Program Overview:   

FPSP, also referred to as the ‘Platform’, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment, will contribute to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan. 

The Platform will deliver key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities will identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes: 

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

Position Summary:

The Finance Assistant is responsible for providing financial and administrative support to the Platform Management Unit and the Platform’s sector programs. They will work closely with the Finance Manager, and other Finance team members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain the Petty Cash system (including PMU petty cash), including cash advance management, approval processing, cash disbursements and funding requests.
• Assist in preparation of Value Added Tax (VAT) claims
• Assist in preparation and processing of payments (cheques, ANZ transactive banking and international payments), including checking and verifying that supporting documentation, i.e. invoices, pro forma invoices, purchase orders and correspondence is correct.
• Performing data entry and saving of supporting documents in QuickBooks.
• Assist in bank reconciliations, report preparation and other end of month financial requirements.
• Assist in preparation for payments of national staff salary.
• Assist with the preparing of income tax, Fiji National Provincial Fund (FNPF) and provisional tax submissions.
• Assist in collating supporting documents for DFAT, internal and external audits.
• Assist in organising and tidying up finance folder on shared drive.
  Other additional duties as may be reasonably required by the Finance Manager and Finance Officers.

Key Deliverables:

• Ensure financial activities and reports are delivered on time and to a high-quality standard in line with DFAT and Abt guidelines and requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality in all P&C/payroll related information.
• Ensure reporting of all risk and any suspected fraud.
• Be responsive and provide an effective service to internal stakeholders.

Key Working Relationships:

Reporting to:

• Finance Manager

Other: 

• Finance Hub Team
• Work closely with the Platform’s Share Services Hub (including the Operations Hub team and Procurement Hub Team.
• Other Platform teams as necessary.

Selection Criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, commerce is essential including specific accounting subjects.
• Significant demonstrated one to two years’ experience in broad range of finance duties and general office administration.
• Experience in project-based accounting / finance.
• Highly developed Excel skills.
• Strong computing skills and experience using Microsoft Office applications
• General knowledge of accounting procedures.
• Understanding of Government of Fiji (GoF) financial regulations is desirable
• Self-motivated, well organised, skilled at multitasking.
• Good interpersonal skills with demonstrated capacity to take initiative.
• Ability to work effectively individually or as part of a team.
• Cultural sensitivity and experience working within teams of persons from different cultures.
• Ability to maintain high standards and pay attention to detail.
• Ability to provide support to others.
• Ability to allocate and review priorities and to meet deadlines
• Willingness and enthusiasm to act as a champion for key cross cuttings issues for the Platform.

About Us
Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Global is regularly ranked as one of the top global research firms and one of the international development innovators.  The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries.

At Abt Global, we are committed to creating a lasting culture of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that in order to achieve full participation, our practices must be free of prejudice, discrimination, and bias that result in inequitable outcomes. We are actively working to advance equity for everyone, and while we still have much work to do, we know that racial and cultural diversity are an asset to our business and the communities where we live and serve. Our ongoing commitment is focused on creating business practices that advance racial and social equity, investments in community impact programs for the benefit of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and expand upon project work related to racial equity and social justice