Business Improvements & Internal Controls (BIIC) Manager

Job Description

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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides corporate services to all SPC Divisions and Programmes. It consists of three key departments: Finance, Human Resources and Information Services. OMD is focused on improving the effectiveness of systems, policies and management to provide high-quality customer-oriented services.

The role – the Business Improvements & Internal Controls (BIIC) Manager will be responsible for finance systems and solutions; business improvements; leadership; strategic workforce thinking; shared services; finance pooling.

The key responsibilities of the role include the following:

Leadership and coordination

• Lead in all areas of finance systems. This includes the following:
• Strategic assessments of needs
• Changes or adaptations, both large and small
• Business risk
• Competing stakeholder interests
• High level coordination and leadership in support given to the other functions in finance. This includes:
• Understanding of available technology
• Development of staff/work models
• Audits and externally mandated institutional reviews
• Continual focus on service and internal control improvements.
• Lead in all areas of finance policy and guidelines development and writing.

Support to the finance director

• Lead in annual business planning and reflections. This includes the following:
• Agenda setting; prioritisation
• Team building & cohesion efforts
• Staff mix of skills and capabilities to meet future challenges
• Future state and strategic foresight discussions
• Coordination with O&I business planning
• Provide advice to the director and perform services in such areas as :
• O&I transformation agenda; lead/coordinate finance efforts within the agenda
• Donor requirements and performance, with particular emphasis on donor portfolios with increased risk
• Internal stakeholder relationships
• Risk identification and mitigation

Pooling

• Lead the finance pooling work. This includes
• Development and implementation of governance framework
• Coordination of placements
• Advocacy amongst stakeholders
• Implementation of pilot programs
• Lead the development of a strategic finance workforce plan. This includes
• Forecasting and needs analysis
• Talent management
• Internal mobility plan

Shared Services

• Lead in the development of shared service programs and activities. This includes the following:
• Establishment of best practice
• Subject matter experts & training
• Peer review program
• Adaptations in O&I
• Work collaboratively with divisional finance team leaders and other finance staff towards embedding shared services within divisions.
• Provide thought leadership in different areas of work.

People Management

• Creating a team environment that fosters and develops effective working relationships and high performance.
• Managing service levels to stakeholders and customers in a complex operating environment.
• Manage staff performance and support training and development.
• Conduct fair, consistent, timely performance planning and review meetings and encourage open communication to discuss performance.
• Monitor the performance and workloads of staff members to ensure objectives are met.
• Supports the health and safety and well-being of employees in the way they manage and monitor the team.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in accounting, finance or business administration or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 12 years’ experience and demonstrated competence in the same field.
• Strong ability to conceptualise new ways of working.
• Sound collaboration, team working skills, and ability to influence.

Language skills

• Fluency in English.

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories is an advantage.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – This vacant position is budgeted for 3 years and is subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Business Improvements & Internal Controls (BIIC) Manager is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2025 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 5,012-6,169 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 732,625-901,722 (USD 6,667-8,205; EUR 6,139-7,556). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale is based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised internationally (EPAI) whose duty station is Noumea – SPC provides housing support in Noumea. 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 bilinguism, 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 begiven to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s private policy.

Application procedure

Closing date: 19 October 2025 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000496

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.

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. What do you see as the key challenges for an organisation like SPC in ensuring business improvements and maintaining robust internal controls in a complex and evolving environment?
2. Can you share your experience in implementing and using tools, processes, or systems related to business improvements and internal controls? Which ones have you used, and in what context?
3. Describe your experience in managing the implementation or upgrading of financial management information systems. What are the key factors for delivering a successful change project?

About the Organization

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 unique organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, public health surveillance, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.