Business Manager – Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Coogee, Sydney

“May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved”

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) is an international order of Brothers and Priests within the Catholic Church numbering about 1,900 working in over fifty-five countries, on six continents.

The initials MSC come from the Latin, Missionarii Sacratissimi Cordis, (Missionnaires du Sacre Coeur in French), the name of our Religious Congregation founded by Fr. Jules Chevalier at Issoudun, France in 1854.

The Australian Province has around 140 members and our ministries include:

• Parishes
• Retreat Centre
• Education
• International Missions
• Working with urban and traditional aborigines
• Chaplains to the prisons, universities and hospitals
• Aged care

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the MSC Australian website located at:

https://www.misacor.org.au/

Position Overview

Position Title: Business Manager

Reports to:       Provincial of the Australian Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Position Purpose

The Business Manager is responsible for:

• The sound financial and commercial management, both strategic and day-to-day, of the temporal goods of the Congregation.
• Providing inspirational leadership, strategic planning and advice for the Congregation in finance, commercial management, investments, property, fundraising & stewardship.
• Promoting a positive organisational culture that fosters and supports the mission of the MSC.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The scope of the role requires you to be the principal advisor of the Province in the following dimensions, at both the strategic level and in day-to-day operations:

• Financial Planning and forecasting
• Financial reporting and budgeting
• Property
• Insurances
• Investments
• Systems and procedures
• Payroll
• WHS
• Communities and Colleges (4) liaison
• Coordinating the inter province assistance program.

Initial Priorities

• Development of a strategic 5-year financial plan to ensure long term sustainability and support for the MSC vision and mission
• Fresh look at systems and processes to ensure best practice
• Review of property portfolio and the Investment portfolio
• Expense review to ensure providers’ costs are at competitive market rates
• Supporting the work of the new mission in Vietnam.
• Supporting other projects arising from time to time at the direction of the Provincial.

Key Relationships

This role reports to the Provincial and supports him and the Provincial Council. The role works collaboratively with the Business Managers who work within the four MSC Independent schools.

The Business Manager is involved in the following committees:

• Finance Committee
• Investment Advisory Board
• Education Finance Board (as Secretary)
• Aged Care Committee
• Missions Office Board

 An organisation chart will be provided at a later stage of this project.

Other Information

• Annual revenue is in the vicinity of $6m. Note: this is for the Provincial House income, not the gross income of all the schools and the communities.
• Financial year end is 31st December
• Auditor is Pitcher Partners. The successful candidate will be required to prepare the annual audit file, inclusive of all required reconciliations.
• In addition to the MSC’s, there are 3 other staff members located in the Coogee Provincial Office. This includes the Assistant Bursar and Province Secretary.
• Accounting software is MYOB.
• Normal office hours are 9am to 5pm.

Commencement

While negotiable, it is anticipated the successful person will be able to commence during March to allow for a smooth handover and induction.

Location and Travel

The role is based out of the Provincial Office located at 1A Waltham St., Coogee. The successful candidate will be required to travel between communities and interstate from time to time.

Conditions of Employment

• Remuneration will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
• Four weeks annual leave.
• The initial appointment is for up to 3 years and able to be renewed for a further 5 years subject to a satisfactory performance review in the third year.
• Probation period is 6 months.
• Parking can be made available.
• Office hours are 9am- 5pm, Monday to Friday. Given the seniority of this role, the expectation is the Business Manager will work the hours required of the position, which includes some out-of-hours meetings.

Selection Criteria

We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following:

• A personal commitment to the Catholic Faith;
• The desire to develop an appreciation for the mission of the MSC congregation;
• A career in finance with a minimum 5 years as a senior level finance and accounting practitioner, ideally with exposure to a mission-based organisation;
• The capacity and preparedness to work independently at both the strategic and the day-to-day, hands-on levels;
• Capable of balancing commercial decision-making with the mission of the organisation;
• Patience and listening skills, combined with a preparedness to support others, including as an adviser to non-financial people;
• CA or CPA and commitment to ongoing professional formation and training.

Are You Interested in this Opportunity?

If you are interested in this role, then simply complete the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this page; or email us at jobs@traksearch.com stating your interest and nominating ref number TS1421. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number (mobile preferred).

If you are NOT interested in this role but would like to be advised of future leadership positions, click here to register for our weekly job alert.

Any questions can be directed to either (a) our Director John Chesher by telephone (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via jobs@traksearch.com. The timeline and details for this project are outlined below. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.

The Selection Process

Key dates are as follows:

Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:

• Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in the role.
• A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
• At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form; provide a lengthy document to address the selection criteria; or supply referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
• Applications close at 5.00pm (AEDT) on Monday 10^th February. A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule.
• At the appropriate time we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent to do so.
• We expect to contact one work-related referee and a Priest/Religious referee prior to shortlisting, with additional references completed later in the process.  You should always expect that before reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant period of time.
• All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to shortlisting, in confidence, to the Provincial or nominee unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.

You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.