Directly  report to

Team Leader, Strongim Bisnis.

Matrix managed by ASI Program Manager,  and Country Program Manager, ASIPJ

Works with

Finance and Operations team members and  Program teams

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Deadline for submission of applications: 27 November 2023 11:59pm

Applications and questions should be sent to: operations@strongimbisnis.com.sb

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Background to Australia's Strongim Bisnis and the Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ)

Strongim  Bisnis is an innovative pro-business program  funded by the Australian Government.

Strongim Bisnis supports Solomon  Islands businesses to increase productivity, access greater income earning  opportunities and higher value markets, with the intention of enabling  greater resilience and creating jobs. Poverty reduction will be the desired  result. Strongim Bisnis also supports the private sector and the Solomon  Islands Government to work together effectively to increase opportunities for  trade and investment and accelerate business growth. A key focus of the  program ensures that Solomon Islands women, youth and people with disability  have increased economic opportunities.

The program takes a market systems development  (MSD) approach to unlocking opportunities for growth in selected sectors  (cocoa, coconut, tourism, timber, horticulture, financial services, and waste  management). MSD requires Strongim Bisnis to carefully select partnerships,  and design interconnected activities that deliver tangible and measurable  results. For each activity it must be possible to track progress from  improving the performance of Solomon Islands enterprises, to achieving  resilient systemic change in markets, and ultimately increasing income and  employment. In this way, Strongim Bisnis avoids ad hoc activities and  seeks deep engagement with market actors.

Strongim Bisnis activities may include  developing and testing new business models, sharing the risk of new ventures  in partnership with private sector actors, facilitating market access, supporting  structural changes to the ‘business enabling environment’, product marketing  to bring about greater scale, and improving women, youth, and people with  disability’s participation in markets and their access and control over  productive resources.

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The Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ) continues Australia’s long-running support to the Solomon Islands justice sector. Its goal is to work closely with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) to enable justice agencies to maintain delivery of their existing core activities while clearly identifying and engaging with fundamental problems and critical issues affecting their ability to contribute to stability and offer access to justice for citizens. 

ASIPJ aspires to be locally led, problem-oriented and learning driven. It is pragmatic, practical, and adaptable, mainstreaming gender equality, disability and social inclusion(GEDSI). Deloitte is the Managing Contractor, leading a coalition for change that includes Adam Smith International, providing the Operations Hub; Ninti One, for its Indigenous expertise; and The University of Queensland, to support critical research and knowledge generation.  

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Position summary and  justification for the role

The Senior Finance and Operations Manager(SFOM) is a shared function between two DFAT funded programs, SB and ASIPJ. This position is primarily responsible for overseeing and managing financial and operations functions of both programs. The SFOM is an integral member of both the SB and ASIPJ programs. They will line manage the SB Operations and Procurement Officers (OPOs) and Finance Officer (FO) and matrix manage the OPO and FO on the ASIPJ program.  

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Duties and responsibilities

Financial Management and Oversight:

• Approving the bank and petty cash  reconciliation prepared by each program FOs.
• Responsible for cash flow forecasting and  funds transfer requests of both programs.
• Approving in-country payments and responsible  for overseeing the programs’ records of invoices, receipts, and  documentations.
• Overseeing the withholding tax and annual  returns prepared by each program FOs.  
• Supporting ASI Program Manager in providing  reporting on programs’ financial management.

 Operations:

• Overseeing the procurement functions of SB  and ASIPJ, including ensuring each program OPOs and FOs have a record of  procurement assessment, purchase order, payment vouchers.
• Managing health, safety, and security (HSS)  of SB and ASIPJ, acting as the first point of contact in country for any  issues, circulating security information to the SB Team Leader, ASI – Program  Manager and ASIPJ Country Program Manager.
• Supporting the management of risks associated  with programs’ financial, human resources, operational, and vehicle  management functions.
• Approving the programs’ asset register,  vehicle maintenance/logbooks.
• Managing contracts for services, including  office lease, IT, phone, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and audits.
• Responsible for ensuring both programs’  records and documentations are securely filed, updated, and maintained.

 Other:

• Supporting any recruitment tasks of each  program.
• Line management and performance management of  FOs and OPOs of SB and ASIPJ
• Supporting compliance with DFAT, ASI, and  Deloitte policies and procedures.
• Any other duties as identified by the SB Team Leader, ASI – Program Manager and/or  ASIPJ Country Program Manager.

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Time allocation:

• 65% to Strongim Bisnis
• 35% to ASIPJ‍

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Required qualifications, experience,  and attributes

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A relevant university degree or diploma with demonstrated experience in a similar role/s.
• More than seven years’ progressive managerial experience in financial management, budgeting, accounts payable, procurement, logistics and operational support for businesses, government and/or donor-funded programs.
• Excellent organisational skills and competence/integrity in maintaining office records.
• Demonstrated capacity to work collegially with partner organisations and staff from a range of backgrounds.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office programs.
• Fluency in Pijin and an excellent command of both oral and written English.

The following skills/experience would be an advantage:

• Accredited accountancy qualifications.
• Experience of the public sector in Solomon Islands.
• Experience working in businesses, government and/or donor-funded programs.
• A Solomon Islands driving license.

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COVID-19

ASI  staff need to adhere to SIG’s COVID-19 policies, including being fully  vaccinated.

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How to Apply

Please submit your application before  27 November 2023 11:59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) to: operations@strongimbisnis.com.sb  

Please use the following subject line  in your email: "Application for Senior Finance and Operations Manager."

Applications should include:

• Cover  letter of no more than two pages addressing the position selection criteria
• CV of no more than four pages
• Contact details of three professional  referees

Salary level is negotiable,  commensurate with experience and the Solomon Islands market. Applicable benefits and entitlements are in line with SB and ASIPJ policies and applicable Solomon Islands’ laws.

If you have any questions about the  recruitment process, we encourage you to reach out to the Strongim Bisnis team  via operations@strongimbisnis.com.sb  or call the Strongim Bisnis Office on +677 25664.