Skip to content

Program Finance Officer (PFO) - Sydney

  • Hybrid
    • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Corporate Positions

Job description

JOB TITLE: Program Finance Officer (PFO)

TEAM: Asia Pacific

REPORTS TO: Senior Finance Manager


Adam Smith International (Australia) Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adam Smith International that was established in 2012. It is the company’s Asia Pacific regional office, responsible for leading business development and project delivery in Asia Pacific.


Primary responsibility is to actively engage with project teams by providing financial data entry, compliance with funding requirements, monitoring expenditures, and preparing financial statements. This role combines financial management skills with a collaborative approach, ensuring effective communication and alignment between finance and project objectives.


PFO is responsible for ensuring accuracy of project data held within the central finance systems and for reviewing the monthly billing process, supporting project managers in raising sales invoices and competently completing their financial duties.


KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

  • Head of Financial Planning and Reporting
  • Senior Finance & Operations Manager (APAC)
  • Head of Region (APAC)
  • APAC Project Managers (PMs), Team Leaders, Project Directors (PDs) and Budget Holders
  • Shared Services Team
  • In country staff

External:

  • Banking partners
  • External auditors


KEY TASKS

PROGRAM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

  • Support the Project Managers to Construct project structures within ASI Operating System to best meet stakeholder needs.
  • Where and when necessary, import transaction data, project amendments, assist Project Managers in managing Purchase Orders (POs).
  • Support Project Managers with monthly sales invoices.
  • Review of monthly billing transactions, with appropriate feedback mechanism.
  • Lead contact for all external and internal project audits within the allocated project portfolio.
  • Responsible for ensuring strict adherence to finance and client deadlines for their own project portfolio.
  • Reconciliation of project performance as needed.
  • Support BD team with project costing to ensure all recoverable costs have been captured in bid proposal.
  • Post Award review – collaborate with PMs to review and conduct a thorough examination and analysis of the final award details to understand the terms, conditions, and expectations stipulated in the contract, such as allowable and disallowable costs.
  • Post Project review with Project Manager to ensure all costs have been captured and accounted for to ensure smooth project closure.
  • Support Project Managers with budgeting and forecasting process.
  • Business Partner with Program Delivery and Finance teams.
  • Support Project Managers with any other ad-hoc financial tasks, or reporting requirements that may arise during the project lifecycle.

CORPORATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

  • Management of Australian-based accounts payable, including compliance with relevant expenditure and payment controls and reconciliations of supplier credit accounts.
  • Participate in internal audits and assurances
  • Support compliance matters with banking partners and government, and other related day to day matters

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Accountable for their own portfolio Budget and Forecast oversight.
  • Accountable for their own portfolio project financial reporting.
  • Accountable for adherence to relevant bookkeeping standards, financial regulations, and company policies.
  • Accountable for holding trouble-shooting training sessions for PMs / local staff as identified with PDs.
  • Accountable for their own portfolio project data accuracy and documenting transactions by providing backups.

Job requirements

SELECTION CRITERIA

Knowledge & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (preferred)
  • Certificate-level qualification in Bookkeeping (advantageous)
  • Progress toward an accountancy qualification is a plus
  • Proven experience in Project Accounting, with familiarity in various ERP systems
  • Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel
  • Demonstrated experience in a corporate, professional environment, ideally in international consultancy
  • Strong senior stakeholder engagement skills
  • Comprehensive understanding of finance department functions and their role within it
  • Knowledge of customer expectations and requirements
  • Familiarity with relevant policies related to the position

Skills & Values:


  • Excellent verbal, written, and numerical skills
  • Impeccable attention to detail and focus
  • Strong computer literacy and data storytelling expertise
  • High emotional intelligence, particularly in:

     - Self-awareness

     - Social awareness

     - Self-management

     - Relationship management


  • Empathetic and patient
  • Proactive, resourceful self-starter
  • Open-minded and flexible approach to problem-solving
  • Resilient in adapting to changing circumstances and challenges
  • Achievement-oriented and driven
  • Trustworthy, with the ability to handle confidential information responsibly
  • Reliable, professional, conscientious, and accountable

  • Competencies:
    • Planning and delivering results
    • Quality and accountability
    • Continuous improvement
    • Managing complexity
    • Innovation and change management
    • Communication and knowledge management
    • Leadership and direction
    • Collaboration and teamwork
    • Personal impact and effectiveness
    • Data validation

    The successful applicant must have the permanent right to live and work in Australia.
    Deadline of applications is 24th November 2024.

    or