Project Finance Process Improvement Support Volunteer
The Opportunity
CARE Australia supports women and girls around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. As a member of the CARE International confederation, we work towards a world of hope, inclusion and social justice where people live in dignity and security.
The Finance team is seeking a volunteer to review, improve and standardise project finance forms, templates and tools. The role will identify duplication, gaps and usability issues, and strengthen consistency across project budgeting, forecasting, acquittals, reconciliations, approvals, coding guidance and financial reporting.
Working with the Project Finance Lead, CFO, CARE Australia Finance team and relevant Country Office stakeholders, you will develop practical, user-friendly tools and guidance that support accurate documentation, clear approvals, complete audit trails, donor compliance, internal controls, segregation of duties and document retention. You will also recommend a simple process for maintaining, updating and retiring project finance tools over time.
Key Activities
- Review existing project finance forms, templates and tools to identify duplication, gaps, usability issues and opportunities to improve consistency.
- Map how current tools support project budgeting, forecasting, SUN coding, donor budget lines, approvals, reconciliations, acquittals and reporting.
- Develop or refine practical tools such as budget templates, coding guidance, approval checklists, reporting trackers, reconciliation and acquittal templates, and quality assurance prompts.
- Build consistent terminology, required fields, naming conventions, version control, review checkpoints and clear instructions into project finance templates.
- Prepare user guidance and worked examples, and recommend a simple process for owning, reviewing, updating, communicating and archiving forms and tools.
Please find further details in the Terms of Reference on the CARE Australia Website.
To Secure This Opportunity, You Will Ideally Have
- Demonstrated interest in the for-purpose sector and international development.
- Strong understanding of audit requirements, financial record retention, and internal control frameworks.
- Experience with ERP or accounting systems, preferably SunSystems (SUN).
- Strong ability to translate policy requirements into practical guidance, workflows and user-friendly tools.
- Confidence working with Microsoft 365 tools, ideally including SharePoint site structure, document libraries and page design.
- Strong written communication skills and ability to produce clear guidance for staff with varying levels of system and procurement experience.
- Analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to identify practical compliance risks and improvement opportunities.
About the Volunteer Arrangement
- Location: Melbourne.
- Volunteer assignment length and working pattern: to be agreed.
- Commencement: as soon as practicable.
- Reporting to: Project Finance Lead.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the opportunity via the CARE Australia website
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so please apply as soon as possible.
Questions About the Role?
Please contact [email protected]
Terms and conditions for Australian-based staff & Volunteers:
Please note all CARE Australia employees and volunteers are required to undergo a National Police Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEAH policy and Code of Conduct. Depending on the role, a Working with Children Check may also be required.
We value diversity and encourage applications from people living with a disability and/or have lived experience of disability. We also encourage Pacific Islander people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply.
Should you require any accommodations or support during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know.