Australian Consulate-General
Shanghai, China

Accountant (LE5)

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Office of the Australian Consulate-General Shanghai is seeking applicants to fill the following locally engaged position:

 

  • Accountant (LE5)

 

The above position is open to Chinese and Australian nationals.

 

The successful applicant will be offered an initial fixed term contract of 12 months with the possibility for extension and are subject to a probationary period.

 

The annual basic salary for this position is CNY 228,271.90 plus the employer’s social security contributions. Where the successful candidate is an Australian national, he/she will receive an allowance in lieu of the employer’s social security contributions. Australian Superannuation Guarantee Contribution (SGC) will be deducted from the allowance for an Australian tax resident.

 

How to Apply

Your application, written in English, addressed in the title ‘Application for Accountant + your name’ must include:

  • A one page pitch of no more than 1000 words outlining how your skills, experience and qualifications make you the best person for the job;
  • Curriculum vitae including your nationality and country of residency. If you are an Australian citizen in China, please advise your Chinese visa category.
  • Contact details for two work-related referees (at least one should be your current or recent supervisor)

 

Applications and inquiries should be emailed to [email protected]. Closing date for applications is 5:00 pm, 05 June 2024.  Please consider your application unsuccessful if you have not received any contact within four weeks from the closing date.

 

What should I include in my pitch?

  • Your one page pitch is a chance to tell us why you are the right person for the job. We want to know why you want to work at the Australian Consulate General, why you are interested in the role, what you can offer us, and how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications are applicable to the role.  In a nutshell – why should we hire you?
  • Try not to duplicate information that can already be found in your resume, but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that will demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

 

About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high-quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The Department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.

 

About the Position

Under limited direction of the Consul (Administration), the accountant will lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the finance team and the Shanghai finance hub which is the departments Regional Processing Centre (RPC) for mainland China posts. The RPC delivers financial services to mainland China spoke posts (Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang) and also oversees the delivery of finance services under the Head Arrangement between DFAT and partner agencies.

 

The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

  • Budget management, including preparing budgets, monitoring expenditure forecasts and providing management with operating and capital budget reports.
  • Manage the processing of complex financial transactions for mainland China posts in accordance with departmental guidelines and legislative requirements including preparing bank reconciliations, the annual Fringe Benefits Tax return and coordinating the preparation of VAT refund.
  • Complete end of month and end of year SAP accounting schedules for prepayments, cash advances, accrued expenses, revenues and staff salary and entitlements etc, in accordance with Australian government requirements.
  • Develop work plans for the finance team, monitor workflow, support training and development, review accuracy of work, ensure quality and efficiency of post’s corporate finance and client services, including under the Head Arrangement between DFAT and Partner.
  • Implement the purchase to pay (purchase order) processing at the Consulate-General, process global banking payments accurately and ensure appropriate vendor management processes.
  • Provide high-level advice and recommendations on complex matters to Post management on financial, travel and administrative issues in accordance with the departmental guidelines, including processing invoices, reimbursements and journal entries and develop updates to policies and practices to ensure continuous improvement.
  • Monitor, analyse, report on and implement new policy and activity developments, keeping Finance Section staff informed of changes.
  • Establish, develop and maintain strong working relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders including mainland China posts and Canberra in order to maintain financial touch points, investigate queries and provide accurate, detailed monthly financial management reporting.   
  • Interpret policy and provide high-level advice for financial and administrative support services, including understanding, responding to, and resolving enquiries on a range of finance or general administrative services including contributing expertise to the implementation of systems and process improvement initiatives. 
  • Provide corporate support for Ministerial and other high-level and official visits or A-based arrivals into China.

 

Qualifications/Experience

  • Extensive experience in an accounting role in a large enterprise, including experience in financial management, and a strong ability to analyse data and interpret revenue and expenditure trends. 
  • Experience using SAP financial management information system in an Australian Government or likeminded setting would be a distinct advantage.
  • Advanced use of the Microsoft Office suite of programs, especially Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
  • Knowledge of or ability to quickly acquire knowledge of Australian Government Financial Management Rules and Regulations, including Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
  • High level, business communication skills in both written and spoken English as well as Mandarin Chinese, is highly desirable.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise, negotiate and consult with internal and external stakeholders and experience working and leading a close, tight-knit team.
  • High level analytical skills, including a pro-active and practical approach to problem-solving.  Flexibility and adaptability, especially when implementing change.