TO : Representatives of Governments and Administrations No. :???? 01/29
Routine Distribution

FILE : STF 5/7/2 DATE : 22 November 2001


SUBJECT : RECRUITMENT OF FINANCE MANAGER (CORE)


1. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for
the position of Finance Manager (Core). This is a three-year contract
position advertised under the sixth-year Rule. The closing date for
applications will be 15 January 2002.


2. I would be grateful if Governments and Administrations could advertise
this post widely without incurring any cost to the Secretariat of the
Pacific Community.


3. A statement setting out the duties, responsibilities, qualifications,
experience and skills required for the position plus terms and conditions
of employment is attached to this Recruitment Notice.

Lourdes T. Pangelinan
??????? Director General

Attach.

Original text : English
SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/29
Page 1


SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY

DUTY STATEMENT


FINANCE MANAGER (CORE)


RESPONSIBLE TO :? Director, Corporate Services


GENERAL

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is an independent
intergovernmental agency providing technical advice, assistance, training
and research in the service of the 22 Pacific Island countries and
territories of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. It currently has a
staff of more than 230. SPC is officially bilingual, with English and
French being the working languages.

The Finance Services is charged with the financial accounting and
financial management of the operations of the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community. In addition to the annual tasks of preparing the Secretariat??s
Budgets and producing the Annual Accounts, the Finance Services is
responsible for the management of Project accounts, Donor reports,
Purchases and Accounts Payable, Salaries, banks and investments, Cash
Receipts and Accounts Receivable, Provident Fund and Executive financial
reports. To facilitate the performance of these tasks, the Finance Section
utilises the General Ledger interfaced Financial Management Information
System (FMIS), Sunsystem, both at Noumea Headquarters and in our Suva
Office.

The Finance Manager (Core) is based in the Noumea Headquarters. He/She is
responsible for the financial management of the Core Budget, the
preparation of the Consolidated Annual Budgets and Annual Accounts, as
well as the daily management of Purchases and Accounts Payable, banks,
Cash and Accounts Receivable, Provident Fund, and Salaries.


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

?? Preparation of the Noumea Annual Core Administration and Work Programme
Budgets and the consolidated Core and Non-Core annual Budgets.
?? Preparation of the Noumea Annual Financial Accounts and the Provident
Funds Annual Accounts.
?? Responsible for managing the year end Noumea audits and the
Consolidated Suva Noumea Final Accounts ensuring these are in compliance
with the International Accounting Standards.
?? In-charge of developing related accounting tools for the preparation of
monthly Core Consolidated? Finance reports from Sun System database to the
Executive.
?? Responsible for updating and drafting accounting procedures and finance
systems of internal controls whenever necessary.
?? Ensures the proper financial management and accounting for Fixed
Assets.
?? Oversees the proper operation of the system of internal controls over
Purchases and Accounts Payable.
?? Supervises the duties of the Salaries Officer ensuring the monthly
salaries are accurately prepared, properly reconciled and accounted for in
the General Ledger.
?? Ensures proper management of SPC bank and credit card accounts.
?? Oversees the duties of Cashier ensuring a satisfactory operation of the
systems of internal controls over Cash receipts and Accounts Receivable,
Prompt payments, and the issue of travellers cheques.
?? Any other duties requested by the Director Corporate Services and
Executive from time to time.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

?? Degree in Accounting and/or Financial Management.
?? Membership of a recognised professional accounting institute.

SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/29
Page 2



?? At least five years of progressively responsible professional
experience including financial and managerial experience of cost units and
maintaining a leadership role in an organisation using modern management
and information systems techniques.
?? Advanced knowledge and skills of integrated FMIS; knowledge of Sun
Systems and Vision, with ability to develop templates and tools in Vision
will be a significant advantage.
?? Analytical ability, tact, discretion, and advanced computer literacy.
?? Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to
maintain effective relationships with persons of different national
backgrounds.
?? Affinity for team work, initiative, and ability to determine and
achieve objectives.
?? Good knowledge of the Pacific Island region will be an advantage.
?? Good command of either of the working languages of the organisation
with a working knowledge of the other, will be an advantage.


SALARY AND ALLOWANCE

The starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications in the
salary range: SDR 3,123 - 4,076 per month (which is equivalent to CFP
519,948 - 678,613 francs per month at the prevailing reference exchange
rate of 1 SDR = CFP 166.49 francs) in Grade J of the SPC Staff
Classification and Salary Plan for Professional Staff based in Noumea, New
Caledonia. In addition, an Establishment Grant will be payable to
non-residents of New Caledonia. SPC emoluments are not subject to income
tax in New Caledonia at the present time. The international currency
exchange rate at the time of writing is approximately USD 1.00 = 138
francs CFP.


TENURE

The appointment will be for a period of three years in the first instance,
subject to a one-year probationary period. The contract may be renewed for
a further three years subject to performance and continued funding
availability.


DUTY STATION

Noumea, New Caledonia.


ACCOMMODATION

An SPC-owned house or flat will be made available, based on the following
deductions from salary:

2 bedrooms - 11.5%
3 bedrooms - 12.5%
4 bedrooms - 15.0%

Housing is expensive in Noumea and, despite these standard salary
deductions, the cost of housing is heavily subsidised.


LEAVE

Leave will accrue at the rate of 25 working days per annum of active duty.


SICK LEAVE

Thirty working days per annum.

SPC/Recruitment Notice No. 01/29
Page 3


MEDICAL BENEFITS

The SPC??s Staff Medical Insurance reimburses doctors?? fees, cost of
prescribed medicines, surgical and hospital costs, etc. up to certain
percentages and limits. Supplementary medical insurance is available to
increase these percentage reimbursements and limits.


PROVIDENT FUND

The appointee will be eligible for membership of the SPC??s Staff
Provident Fund. Noumea-based staff contribute eight per cent of basic
salary to which SPC adds a matching contribution.


FARES AND REMOVAL EXPENSES

For an appointee recruited outside New Caledonia, air fares by the most
direct/and or economic route for the appointee and recognised dependants,
and reasonable removal expenses by sea of personal and household effects
will be met by SPC on appointment and termination.


COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT

SPC has a standardised computing environment based on Microsoft Office
running under Microsoft Windows.


SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT

Smoking is not permitted in the work place.


EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

SPC is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment to SPC staff vacancies
is based entirely on merit, but in cases where two shortlisted candidates
are judged to be of equal rank by the Selection Committee, preference will
be given to Pacific Island nationals.


ADDRESS

Applications should be addressed to the Director General, Secretariat of
the Pacific Community, P.O. Box D5, Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia, to arrive
by 15 January 2002. Applicants should provide full personal details,
describe their qualifications and experience, and explain how these suit
them for the specific requirements of the advertised position. Relevant
previous appointments, present position and salary, and the names and
addresses (including telephone, fax, e-mail contacts) of three referees
should also be provided. Testimonials may be provided with the
application, but are not necessary and will not be considered a substitute
for confidential referee's reports, which will be commissioned directly by
SPC.

Applications may alternatively, or additionally, be submitted by email to
spc@..., preferably in plain text or Rich Text Format (RTF).

More can be learned about SPC through the website .

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