• Attractive local package
• Friendly and supportive team environment
• Join the principal development organisation in the region

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 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 Human Rights and Social Development Division has a vision for just, equitable and resilient Pacific societies and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all Pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles. The work of this Division includes work previously undertaken by the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) in the area of human rights and the Social Development Programme (SDP) in the areas of gender equality and social inclusion, culture and youth development.

In line with its vision, the work of the Division will encompass the following focal areas:

• Objective 1: Pacific institutions are strong, transparent, and responsive for upholding and promoting human rights and implementing inclusive, gender sensitive and culturally respectful development.
• Objective 2: Pacific Civil Society understand and can advocate for their rights and uphold cultural values.
• Objective 3: Pacific culture is protected, preserved, and promoted and culturally relevant and appropriate knowledge and systems are integrated across all work.
• Objective 4: All PSC programs and operations are grounded in people centered approaches and consider the rights and cultural values of diverse groups including women, children, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Objective 5: HRSD Division teams work collectively, coherently, and efficiently and to a high standard to achieve shared success for Pacific societies.

The role – Senior Finance and Project Assistant will be supporting the administrative and financial delivery of the Kiribati Leadership and Advocacy Development (KiriLEAD) project in accordance with SPC and Donor requirements. Responsibilities include project accounting, audit, and budgetary controls, monitoring of project sub contractual requirements, support for procurement of works and service contracts, support for the development and acquittal of sub-grants. Where needed and possible, the Finance and Administration assistant may assist other projects within the Division.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Project Finance Administration

• Assist in compiling donor reports.
• Assist in compiling activity plan budgets, including national and regional workshop budgets.
• Facilitate sub-recipient grants and ensure that quarterly sub-recipient acquittals are received and processed in system.
• Assist with project audits in line with donor requirements as per grant agreement.
• Ensure all expenditures are charged to the correct budget lines as per the nature of activities budgeted.
• Maintain fixed assist register for project based in country.

Travel and Logistics Management

• Manage travel requirements for programme staff, including liaising with travel agents on itinerary and tickets.
• Support the development of budgets for regional workshops and field travel needs.
• Provide facilitation and logistical support to Regional and National Workshops, including securing workshop venues, accommodation, and other services.
• Prepare Country Circulars to SPC focal points to advise on workshops and events.
• Work closely with SPC’s Travel team on all requests.

Administration and operations support

• Manage day-to-day administration and operations work.
• Manage and monitor project filing systems, including the archiving and backup of project documents, information and data in a format suitable for supporting mid-term and terminal evaluations.
• Provide support on programme related matters as and when required.
• Assist CFOs from in-country or distantly in terms of in-country activity logistics.
• Ensure timely processing of purchase order and payment requests for in-country activities.
• Provide necessary training to country-based staff in terms of SPC Procurement and Finance rules and policies, under the supervision of the Finance and Administration Officer.

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

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Diploma in accounting, financial management or business administration or equivalent body of knowledge and experience.

Technical expertise

• At least 7 years of experience in project finance and administration.
• Sound collaboration and team working skills.
• Financial analytical ability.      

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – Until 31 December 2028 – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – the Senior Finance and Project Assistant is a band 7 position in SPC’s 2026 salary scale, with a commencing taxable salary range of FJD 2,402-3,002 per month, plus local staff benefits. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews.

Benefits for Staff in a position advertised locally (EPAL) whose duty station is Suva – SPC provides medical and life insurance 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).

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 bilingualism, 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 be given to the Pacific Islander.

Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

Application procedure

Closing Date – 15 February 2026 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000929

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.

Only Fijian citizens are eligible to apply for this role.

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. Identify one high value procurement challenge you have faced in your current line of work and explain how it was resolved.
2. Accurate financial data is important for reporting purposes. Can you explain one method you have used that has effectively ensured the correctness of data for reporting purposes?
3. SPC carries out a lot of regional workshops as part of our work portfolio. What are 2 risks and solutions you can identify from arranging a workshop for multiple external participants?