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 & Integration (O&I) collective delivers essential enabling services that support the organisation’s scientific and technical portfolio. Our key functions include corporate services, programme support, partnerships, resource mobilisation, and strategic engagement. These services are coordinated through our regional and satellite offices across the Pacific and Europe. Additionally, the O&I collective leads a dedicated workstream focused on organisational change and transformation to drive continuous improvement and adaptability.

The role – the Business Improvements & Internal Controls (BIIC) Manager will oversee overall responsibility for finance systems and solutions; business improvements and best practice; finance policies; strategic workforce thinking and shared services model.

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; Business risk and 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; and 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; prioritization; Team building & cohesion efforts; Staff mix of skills and capabilities to meet future challenges; Future state and strategic foresight discussions; and 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; and Implementation of pilot programs
• Lead the development of a strategic finance workforce plan. This includes: Forecasting and needs analysis; Talent management and 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, business administration or information systems or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 12 years’ experience and demonstrated competence in financial management and systems development
• Demonstrated experience in leading systems change processes from conceptualisation, specification through to roll-out and support.
• 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 performance and funding.

Remuneration – The Business Improvements & Internal Controls (BIIC) Manager is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale with a starting salary range of SDR (special drawing rights) 5,012-6,169 per month, which converts to approximately XPF 723,251-890,185 (USD 6,717-8,267; EUR 6,061-7,460).SPC salaries are not presently subject to income tax in New Caledonia. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews.

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: 5 July 2026 – 11:00 pm (Noumea time)

Job Reference: CR000595

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):

• What do you believe might be the key challenges in business system improvements for an organisation like SPC? Please focus on one key element and expand on it in your response. For context, finance services at SPC are delivered through both a central finance team and divisional finance teams; this role will sit within the central team.
• Please describe your experience in a major finance system change project and your specific role within it.
• Please describe your experience in supporting the development of financial management skills and capacity in large, complex organisations.