Business Manager – The Sisters of the Little Company of Mary

The Little Company of Mary is an international congregation of Catholic women Religious who have committed their lives to pray and care for the suffering and dying of the world.

Founded in Nottingham, England in 1877 by Venerable Mary Potter, the LCM spirit was carried to Australia in 1885. The Sisters’ reputation for compassion and care lead to invitations to serve communities across Australia.  The Sisters, with support and advice, built hospitals, developed community services, negotiated agreements with governments, completed business training, and accomplished many community projects.

Having established services of excellence in health care alongside their other ministries, the Sisters were committed to ensuring that their mission of compassionate care be continued into the future. The Sisters developed a Governance Model which ensures the sustainability of the health care services they founded. Calvary Ministries is the formal body established by the Sisters in Australia.

Today, throughout Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, LCM women and their associates and partners in mission are working for the betterment of humanity. Responding to mission calls, the LCM:

• Offer our prayer at all times that all might know the fullness of life and we have a special concern for the sick and the dying
• Provide affordable and accessible housing for older persons especially in Christchurch NZ
• Work with refugees, and those alienated from their human rights
• Support in prayer and presence the health care ministries founded by the Sisters and now governed by Calvary Ministries

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the Little Company of Mary website at http://www.lcm.org.au

Position Overview

Position Title:    Business Manager

Reports to:          Province Leader

Position Purpose

As a member of the executive, the Province Business Manager is directly responsible for the financial, accounting, company secretarial, business and administrative management of the operation of the Province of the Southern Cross, which includes Australia, New Zealand and Tonga.

Role Context

The Province Business Manager works in conjunction with the Province Treasurer and liaises with the respective external financial and legal advisors to ensure all financial, accounting, company secretarial, business and administration functions of the Australian operations are carried out effectively.

The Province Business Manager works in conjunction with the Province Treasurer, New Zealand Business Manager, financial and legal advisers to ensure the New Zealand and Tonga operations are carried out effectively.

The Province Business Manager also needs to be conversant with a range of business issues, standards, policies and practices in order to ensure human resources, investment, property, fleet management, insurance, WHS, information technology and asset management responsibilities are carried out effectively.

A detailed position description will be provided at a later stage in this recruitment project.

Initial Priorities and Identified Challenges

• Work with the Province Leader and Council and Province Advisors regarding the proposed change from a Province to a Region
• Consider the future of the Province Administration Centre at Hurstville, particularly with the intended change of governance under a Region rather than a Province.

Key Relationships

The role is a member of the executive consisting of the Province Leader, Province Councillors and Province Business Manager. The role reports directly to the Province Leader.

The Province Business Manager must be able to provide reports and support to the LCM Advisory Committees and build effective relationships, , with members of the Province, other business professionals, as well as supervise financial and administrative staff. The Province Business Manager must also project a positive image of the LCM when representing the Order to external bodies.

The following positions report to the Business Manager:

• Business Manager New Zealand
• Province Accountant
• Province Records Manager
• Personal Assistant to Province Leader and Council
• Sisters’ Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator

Other Relevant Information

• The financial year-end is 30th June
• Annual expenditure budget approx. $7m; capital expenditure budget approx. $0.3m
• External auditor is Pitcher Partners (Sydney) and Moore Stephens Markhams (Christchurch)
• The accounting software, including payroll, used in Australia is MYOB
• Accounting software used for New Zealand is Xero and payroll is managed through payroll, an external service linked to Xero.

Reason for Vacancy

Current Province Business Manager is retiring after 20 Years’ Service

Commencement

The start date is negotiable however, ideally, it will be before 30 June 2018.

Location

The Administration Centre is located at 23-27 MacMahon St, Hurstville, NSW.

Conditions of Employment

• The salary will be negotiated with the successful person
• Salary packaging is available
• On-site parking
• Full-time – 38 hours per week nominal hours
• Appraisals occur annually
• The initial contract term is 4 years and renewable subject to the outcome of a major performance appraisal in the 4^th year
• The usual 6-month probationary period applies

Selection Criteria

We anticipate people interested in this role will be able to demonstrate:

• A willingness to learn and commit to the mission of the Little Company of Mary and to work in keeping with its mission and values;
• Team leadership experience in financial management, accounting and administration, ideally within a values-based NFP setting;
• Initiative and an ability to work at strategic tasks as well as the day-to-day routine, operational duties;
• Capable of balancing commercial decision-making with the mission of the organisation;
• A track record of pitching-in and becoming involved in wider organisational aspects;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Relevant degree qualifications and membership of a professional body, ideally CPA or CA.

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 TS1379. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number.

At this stage we do NOT ask you to address the selection criteria or provide an application document – just complete the panel on this page or send a brief email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘LCM Business Manager TS1379’; and provide your brief resume and contact telephone number.

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.
• A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
• 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 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 LCM 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.