• Are you a senior program finance, procurement and contracts management professional in the development sector with skills in maintaining high operational effectiveness?

• Bring your leadership and team management skills to this large, dynamic operations team, supporting a multi-sector program

• Long term contract to May 2026, based in Dili, Timor-Leste, DFAT ARF level C3.

About the Program 

The Australia Timor-Leste Partnership for Human Development (PHD) is a 10-year program funded by the Government of Australia and implemented by Abt Global until May 2026. The partnership is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Timor-Leste’s people and strengthening their ability to contribute to the nation’s development. 

Through PHD, Australia and Timor-Leste aim to achieve 4 goals that are crucial to realising Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030:

1. Improve the health of the Timorese people 

2. Improve the literacy and numeracy of girls and boys

3. Advance equity for people with disabilities

4. Advance gender equality

PHD focuses on strengthening government systems to enable Timor-Leste to deliver higher-quality primary healthcare and basic education and to advance disability inclusion and gender equality.

About the Opportunity

The Finance and Contracts Lead is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of finance, procurement and grants activities, including providing strategic advice and reporting for the Program, as well as providing targeted coaching, mentoring and development for the team. This position will work closely with the Operations Director providing leadership and strategic innovation, as well as acting as Operations Director during absences. 

The Finance & Contracts Lead will have the following responsibilities:

Finance Management: 

• Oversee management and operations of the Finance Team and function to ensure efficient and effective program service delivery, aligned with Abt Associates policies and procedures, accounting standards and Timor-Leste regulatory requirements, particularly:

• Finance system Netsuite integrity

• Accounts payable and receivable, including payroll timely execution

• Fund management, reconciliations and month end close

• Budget execution, with timely forecast and re-allocation to maximise fund utilisation in the financial year

• Financial reporting and analysis to support decision makers, especially budget holders

• Client invoicing and audit accuracy and timeliness

• Lead the Annual budget and finance reporting preparations providing support and guidance to sector leads and budget holders

• Lead the forecasting process across all sectors to align activity planning with expected financial impacts 

• Provide leadership, guidance, oversight and training on financial management, and provide technical support for innovative and complex financial arrangements

• Identify opportunities for professional development and capacity building within the team and provide targeted support and mentoring aligned with Abt’s commitment to localisation. 

• Lead the review of financial management business processes to ensure effective internal controls are in place while maintaining efficiency across the Program 

• Review the current Asset management arrangements and roll-out improved internal controls and oversight. 

Grants Management to support the Manager - Contracts & Quality 

• Oversee management and operations of the Grants Team and function to ensure efficient and effective program service delivery, aligned with Commonwealth Grants Guidelines and in accordance with Abt Associates policies and procedures 

• Develop innovative and flexible approaches to grant delivery to meet PHD program requirements and achieve value for money

• Work with the technical sectors to manage the implementation of grant activities and ensure all programmatic obligations are met prior to the release of any funds

• Lead the ongoing performance management of grants including measurement and evaluation of the Partner’s progress in achieving objectives

• Support partnership relations and capacity development of local grant recipients 

• Oversee due diligence processes of Grant Recipients and ensure effective monitoring and review of grant management, including grant recipient financial and progress reporting 

• Oversee grant closeout and final completion reports and ensure compliance with Abt Associates and DFAT requirements.

• Identify opportunities for professional development and capacity building within the team and provide targeted support aligned with Abt’s commitment to localisation. 

Procurement Management to support the Manager - Contracts & Quality 

• Oversee management and operations of the Procurement Team and function to ensure procurement processes aligned with Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines and in accordance with Abt Associates policies and procedures 

• Provide leadership, guidance, oversight and training on procurement and subcontract administration, and provide technical support particularly for innovative and complex procurement 

• Oversee the procurement status report to inform the priorities and resourcing for PHD procurement activities

• Undertake a “hands on” practitioner role in respect of complex and high value procurements; as necessary, conduct or assist with high level and/or strategic negotiations

• Oversee the tracking and evaluation of vendor performance and improvements related to pricing, contractual terms, and/or scope of services and adherence to Abt and DFAT policies such as Child Protection, PSEAH, Anti-Terrorism, sanctions etc.

• Identify opportunities for professional development and capacity building within the team and provide targeted support aligned with Abt’s commitment to localisation. 

  
  General Management

• Provide technical guidance and sign off on the annual budgets and submit regular cash flow forecast and management status reports, along with sign-off on six-monthly and annual reports

• Provide technical advice and ensure robust best practice governance and management policies, processes, and systems to ensure full compliance with PHD and Abt regulations and procedures through sign-off of updated Manuals and associated templates and through ensuring clean internal / external audit.

• Provide technical advice and ensure risk management is robust and current. Lead in ensuring PHD downstream partner compliance with Abt's Safeguarding policies and procedures

• Lead in the mentoring and capacity development of the team

• Manage financial systems and build skills to ensure adequate internal controls and efficiencies to support municipal operations 

• Build awareness and skills of technical teams in applying efficient business processes and in effective budget management.

• Carry out any other responsibilities to meet shifting program requirements, including acting as Operations Director during absences.

About You

We are seeking an individual for this senior level position who has the following:

• Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Grants or Procurement Management / Business Administration or relevant disciplines, with professional membership Certified Practising Accountant and/or Master of Business Administration.

• Substantial professional experience in managing Finance, Grants and Procurement activities in an international development context, ideally within large or complex donor programs. Experience with DFAT highly regarded.

• Demonstrated experience in financial planning, developing complex budgets and managing budget forecasting and expenditure tracking. Proven results in establishing governance systems and developing operational effectiveness.

• Demonstrated experience in external stakeholder engagement.

• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience managing teams, including mentoring and coaching team members, ideally in cross-cultural environments.

• Deep understanding of Accounting Standards and Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.

• Ability to work concurrently on multiple complex tasks and to respond to changing priorities.

• Demonstrated commitment to incorporating gender equality, disability and social inclusion priorities into all aspects of work.

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and accounting software such as Netsuite, Quick Books.

Further Information & How to Apply

Please apply online through the careers page of the Abt Global website.

Please attach a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document, addressing how you meet the requirements of this role. 

For further information please email the PHD People & Culture team via people.culture@phd.tl. Please insert the job title in the email subject heading. 

Closing date: Wednesday, 18 December 2024 (AEST)