Finance Manager – Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Glebe, Sydney

Does an Opportunity such as This Appeal to You?

• You can make a difference by significantly contributing to the vision and legacy of the Sisters;
• A diverse portfolio of responsibilities where the day-to-day challenges are many and varied;
• A warm and welcoming setting where lay work in partnership with the Sisters; and
• While there is some ‘out-of-hours’ work (including an occasional weekend), the office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm with the need for work/life balance appreciated and promoted.

If this appeals to you, then we encourage you to explore further.

An Introduction

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict is the first Australian ‘home grown’ congregation of Catholic religious women. Archbishop John Bede Polding, an English Benedictine monk and Australia’s first bishop, founded the congregation in Sydney in 1857.

Known affectionately as the Good Sams, the congregation and the wider Good Sam family continue to draw inspiration from two key sources:

• the rich wisdom of Benedictine spirituality
• the much-loved parable of the Good Samaritan.

Benedictines on Mission

The Good Samaritans were to be, in Polding’s words, missionary Benedictines in the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. Their neighbourhood soon opened out beyond Sydney to embrace other cities and rural areas of Australia.

In time the sisters answered the call to respond to the urgent social needs and the spiritual hungers of people in Japan, the Philippines and Kiribati.

Today the Good Sams and their countless partners in ministry bring compassion and justice to an expanding global neighbourhood.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed on the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict website located at http://www.goodsams.org.au/

Position Overview

Position Title: Finance Manager

Reports to:       Superior of the Congregation (or her delegate)

Introduction

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict (the Congregation) is a group of Catholic Religious women. There are 209 members and, with associated entities, about 90 employees.

The work of the Sisters includes education, parish pastoral work and support for women and children escaping domestic violence. The Congregation has sisters and commitments in Australia, Japan, The Philippines and Kiribati.  However, the membership now in Australia and Japan is ageing and more than half the Sisters are retired or semi-retired from full-time work.  In this context the Congregation appointed its first Finance Manager in 2005.

Wisely managing the house of God

¹To promote wise stewardship of the spiritual and material goods of the Congregation, we set down some regulations with regard to administrative procedures so that the order established may help to maintain peace and to ensure that no one is anxious in the house of God. (Const 8:1)

The Finance Manager is accountable to the Superior (or her nominated delegate) and reports to her regularly.

The Finance Manager has the responsibility for administering the temporal goods of the Congregation in accordance with Canon Law, the Constitutions and Statutes of the Congregation and civil law.

Expectations

The Finance Manager will:

• Work collaboratively and collegially with the staff of the Congregational Office to give effect to the vision of the Congregation.
• Have a vision for continuing development of systems, policies and procedures to make the Finance Office the best possible provider of shared services to the Congregation and related entities.
• Promote a culture of service and supportive relationships within the Finance Office and the Congregation.
• Provide both high level support and practical administrative assistance to the Congregation and its partners in ministry.
• Respect the confidentiality of information, discussions and documents to which the manager has access. Such confidentiality is central to the role.

Areas of Accountability

• Strategy
• Systems and Procedures
• Budgets and Financial Reporting
• Property, Investments and Procurement
• Insurance
• Employment & workplace health and safety

Other roles

• Fulfil the canonical role of Bursar
• Manager of the Congregational Finance Office
• Executive Officer of the Finance Council
• Company Secretary of affiliated companies
• Develop effective working relationships in the spirit and ethos of the Congregation with its members, partners in ministry, shared services clients and suppliers of goods and services.

Key Relationships

Reports to the Congregational Leader (known as the Superior of the Congregation)

Works closely with

• the Superior and the four members of her Council
• Manager, Resources and Business Services
• Finance Council – canonical Advisory Body to the Congregational Leader which meets 4 times each year
• Investment Committee
• Investment Adviser (external)

Team structure

There are 4 directs reports and a total team of 7 people.

• Financial Accountant
• Finance Administration Assistant
• Administration Officer
• IT & Telecommunications Assistant

The three other staff members are an Assistant Accountant, IT Administration Assistant and a Foundation Finance Officer. Two of the team are CPA qualified.

Shared Services Clients (separate legal entities)

• Good Samaritan Education – which has stewardship of the 10 Good Samaritan schools
• Good Samaritan Foundation Ltd
• Good Samaritan Inn Ltd
• Sisters of the Good Samaritan Wivenhoe Environment and Conservation Ltd

Initial Priorities

After developing an understanding of the Sister’s Vision and the Good Samaritan Benedictine Spirituality, with ‘fresh eyes’ review how the Finance function supports the Sisters. Such a review is likely to include systems, processes and policies such as the investment practices and accounting software.

Other Relevant Information

• The financial year-end is January 31^st (although some entities have June 30 & Dec 31 year-ends.)
• External auditor is Pitcher Partners
• The accounting software is Accpac for the Congregation and Xero for other entities

Commencement

The commencement date is negotiable but ideally during August to allow for a smooth transition with the current Finance Manager who finishes in late September.

Location and travel

The Finance Manager will work from the Congregational Offices located at 2 Avenue Road, Glebe, NSW.

While regular travel is not required, given the geographic spread of the Sisters’ work, some interstate and overseas travel should be anticipated.

Conditions of Employment

• The salary will be negotiated with the successful person
• Superannuation is 9 ½%
• Salary packaging is available
• Full-time – 37.5 hours per week nominal hours
• To compensate for the occasional weekend work, flexible working hours and conditions can be negotiated
• Appraisals occur annually
• The initial contract term is 4 years and renewable subject to the outcome of a major performance appraisal prior in the 4^th year
• The usual 3-month probationary period applies
• Portability of LSL could exist for people currently working with a Catholic employer

Selection Criteria

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

• The capacity to fit in a Catholic employer setting and the desire to develop an appreciation for the life, mission and ethos of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan
• As a service-focused person, leadership experience in financial management and administration, ideally with experience as a company secretary
• An ability to work at strategic thinking and planning tasks as well as hands-on with the day-to-day routine, operational duties
• A track record of pitching-in and becoming involved in wider organisational aspects
• Capable of balancing commercial decision-making with the mission of the organisation
• Relevant degree qualifications (ideally CPA, CA or equivalent) and a record of continuing professional development

 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 TS1380. 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 ‘Finance Manager TS1380’; and providing 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 the Superior of the Congregation 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.