About the BPaC Program
The Building Pacific Capacity Program (BPaC) is an Australian Government initiative funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and managed by Cardno Emerging Markets. It provides Pacific Island Countries with a suite of flexible, fit-for-purpose options that support broad governance and stability development outcomes.
About the Partner Organisation
For this Advisory role, BPaC is partnering with the Public Utilites Board (PUB) in Kiribati.
The Kiribati Public Utilities Board (PUB) is a corporate body, established under the Public Utilities Ordinance, Cap 83, on 1 July 1977, and further amended in 2000 to allow PUB more autonomy in its operations. PUB was more recently established as an SOE under the SOE Act which came into force on 1 August 2013 with a more independent Board of Directors.
The PUB is responsible for providing safe, reliable, and affordable power, water, and wastewater services to over 56,000 residents on South Tarawa.
Responsibilities include:
- Generation, distribution and retail of power on South Tarawa
- Treating, distributing and retailing potable water supply
- Operating and maintaining the sewerage system that exists at the major villages Betio, Bairiki and Bikenibeu only. Additional customers with septic tanks are serviced by a vacuum truck.
The PUB is a well-established utility with a number of large-scale energy, water and sanitation projects under development.
About the Role
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) supports the CEO to design and implement corporate strategy, oversee financial reform and manage the implementation of new financial management practices such that the capacity of PUB and its personnel to delivery critical, sustainable services is enhanced.
The Government of Kiribati has established a State Owned Enterprise Roadmap calling for improved performance by the PUB. The CFO will play a critical role in the ongoing implementation of the performance improvement program at the PUB.
Role responsibilities and deliverables:
1. Assisting PUB to separate out business streams (Water/Power Generation/Power Distribution).
2. Improving governance and risk management including through building the capacity of systems and personnel.
3. Ensuring accrual accounting and systems are implemented and maintained, and the team equipped with the skills to do so.
4. Providing leadership, direction, job training, mentoring, coaching and management to the finance and accounting team, with a focus on promoting Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) within the team.
5. Providing strategic recommendations to the CEO and members of the executive management team.
6. Support the PUB CEO in the development and implementation of a Revenue Collection Strategy (or similar).
7. Contribute to the PUB Statement of Intent ( SOI )development and review process.
8. Managing the processes for financial forecasting and budgets, overseeing the preparation of all financial reporting, and supporting personnel to increase their capabilities in these areas.
9. Advising on long-term business and financial planning.
10. Establishing and developing relations with senior management and external partners and stakeholders; and awareness of the need to meet client expectations.
11. Reviewing all formal finance, HR and IT related procedures, ensuring that they promote the principles of good GEDSI.
12. Provide financial oversight and advice to the South Tarawa Water and Supply Project (STWSP), /south Tarawa Renewable Energy Project and South Tarawa Sanitation Project (STSP) Projects.
13. On the Kiribati Utility Reform Project (MFAT), provide oversight and complete the following:
- Information management system implementation including financial management systems (FMS), while supporting the PUB local team to increase their capabilities in these areas.
- Implementation of the financial management system to include clean-up of Balance Sheet, revised budgeting process and reporting systems.
- Procurement of FMS allows for PUB to access offshore accounting expertise (ongoing through a service agreement).
14. On the South Tarawa Renewable Energy Project (ADB), investigate/provide/oversee/capacity build the following:
- Establish the basis for financial management at PUB including disbursement policies and procedures.
- Asset evaluation (international Valuation Standards).
- Accounting procedures, accrual accounting basics.
- Structure and functional responsibilities.
- Auditing function (as needed).
- Reporting and forecasting.
- Prepare forward estimates budget for PUB.
- Rebuilds tariff forecasts based on real operating costs.
Relationship management, capacity development, performance management and reporting
This is an in-line position at the Public Utilities Board reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The CFO will be expected to provide a detailed work plan on expected milestones to be achieved in line with the above objectives and activities. Monthly situational reports and 6 monthly written reports against the approved workplan will be required.
Performance management will be undertaken jointly by the PUB CEO, Australian High Commission, and the BPaC Deputy Team Leader.
The CFO will be required to work closely with PUB staff and senior members of the Executive Team, learning from them and seeking to impart knowledge which builds the capacity of staff to take on higher level roles.
Selection Criteria Essential personal attributes:
- An understanding and appreciation of the challenges of working in culturally diverse teams.
- Patience, resilience, adaptability, and resourcefulness. An ability to work with limited resources and professional support in a remote location.
- Be open minded, keen to listen and learn and respectful.
- Professionalism, neutrality and a commitment to teamwork and consultation
- Collaborative leadership qualities.
- Commitment to meeting deadlines.
Essential qualifications and experience:
- Formal relevant qualifications (ACA/CA/CPA or equivalent).
- At least 10 years practical experience in financial planning, reporting and control.
- Experience as a finance executive with a strong commercial orientation and a strategic mindset.
- A high level of commercial acumen with the ability to sustainably enhance an organisation to organise and control accounting systems.
- A commitment to cross cutting development issues such as GEDSI, sustainable development, capacity building and anti-corruption.
- Proven success managing and building the capacity of high performing teams.
- A hands-on mindset and willingness to do practical work, as well as supervise and capacity build others.
- Highly developed inter-personal and communication skills within multicultural environments, including report-writing for different audiences.
- An ability to work with a small team, including non-finance executives and support staff.
- Experience living and working in Asia and/or the Pacific, ideally in a remote context.
How to Apply?
We welcome your interest in joining the BPaC Program as an adviser.
Please review the Terms of Reference before applying:
https://bit.ly/3PmuOZVPlease take the time to look at the BPaC information sheet:
https://bit.ly/3vZuCqtAll applications must be submitted on the Cardno website (
https://bit.ly/3GcaSV2), and include the following:
- Your CV, including the names and contact details of 2 professional referees
- A cover letter, describing how your skills and experience are applicable to the selection criteria (no more than 250 words per criterion).
Applications must be submitted by Tuesday 7 June 2022 (11:59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Kindly note that applications that do not address the key selection criteria will not be considered. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities, LGBTQ+, women, mature age workers and people with different abilities.
Questions can be directed to recruitment@bpacprogram.org.au
Other information
Please note that due to COVID-19 travel restrictions this position is classified as unaccompanied. Applicants will need to undergo psychometric and medical screening prior to deployment. Housing, mobilisation, and demobilisation airfares will be provided as part of the overall remuneration package. Amendments to the position’s Terms of Reference may be made during the period of the engagement as required.
Cardno is committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), Child Protection and bribery prevention. We want to engage with the right people to deliver our client programs. As part of our approach you will be subjected to formal background screening, criminal record checks, employment verification, and periodic compliance checks.
All Cardno staff receive safety, compliance and safeguards training and are responsible for contributing to a safer working culture.
Cardno is equal opportunity employer
Cardno encourages women to apply. Cardno recognises the moral and legal responsibility to provide an equal opportunity workplace by ensuring that all recruitment and selection decisions are based on the best qualified and experienced candidate who can perform the genuine inherent requirements of the position.
