Senior Finance and Travel Officer – LE4 – DFAT – Geneva

Job Title: Senior Finance and Travel Officer – LE4 – DFAT – Geneva

Location: Geneva

Salary: CHF 93,847 gross per annum

Contract type: Permanent-Ongoing

Contract hours: Full time, 37.5 hours work per week

Additional Benefits: 20 days annual leave pro-rata. 50% employer contribution to health and accident insurance and to a pension fund.

Closing date: 13th June 2025

The successful applicant will be engaged as a locally engaged staff member by the Australian Permanent Mission in Geneva.

Please be advised that the Australian Permanent Mission, Geneva does not provide relocation assistance and any costs associated with taking up the position would be the responsibility of the successful candidate. Remote working is unavailable.

About The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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 general direction, this position provides timely, accurate, responsive and practical financial and travel management services to clients in the Australian diplomatic missions in Geneva and Bern.

Key responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:

• Provide operational and high-level accounting support for all accounts processing functions, ensuring compliance with departmental guidelines and legislative requirements.
• Assist in preparing, analysing and monitoring budgets and expenditure reports, as well as periodic financial reporting.
• Prepare, check and process invoices within DFAT’s financial management systems and manage advances, debts, asset register and VAT exemption claims.
• Arrange official travel for staff in accordance with the DFAT travel and entitlements policies.
• Prepare the annual calculation of the shared costs between the Australian and the New Zealand Missions and handle the monthly Swiss credit cards acquittal and review credit card transactions from all Mission staff.
• Provide advice on finance and travel policies and procedures, maintain financial documentation records and perform back-up duties for Finance team colleagues and other administrative tasks as required.

Qualifications/Experience                                                                                  

• Demonstrated operational work experience and university qualification in Business, Finance or Accounting.
• Proficiency in using financial management information systems, such as SAP and excellent numerical, analytical and quality assurance skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including an ability to work productively as part of a team and to be able to consult with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret and explain finance and travel policies and procedures and provide advice and assistance as needed.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel up to an intermediate level and a working knowledge of the other Microsoft Office suite of products.
• Sound judgement, discretion and confidentiality, with fluency in both spoken and written English and French. Experience in Swiss payroll and knowledge of Swiss labour law is an advantage.

General Requirements

• A standard probity check will be undertaken prior to commencement for the successful applicant.

Selection Criteria

In your written statements, you must include relevant high-level examples from your experience that support your claims against the role. The word limit is strictly 200 words per response. The panel will not assess responses which exceed the word limit.

A. Ability to complete financial accounts processing, with attention to detail and accuracy, supported by relevant professional experience. 

B. Proficiency with SAP (or other financial accounting systems and intermediate or advanced level on MS Excel.

C. Experience in budget management, including analysis and monthly reporting.

D. Ability to work effectively with other team members in a busy processing environment, manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines, while  maintaining strong attention to detail.

E. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively liaise with, and advise, a diverse range of clients across all levels of the organisation.

The Human Resources Section based in the Australian High Commission, London is responsible for managing all recruitment processes across the European region. To apply, and for further information, please click on this link . 

We are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees are valued. We appreciate the experiences, skills and perspectives of all individuals. We actively encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds who share our values.

Keywords: finance, accounting, accountant, payroll, comptable, comptabilité, salaires