Financial [and Procurement] Specialist, Infrastructure - Fiji Social Infrastructure Program

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP) 

• Long term position
• Contract duration: commencing as soon as possible to 30 June 2027, with the intent to extend to 2 years with possible further extension (subject to Program end date extension and program funding)
• This position is open to national applicants only.

FPSP Overview: 

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP, or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that 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 and 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 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. 

The Platform implements over fifty percent of Australia’s bilateral development support to Fiji across a range of sector programs in education, health, Australia Awards, disaster response, cyclone recovery, social infrastructure and technical assistance to improve public sector governance in Fiji.   

The Platform integrates cross-cutting themes, including gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), climate and disaster resilience, across sectoral programs. In particular, the Platform seeks to strengthen program outcomes by better addressing the needs of targeted beneficiaries including those who are often marginalised. 

Program Overview: 

The Australian Government is currently delivering three social infrastructure programs (Infrastructure Programs) in Fiji:

• The New National Hospital Master Plan Program will deliver a comprehensive masterplan for a new national referral hospital in Fiji. 
• Fiji Social Infrastructure Program will support upgrades to school and health infrastructure, commencing with priority schools and hospitals identified; and provide technical assistance to the Ministries of Education and Health to uplift their systems, process and capacity for maintenance and upgrades over the medium term.

Position Summary: 

The Finance Specialist (Infrastructure) is responsible for leading financial management, forecasting and reporting across all Infrastructure Programs delivered by the Platform. The role ensures robust financial planning, disciplined expenditure management, accurate reporting and alignment between infrastructure budgets, procurement activities and contract activity and performance.

Working within the Infrastructure Team and reporting to the Infrastructure Team Leader, the Finance Specialist will coordinate closely with Senior Project Managers, Project Managers and the Platform Management Unit (PMU) Finance, Procurement and Contracts teams to ensure financial forecasting, budgeting and expenditure tracking accurately reflect procurement pipelines, contract commitments and implementation progress in accordance to Infrastructure Annual Work Plans.

The position plays a critical role in maintaining financial integrity, supporting value for money, and ensuring compliance with DFAT and Platform financial management requirements. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Financial Planning Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead annual/multiyear forecasts and cashflow projections.
• Align forecasts with procurement pipelines, track implementation progress and milestones.
• Consolidate team inputs and analyse variances.
• Oversee program budgets and contract financials.

Financial Reporting and Tracking:

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual, MEL, and ad hoc financial reports.
• Provide clear variance explanations and financial briefs.
• Maintain financial trackers, dashboards, and integrated contract-finance tools for Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Reporting.

Procurement and Contract Management

• Align forecasts with procurement pipelines and contract fee schedules.
• Review cost estimates and support tender evaluations.
• Manage General Ledger coding reviews and monthend journals.
• Review and validate contractor payment claims maintaining relevant trackers to ensure essential contract information is tracked and variations initiated as needed.
• Manage retention, advances, and contract ceilings.

Governance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with DFAT and platform requirements.
• Maintain auditready records and manage financial risks.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor the Infrastructure Operations Coordinator.
• Ensure close alignment with Procurement and Contract Specialist.
• Support development of financial capability within the infrastructure team.
• Promote disciplined financial management practices across programs.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with PMU Finance Team to support unified finance management practices.
• Interface with Abt Head Office (Brisbane) and other counterparts as needed.

Other duties as directed by the Team Leader- Infrastructure or the PMU. 

Key Deliverables:  

• Accurate and timely annual and multi-year financial forecasts for all Infrastructure Programs.
• Financial reports with variance analysis.  
• Ensure financial activities and reports are delivered on time and to a high-quality standard in line with relevant legislation, DFAT and Abt guidelines and requirements.
• Fully maintained finance tracking system across the portfolio.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date payment schedule to support accurate cash flow management.
• Quality-assured payment claims with documented approvals.
• Upkeep of quality financial annexures for all infrastructure program activities.
• Financial inputs to Annual Work Plans and MEL reporting.
• Procurement-aligned expenditure tracking and commitment forecasting.
• Audit-ready financial documentation for all infrastructure activities
• Ensure reporting of all risk and any suspected fraud. 

Key Working Relationships:

•  Directly reporting to: Finance Manager (PMU)
• Indirectly reporting to: Team Leader, Infrastructure
• Working in close collaboration with:

Broader Infrastructure Senior Management Team (including Senior Program Managers)

Procurement and Contracts Specialist, Infrastructure  

PMU Procurement and Contracts Team  

PMU finance team 

Selection Criteria: 

Qualification
•    Certification in accounting, finance, business administration or other relevant field. 
•    Membership with Professional Accounting Bodies e.g. FICA/CPA is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in key accounting or finance role. 
• Knowledge of financial reporting requirements.  
• Experience using finance management systems and willingness to learn new systems.  
• Proficient Knowledge and Experience of financial and accounting principles, policies and procedures to ensure compliance.  
• Exceptional spreadsheet and database skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and relationship management expertise, with proven results in working with multiple senior leaders
• Exceptional analytical, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead the production of high-level reports

How to apply: