Finance Adviser

Solomon Islands Education Sector Support Program

Terms of Reference – Finance Adviser

The Solomon Islands Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) provides the implementation arrangements for the combined New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment to support the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) to implement its Education Strategic Framework 2016–2030 (ESF) and the National Education Action Plan (NEAP).

The ESSP promotes strengthened sector-wide donor coordination and provides the majority of funding through sector budget support. ESSP provides for targeted capacity development and funding for activities implemented by non-governmental organisations engaged in the provision of education.

ESSP is managed under the Australia-Solomon Islands Program Support (ASIPS) Facility by DT Global.

About the Role

The Finance Adviser provides capacity building support to the MEHRD to maintain compliance with SIG’s Public Finance Management Act, including:

• Developing the capacity of MEHRD finance staff to meet SIG accountability requirements.
• Supporting MEHRD to develop and maintain efficient and effective financial management capacity.
• Aligning MEHRD’s operations and financial management with legislative requirements.
• Providing training and coaching to key finance staff within MEHRD
• Supporting improvements financial management systems and processes to meet MEHRD requirements.
• Providing compliance and quality assurance support for Australian and New Zealand (A/NZ) direct budget support to MEHRD which is channeled through the SIG’s financial management systems.

The position will identify and report fiduciary risks and compliance issues to MEHRD delegates and MFAT and DFAT (through the ESSP Team Leader), in line with the Solomon Islands Public Financial Manamagent Act 2013, SIG Finance Instructions and Procurement and Contract Administration Manual, SIG Circulars and Public Notices and donor funding agreements as amended from time to time.

The Adviser will work closely with the Program Manager (Infrastructure and Safeguards) and the Financial Planning and Budget Adviser to provide a consistent approach to support for MEHRD in relation to financial management advice.

Additional assignments may be identified, prioritised and acted on by the Adviser in consultation with the Deputy Secretary – Corporate Services, the Director, Finance, the Program Manager (Infrastructure and Safeguards) and the ESSP Team Leader.

This position will be remunerated based on the candidate’s skills and experience**.**

Expected results

The Adviser is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• MEHRD has improved and more efficient financial processes that are timely, effective, accountable, and transparent and meet SIG financial management requirements and are correctly applied to budget support funds provided by DFAT and MFAT.
• Improved and enhanced system budgeting, linked to the approved annual work plan and based on NEAP.
• Fiduciary risks to the Australian and New Zealand aid programs are reduced and risks and risk events are reported in a timely and confidential manner to responsible authorities for action.
• Counterparts are coached and trained in financial management and compliance.

Roles and responsibilities

The adviser will support MEHRD to:

1. Ensure SIG financial management systems and processes are correctly applied to A/NZ funds channelled through government systems in MEHRD.
2. Align MEHRD financial processes with the Public Financial Management Action Plan and implement actions to reduce fiduciary risks and ensure timely reporting of risks to responsible authorities for action.
3. Provide training for MEHRD senior management and financial management staff in budgeting and financial management, compliance, accountability, and reporting, for both SIG and development partner funds.
4. Conduct compliance checks and quality assurance on payment approvals for development partner funds, ensuring compliance with DFAT/MFAT requirements, and other development partner payment approvals where this has been agreed with DFAT/MFAT in advance.
5. Improve procurement and payment processes for SIG and development partner funds and reduce fiduciary risks for both development partner and SIG funds, identifying and reporting potential and actual fiduciary risks and/or compliance issues to MEHRD, DFAT and MFAT (as appropriate) and recommend appropriate risk management responses.
6. Work collaboratively with other PFM stakeholders to streamline SIG payment processes and build SIG capacity to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of development partner funds channelled through SIG systems.
7. Improve the efficiency of MEHRD’s financial processes to ensure MEHRD’s financial procedures and practices align with forthcoming legislation and enable MEHRD to be prepared for smooth transitions when the new education legislation is enacted.
8. Other duties as required related to the terms of reference.

Deliverables

• Work plan: Outline how and when the adviser will support capacity development and deliver key outputs aligning these to the ESSP workplan. This will include agreed mutual accountability for ‘outputs’ from the adviser and the counterpart at MEHRD.
• Monthly progress reports: Report progress updates of all infrastructure projects and summarise progress against agreed work plan activities and program outcomes, in the agreed format.
• Program progress reporting: Provide input for the ESSP progress reports including achievements, challenges, and barriers to progressing or achieving activities agreed in the ESSP workplan.
• Exception reports: as required.
• Exit report: Submitted to Team Leader at leastone week prior to completion date: This report should provide an assessment of progress and achievements against the terms of reference and the agreed work plan.

Reporting lines and performance management

The adviser will report to:

• MEHRD DS for Corporate Services for work planning and implementation reporting;
• Program Manager (Infrastructure and Safeguards) for work planning and reporting;
• ESSP Team Leader for performance and contract management purposes.

The adviser must adopt a team approach, working collaboratively and in consultation across MEHRD, ESSP Technical Advisers, Education Providers and other stakeholders to complete agreed work activities.

Travel to other provinces across Solomon Islands may be required.

Selection criteria

Qualifications

• Financial management or accounting qualifications or equivalent with experience in strategic financial planning, management, and reporting.
• Current membership of a recognized professional accounting body.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• A minimum of 10 years demonstrated experience as an accountant or public finance expert with a focus on compliance in public procurement and expenditure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to build effective relationships, convey complicated/sensitive feedback and work with multiple stakeholders in a cross-cultural context.
• Proven ability to apply high levels of judgment and confidentiality in dealing with sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated ability to share knowledge, build relationships, mentor, and coach people to develop skills appropriate for the context, preferably in an international development context.
• A demonstrated understanding of, or direct experience in applying gender equality and anticorruption strategies.
• Ideally, experience in the operation of Microsoft Dynamics AX system.